Free Workshop - Get Your Business Fit for 2012 Games
2 October 2008
Free Workshop - Friday 24 October at Explosion, Gosport. 9am - 12.30pm
As Britain basks in national pride at the success of its athletes at Beijing, Hampshire and Isle of Wight businesses are being urged to prepare themselves to compete for billions of pounds worth of contracts up for grabs as the UK prepares to host the world’s greatest sporting event in 2012.
With £9.3bn being invested in the London Games, British firms are invited to bid for the contracts, which range from major construction projects to supplying computer software, security and transport right through to preparing food and drink to keep the Games’ staff and visitors fed and watered.
To take advantage of the more than 15,000 opportunities available Hamsphire and Isle of Wight businesses that want to qualify for contracts need to register on a free website, CompeteFor, at www.london2012.com/business.
Since its launch six months ago, 32,000 companies have registered on CompeteFor, the business ‘dating agency’ website, and some 650 contractors have already been matched up to supply £2bn worth of services for the Games. These include suppliers of such diverse skills including designers and printers, language translators, installers of modular buildings, office cleaners, website designers, drainage engineers, media training consultants and aerial photographers.
Business Link is hosting a free ‘Fit2Supply’ workshop to guide small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) towards being prepared to put themselves forward for contracts.
Business Link’s Deborah Wyatt, said: ‘The Games need reliable, professional contractors and just as you would expect if you were employing a supplier for your home, the 2012 Games require that businesses match up to certain criteria. The workshops to help them prepare will mean they’re fitter and stronger when it comes to bidding for contracts.
‘It’s no good waiting until the last minute and wondering why you didn’t get a slice of the competition – just like the athletes, we need to start planning ahead. There are other opportunities out there too, like the £4.5bn spent by local authorities in the South East each year on providing anything from stationery and mobile phones to building hospitals and schools.
‘This free workshop will help equip SME’s to bid for the London 2012 Games, and for other public sector contracts too.’
The ‘Fit2Supply’ workshop is being held on:
Friday 24 October at Explosion, Gosport, Hampshire, 9am to 12.30pm
To book a place at the workshop:
Tel: 0845 600 9 006
Web: www.southeast2012events.co.uk.
For general business support to prepare your company for London 2012 or Public Sector procurement:
Email: london2012@businesslinksoutheast.co.uk
For further media information:
Contact: Lorraine Lewis
Tel:01329 223267
Email: lorraine.lewis@businesslinkhamsphireiow.co.uk
