Firms from across the West Midlands are striking gold as contracts worth many millions have been awarded following a successful campaign by Advantage West Midlands to promote the business opportunities available from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
More than 70 West Midlands firms have so far won over 90 tenders to supply the 2012 Games and related projects around the Olympic Park. Many of these successes have been achieved through the CompeteFor procurement system.
CompeteFor has been set up by the London 2012 organisations to act as an online ‘dating agency’ - a brokerage service between London 2012 buyers and potential suppliers across the country. Nearly 6,000 contract opportunities have already been published on CompeteFor, with many more to come. Over 8,500 West Midlands businesses have so far signed up on CompeteFor.
Opportunities currently open on the CompeteFor system range from suspended ceilings to supply of bollards; from health & safety supplies to hire of armoured vans. West Midlands firms have already been successful in winning many millions of pounds worth of business to date, including:-
* Carillion plc of Wolverhampton - builders of the International Media Centre on the Olympic Park
* Glenn Howells Architects, Birmingham - designer for section of the Athletes’ Village
* Barhale Construction plc of Walsall - design and installation of the new sewer system on Olympic Park
* Encon Insulation of Birmingham - supplied 2012 contractor Industrial Fire Protection Ltd
* Elliott Modular Ltd of Cannock - hire of mobile welfare units to HSS Hire Service Group
* Stuarts Industrial Flooring Ltd of North Warwickshire - supplied concrete for floor of the Velodrome on Olympic Park. Also supplied flooring for part of the new Westfield Shopping Centre at entrance to Olympic Park
* Elements Europe Ltd of Shropshire – supplier of 285 pre-fabricated bathroom ‘pods’ for an accommodation block in the Olympic Village
* Zaun of Wolverhampton – design and build of 15 kilometers of security fence around the Olympic Park
* Tension Control Bolts of Shropshire – specialised bolts for the Olympic Stadium
* Slick Seating of Redditch – seating for the Basketball Arena
* KiddiVouchers of Redditch – supplied childcare voucher scheme to Olympic Delivery Authority
* Total Truck Training of Solihull – training for forklift truck drivers on Olympic Park
* Wedgwood of Stoke – Commemorative and souvenir merchandise for London 2012
* Bakers Coaches of Stoke – supplied coaches for tours of Olympic Park.
Jim Johnston, Advantage West Midlands Business Manager for the 2012 Games, said: “Over 8,500 regional companies have already registered on CompeteFor and our message remains - you have to be in it to win it. With several £billion worth of Olympic-related contracts still to come to the market - don’t delay, sign up today.
“London 2012 is proving to be a great opportunity for the region’s businesses, particularly in these recessionary times. The region’s companies are showing enterprise and innovation: They are winning contracts to secure valuable business, which is stimulating job creation and helping increase sustainable economic growth.”
The Greater London Authority 'family' - the London Development Agency, Transport for London, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, and Metropolitan Police - now also use the CompeteFor system for their procurement of goods and services.
To register on CompeteFor visit www.competefor.com
If West Midlands businesses want to find out how they can get fit to compete for London 2012 contracts, they should visit www.businesslinkwm.co.uk or ring 0845 113 1234.
For further information on how the West Midlands is maximising the opportunities created through London 2012 visit www.wmfor2012.com