Jul 28 2005
Tony Winterbottom, director of the London Development Agency, has insisted that his group will do all that it can to help small businesses secure contracts in preparing for the 2012 Olympic games in London.
His comments on the day the organising committee for the 2012 games is set to be officially unveiled.
With the race for contracts underway, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has written to chairman of the 2012 board Lord Coe, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, and Mayor of London Ken Linvingstone, urging them to ensure that small businesses are not left out of the running for the billions of pounds' worth of work involved in preparing for the games.
Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live's 'Wake Up To Money' programme, Mr Winterbottom said that what the FPB is saying is 'very valid.' 'We are the mayor's agency for business and jobs in London, and for the first couple of years we are going to be doing most of the work with respect to the Olympic Games. 'So we have thought about this in respect to small businesses. We are concerned to see small businesses grow and get contracts.'
But he said: 'One of the things we have to do, being part of the European community, is we have to go through very rigid and stringent procurement methods and structures, and it is quite complicated. But we are going to do the best we can.'
He explained: 'All tendering opportunities will be publicised by ourselves and the Olympic Development Authority. We will set up a website, and we will try and get as much information out to small businesses as we can.'
But he stressed: 'I don't think that is enough.' So he added: Our agency is committed to appointing a special unit which will be more or less like an Olympic business club. Our idea is to ensure that local businesses, and smaller businesses are well placed to take advantage of the opportunities that arise. But companies are going to need some help from us.'
He concluded: 'We understand this issues, and we have got to support smaller businesses.'