London Development Agency
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Ten thousand London businesses sign up to
Over ten thousand businesses in London have now signed up to CompeteFor – the ground-breaking online service designed to open up the London 2012 supply chain and give small and medium sized businesses a greater chance benefit from the Games.
Developed by the London Development Agency (LDA), working closely with the London Business Network and London 2012, the 'business dating agency' allows companies to register as potential suppliers online. CompeteFor then notifies them of 2012 contracts as they are put out to tender. Businesses are then able to apply for these contracts quickly and easily online. Some 84% of London businesses now registered with CompeteFor are small or medium sized firms, figures from the LDA show. Over 86% of contracts already awarded to London businesses through CompeteFor have gone to small or medium sized firms. The London Business Network has promoted the system to companies across the capital through a series of events, raising awareness and encouraging them to sign up to CompeteFor. One of most recent small businesses to sign up is Banana Leaf – a South Indian restaurant in Ilford who signed up after attending a business briefing organised by the London Business Network.
Banana Leaf owner Mr Prince Joseph said: "CompeteFor is not only useful to find out about Games contracts. Signing up has given me information about wider opportunities surrounding the Cultural Olympiad and the expected increase in tourism in the area. I am planning ahead for London 2012 and aim to have another restaurant closer to the Olympic Park soon." LDA Chief Executive, Peter Rogers said: "CompeteFor has been a resounding success - enabling small and medium sized businesses gain access to a wide range of contracts by opening up the Olympic supply chain. We want to make sure smaller firms in London have the chance to compete for more contracts and get more business. This service will continue to evolve. We want CompeteFor to eventually become a key tendering tool for both the public and private sectors." Chief Executive of the London Business Network Mike Mulvey said: "We are delighted with the support that London's business community is giving to CompeteFor. Small and medium sized businesses are looking to expand by competing for and winning a large share of the contracts on offer." The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising Committee (LOCOG) expect to allocate over £6 billion of work through direct contractors and their supply chains. Around 75,000 contracts will be procured through the London 2012 supply chain and related work between now and 2012. CompeteFor will now also be used to tender LDA contracts worth an estimated £170 million each year. Any business or organisation that issues contracts can use CompeteFor and enjoy the increased competition that the system provides. The CompeteFor service also provides access to a wide range of business support services provided by Business Link in London. For media enquiries, please contact Robert Beasley at the LDA Media Team on 020 7593 8437; for public enquiries, please call 020 7593 8069; for out of hours media enquiries, please call 07977 439 371. Notes for editors 1. The London Development Agency aims to improve the quality of life for all Londoners - working to create jobs, develop skills and promote economic growth. 2. The London Business Network was set up by London First on behalf of the 2012 delivery agencies and the wider London business community. It aims to ensure the transparency and availability of London 2012 opportunities, maximising the number and diversity of businesses contributing to the London 2012 programme and creating a legacy of increased capacity and expertise. The Network consists of the three leading business organisations in the capital: London First, London Chambers of Commerce and Industry and CBI London Region 3. All LDA contracts will be issued through CompeteFor from 1 September 2008, with the exception of opportunities tendered through an existing panel of suppliers set up according to public procurement rules. The £170 million estimate of LDA contracts available to tender is based on 2007/2008 direct spend on goods, works and services only. 4. Further details about CompeteFor, including advice on how to register can be found at https://www.competefor.com/ or http://www.lda.gov.uk/
5. CompeteFor has been developed on behalf of the English Regional Development Agencies and UK Devolved Administrations by the London Development Agency, working closely with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).
6. The London Development Agency (LDA) won the Government Opportunity Magazine Collaborative Procurement Award for developing the 'CompeteFor' service.
For further information please contact:
Robert Beasley, Acting Head of Media
Tel: 020 7593 8437 Mob: 07790 907568 robertbeasley@lda.gov.uk LDA out of hours: 07977 439371 Public enqs: 020 7593 9000
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