Race for 2012 Olympics contracts gets underway in Tower Hamlets » Communities » 24dash.com

As Team GB starts triumphantly winning gold at Beijing, it’s now time for small to medium businesses in Tower Hamlets to get in the race for London 2012 contracts.

A wide range of contracts is now up for grabs on CompeteFor, the Government’s online brokerage “dating” service.

Thirty-nine contracts are currently listed, ranging from concrete cutting to office moving services, as well as opportunities to work with a merchandising supplier of London 2012 to provide signage and clothing.

Tower Hamlets has over 500 companies registered on CompeteFor – the fourth highest across all London boroughs and the highest of the five Olympic boroughs.

Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Lead Member for Regeneration, Localisation and Community Partnerships, said CompeteFor offered local companies a gold medal opportunity to grow their business:

“As a small business owner in the borough, you cannot ignore the £6 billion worth of business opportunities that will be on offer over the next four years.

“Don’t be put off into thinking that these contracts are just for larger companies – all sorts of services stemming from those large contracts will be needed, and that’s where a local Tower Hamlets business can be selected.

“New opportunities are coming online every day, but the only way to guarantee that your business doesn’t miss out is to register now.”

Suppliers are currently being sought for the following services -

• TV reception survey
• Skips for the Olympic site
• A steel fabricator to undertake the supply of steel service support units within bridge box beams
• Supply and delivery of cables, software, licences and power supplies
• Suppliers/manufacturers/service companies to do work relating to point-of-sale London 2012 marketing materials (flags, banners, clothing, labels)
• Highways signage
• Supply of HGV parts to service fleet of 79 lorries in North West London
• Supply and maintain a water bowser and generator for Portakabin use at Olympic Park in Stratford.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced in June 2008 that 365 London companies have already won work. Of these three-quarters are small to medium businesses (SMEs) and nearly a quarter (23%) are local to the Olympic Park.

For information on these contracts and on how to register, please go to www.competefor.com/london2012business/ where you will find a step by step guide to registration.