Firms across the Black Country are being encouraged to register online at CompeteFor, a unique business 'dating agency' supported by Advantage West Midlands which is matching companies to opportunities supplying London 2012 contractors.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising Committee (LOCOG) expect to allocate over £6bn of work as part of an estimated 75,000 future business opportunities covering direct contractors and their supply chains over the coming years.
The CompeteFor system is expected to handle up to a fifth of the supply chain opportunities and can be accessed via the ‘London 2012 Business Network’ information service at www.london2012.com/business
The latest London 2012 business engagement figures show that small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) make up over 87 per cent of the 1500 companies from the West Midlands already registered at CompeteFor.
Twenty-four West Midlands companies and organisations have so far won work supplying the ODA, including Barhale Construction plc, of Walsall, which will provide a deep foul sewer system and pumping station for the Olympic Park and has already posted subcontractor opportunities on CompeteFor.
Tony Smee, marketing manager (south) of Barhale Construction plc, which has offices in Bescot Crescent and Wallows Lane, was the guest speaker at a free ‘London 2012 Opportunities’ Workshop organised by the African Caribbean Business Federation (ACBF) Black Country at the County Hotel in Walsall.
Many more local companies have been supplying the ODA's contractors including Pipe & Tube Group, of Wolverhampton, which has supplied tubing for conveyor belt rollers involved in clearing the Olympic Park and concrete pumping machines supporting the start of construction.
Nearly 150 businesses have been automatically referred through CompeteFor to Business Link West Midlands for business improvement support.
John Armitt, ODA chairman, said: "We want to work with the best of businesses in the West Midlands, large and small, to deliver the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a lasting legacy.
“It is a challenging project and we are on track. Creating a level playing field to ensure we get the best of business is an important part of this and companies in the West Midlands are showing an encouraging appetite to be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity."
Jim Johnston, Advantage West Midlands 2012 Business Manager, said: "Already many businesses in the West Midlands have supplied goods and services to previous Olympic Games, and other major sports events around the world.
“CompeteFor now gives all firms in the West Midlands an unparalleled opportunity to prepare to sell to London 2012. I urge them all to register on the CompeteFor system at www.london2012.com/business "
Over 260 businesses attended the West Midlands launch of the London 2012 Business Network at Villa Park, Birmingham, in January 2008.
How CompeteFor works
ODA and LOCOG are advertising their direct contract opportunities online through CompeteFor, which is co-funded by Regional Development Agencies, and direct London 2012 contractors appointed will be encouraged to advertise their supply chain opportunities through the system. For example all contractors that have been awarded ODA infrastructure or venue contracts are registered as buyers on CompeteFor.
Companies at every level of the London 2012 supply chain will be encouraged to advertise their supplier opportunities through CompeteFor.
After registering basic company information any interested business can view the opportunities advertised. Companies can then complete a business profile, which involves answering a series of simple questions, to be able to compete for opportunities.
A company's business profile is automatically tested against a small number of minimum standards in areas such as health and safety. If these requirements are not met the company is automatically referred to tailored business support to help improve their performance. This service is provided by Business Link.
Once a company's profile is successfully published on CompeteFor they are automatically matched to opportunities which suit their business and invited, by email, to apply for them by filling out a short, tailored application form. The buyer advertising the contract then selects a shortlist of companies and invites them to formally tender through the buyer's own procurement system.
Details of the winning bidder(s) are published on CompeteFor and unsuccessful bidders receive feedback from the buyer. Throughout the process local business support agencies are on hand to help companies maximise their chances of success.