BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REGENERATION - JAN 2008 ARCHIVE
CompeteFor
London 2012 have now launched the latest phase of their Business Network. Described as a groundbreaking business ‘dating agency’, CompeteFor is a unique approach by London 2012 to open up its supply chains to ensure SMEs really do have an opportunity to get involved. Over £6bn of work as part of an estimated 75,000 future business opportunities covering direct contractors and their supply chains will become available to tender for over the coming years.
The Business Network now therefore has three component parts: essential information on upcoming opportunities and how to supply London 2012; business events; and the new ‘CompeteFor’ service, a business ‘dating agency’ that will match companies to thousands of opportunities supplying London 2012 contractors. Up to a fifth of London 2012 supply chain opportunities are expected to go through the CompeteFor system.
The CompeteFor service has been launched well in advance of the bulk of London 2012 opportunities coming on stream, in order to give UK companies of all sizes plenty of notice to register and get familiar with the service. CompeteFor, which is co-funded by Regional Development Agencies, will also link companies with business improvement services, boosting the long-term competitiveness of companies across the UK.
How CompeteFor works (taken from the London 2012 website)
Both parts of London 2012 (ie the Olympic Delivery Authority and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will advertise their direct contract opportunities online through CompeteFor and direct London 2012 contractors appointed will be encouraged to advertise their supply chain opportunities through the system. For example the Olympic Stadium construction contractor ‘Team Stadium’ has opened the service with an advert for their site accommodation cleaning contract.
Companies at every level of the London 2012 supply chain will be encouraged to advertise their supplier opportunities through CompeteFor.
After registering basic company information any interested business can view the opportunities advertised. Companies can then complete a business profile, which involves answering a series of simple questions, to be able to compete for opportunities.
A company’s business profile is automatically tested against a small number of minimum standards in areas such as health and safety. If these requirements are not met the company is automatically referred to tailored business support to help improve their performance. This service is provided by Business Link in England and the support services in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Once a company’s profile is successfully published on CompeteFor they are automatically matched to opportunities which suit their business and invited, by email, to apply for them by filling out a short, tailored application form. The buyer advertising the contract then selects a shortlist of companies and invites them to formally tender through the buyer’s own procurement system.
Details of the winning bidder(s) are published on CompeteFor and unsuccessful bidders receive feedback from the buyer. Throughout the process local business support agencies are on hand to help companies maximise their chances of success.
UK business already benefiting (taken from the London 2012 website)
The Olympic Delivery Authority has published details of the first phase of direct contractors already appointed on the London 2012 Business Network to enable companies to identify supply chain opportunities. Even at this early stage:
- Over 500 contractors have won contracts worth over £1 billion in total.
- Over two-thirds (68%) are small and medium sized.
- Half (50%) are based outside of London
- One in ten (11%) is based in the Olympic Park Host Boroughs.
- Over 98% are based in the UK.
- Around 15,000 companies have registered to receive e-alerts on the London 2012 business website, over two-thirds based outside of London.
More details can be found at https://www.competefor.com/...
In addition, there will be a South East launch of CompeteFor on Wednesday, 20th February 2008, The Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, Madejski Stadium, Reading
9.00am - 12.00pm. Book now by clicking on the link below and don’t miss out the opportunity to learn about new business opportunities. Closing date to book is Tuesday, 12th February 2008.
http://www.seeda.co.uk/...