Opportunities for creative businesses

At the meeting on 26 June at the new Lee Valley Athletics Centre at Pickett's Lock, Mike Mulvey (CEO, London Business Network) provided a description of the services the London Business Network will be providing to businesses wanting to tender for Olympics work. The Network's objectives are:

- Working with LOCOG and the ODA to provide a conduit for information dissemination

- Organising networking and 'Meet the Buyer' events

- Promoting sector-focussed local events to transfer knowledge and expertise

- Signposting businesses to relevant business support and job brokerage services

- Creating opportunities for business matching, partnering and inward investment

- Mobilising corporate commitment to deliver wider social, environmental and community benefits of business activity in relation to the 2012 Games

As part of this work, the Network is creating an online service where local businesses (including creative businesses of whatever size) can register. Briefs for work required by LOCOG and the ODA through this service will only be accessed via the 2012 website (www.london2012.com). Other London agencies like the LDA are expected to use this online service in the future. Businesses wishing to tender will need to meet important criteria, for which support will be available. The online service aims:

- To achieve equality of opportunity

- To increase the number of organisations that are 'Fit to Supply'

- To raise the percentage of Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic (BAME) led businesses, women led and disabled led businesses winning public-sector contracts by providing equality of outcome

- To promote resources that equip small suppliers with the necessary skills to win new business and achieve 'Fit to Supply' status

- To work with the ODA and LOCOG to integrate it with their procurement systems

Work of interest to creative businesses is not expected to be advertised by LOCOG until 2009/10. In the meantime, there may be elements of larger infrastructural contracts advertised by the ODA and its major contractors that can be tendered for by creative businesses (subscribe to eAlerts on the 2012 website to receive details). It is important that any creative business interested in tendering registers its details and takes advantage of the support available.