Firms across the Black Country are being encouraged to register online at CompeteFor, a business ‘dating agency’ supported by regional development agency 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 £6 billion 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, 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, 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.

Mr Smee said: “It’s important that companies in the Black Country and across the West Midlands region act now to make the most of the contracts that will be coming up for tender on CompeteFor between now and 2012.

“As a Hackney-born lad, I was delighted when Barhale secured its contract with the Olympic Development Authority.
“The 18-month programme will create around 50 jobs.”

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.”

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.