Enter the race for Olympic victory

Apr 15 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

ADVICE service Business Link North East is urging companies to enter the race for contracts linked to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It has set up a team of advisers to help companies broker some of the 750,000 business opportunities worth between £6bn and £10bn that are anticipated as the UK gets ready to take the torch.

Key to the tendering process is the e-brokerage system competefor.com, set up with funding from One NorthEast, which has already been used to award 500 contracts nationwide.

“Part of the London 2012 Business Network, competefor.com is an online ‘business dating service’ which allows companies who register at www.competefor.com to liaise with Business Link and view available contracts, posting a short profile demonstrating how they could fulfil the needs of the work,” said a spokesperson for Business Link. “It is the perfect opportunity for businesses in the North-east to get involved in one of the biggest sporting occasions ever hosted in Britain.”

A core element of competefor.co.uk is partnership working and the willingness of companies to form supply chain alliances. It also demanded up-to-date knowledge of issues including sustainability, diversity and the environment and a sufficiently skilled workforce, said Business Link.

Its advisers are on hand to provide personal coaching to help companies get fit for procurement and is running a series of workshops to ensure businesses are best placed to win contracts.

Businesses interested in tender opportunities, key appointments and business events can sign up to receive email alerts from London 2012 by going to www.london2012.com.

For further information on how Business Link can help companies tap into Olympic opportunities, call 0845 600 9 006.