Small businesses across the UK are expected to have an estimated 3,400 contracts to deliver 2012 Olympic game related services and goods, says chief executive Mike Mulvey from London Business Network.
The event, organised on Tuesday in Stratford, is one of the hundreds of events held by the organisation across London to introduce small enterprises to upcoming opportunities such as catering, football goal post manufacturing 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 £1.7billion, which includes bigger suppliers directly working with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
Catering2Order, a firm with 20 employees based in Southwark, won their catering contract on the Olympic construction site two years ago.
John Charles, managing director of the company, said: “We are expecting one million turnover for this financial year. Winning the contract in such a difficult financial period is fantastic.”
“As a small company we work with bigger supplier, 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 to get 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 [designed 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.”
CompeteFor portal is a platform that links 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.
Another previous contract winner is translate plus, a 35-staff firm that provides Welsh translation service to London 2012's education website Get Set.
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 think it is quite impressive.”
When asked whether London-based companies have any priority compared with the ones from other regions, Nick Winch, Olympic co-ordinator from the 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 the ODA and LOCOG that we wanted the chances to be as small-business friendly as possible.”
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