The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) today reported that a huge number of UK businesses are interested in work helping to deliver the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At the half way point of a UK wide roadshow for business to find out more about London 2012 opportunities the ODA said that around 800 company representatives had attended events in Newcastle, Belfast, Melton Mowbray, Bristol and Gatwick. In the next three months the Constructing Excellence roadshow - which is also supported by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the Health and Safety Executive, Construction Skills and the Office of Government Commerce - will visit Scotland, Manchester, Leeds, Wales, Birmingham and London.

Over 15,000 business have registered on the Business Centre section of the london2012.com website to receive email alerts every time an ODA or LOCOG contract is issued. On the website businesses can also look at contract opportunities that will come up in the future and download a straightforward ‘Supplier Guide’ to help them compete for ODA business.

Over 1700 companies have attended ODA industry days which offer the opportunity to learn more about specific projects and inform the procurement strategy.

The ODA has already issued over 500 of around 2000 planned direct contracts, who will in turn manage approximately 50,000 different agreements through their supply chains. Over half of ODA contracts have been made with small and medium size businesses. Early next year a service will be launched to help businesses, particularly small and medium size, access opportunities in the supply chains of London 2012 contractors.

ODA chief executive David Higgins said:

“We want to work with the best in business to deliver the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a sustainable legacy. This is an unprecedented challenge, particularly given the highly competitive construction market, so we are getting around the country and engaging with businesses of all sizes. The appetite and excitement from companies that want to be part of meeting this challenge is hugely encouraging.”

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700 or visit the website at www.london2012.com.

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