Small businesses across the UK are expected to have an estimated 3,400 contracts up for grab to deliver 2012 Olympic Game related services and goods, says chief executive Mike Mulvey from London Business Network.
The event, organised at Tuesday night at Stratford, is one of the hundreds events held by the organisation across London to introduce small enterprises upcoming opportunities such as catering, florist, football goal post manufacture, and brochure and website design.
Mike said: “6,600 contracts have already been placed to small businesses around the country and 35 per cent of these companies are based in London.”
According to him, the value of these new sub-contracts available now forms part of over £1.7 billion which includes bigger suppliers directly working with the Olympic Delivery Authority and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG).
Catering2Order, a social firm with 20 employees based in Southwark, won their catering contract on the Olympic construction site two years ago.
John Charles, owner of the company, said: “We are expecting one million turnover for this financial year. To won the contract, in such a difficult financial period, is fantastic.”
“As a small company we work with bigger suppliers, and we are also constantly getting more contracts because of our quality and service delivery and our track record.”
When asked how hard it is in getting the contract, John said: “We got the contract through CompeteFor. The whole process is extremely competitive, I know lots of companies achieved 100% score on the questionnaire [provided by the buying companies], but they still can't get the contract. You have got to offer your uniqueness and something beyond what they require.”
According to Mike, CompeteFor portal provides a platform to link buyers and suppliers.
Companies who wish to become part of the Olympic supply chain need to register through the website and bid for the contract with other competitors.
Translate plus, a 35-staff firm provides Welsh language translation service to the London 2012's education website for schools and colleges.
Director Per Severinsen said: “The contract is very profitable. And obviously, it is a very good reference for the potential clients to use our services.
“When they know that we are working with the biggest sporting organisation in the UK, they just thought it is quite impressive.”
When asked whether London based companies have any priority compared with the ones from other regions, Nick Winch, Olympic coordinator from Federation of Small Businesses, said: “London companies will get the contract if they are the best to deliver the contract.
“They won the contract not because they are local or small. What we do is to make sure London companies are aware about the opportunities and best prepared to bid for the opportunities.”
The challenges small businesses are facing, according to Nick, is some of the contracts might be too big for them to put things together.
“We and other organisations right from the beginning have spoken to Olympic Delivery Authority and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games that we wanted the chances are as small-business friendly as possible.”
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