Inspiring small businesses locally is what it’s all about for the teams of business-support people working with London 2012.

So how can a small business get involved in an opportunity to help in the supply chain of the Olympic Stadium or the Aquatics Centre for instance? Two organisations that help local businesses answer this question are the East London Business Place and Supply London.

The East London Business Place works especially with companies in the five Host Boroughs – Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Greenwich - as well as those in the Thames Gateway area.

Supply London work across the whole of London with growth companies helping them understand how to tender effectively.

Both organisations have been working with London 2012 since the beginning and recently hosted a 'Meet the Buyer event' where local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) met up with some of our contractors.

It was great to see such enthusiasm on the faces of buyers and sellers alike!! ODA Chairman, John Armitt came along to see for himself how keen and excited London businesses are when it comes to London 2012 opportunities.

Both organisations, funded by the London Development Agency (LDA) offer free valuable support to small businesses on how to win business for themselves. For 2012 opportunities that means registering on CompeteFor where a whole variety of contracts are advertised by companies already in the London 2012 supply chain.