NEWS

L-R: John Macaskill, Isabel Clarke, David Moorcroft, Lord Sebastian Coe, Jayne Greene, Tracy Brown, & Katy Barber

Last week Jo Davey, New Business Manager for officebroker.com, attended a business lunch event on Friday September 18th run by IJM Media at the Ramada Hotel in Kidderminster. The event was attended by Olympic heroes David Moorcroft OBE and Lord Sebastian Coe KBE, who highlighted the business opportunities available to businesses in the Midlands and outside of London.

The event also raised over £400 for charities Baby Lifeline and the Millbrook Appeal.

Guest and speaker at the event was international athlete David Moorcroft. Having broken world records on the track in the 1970s and 1980s, David is a national hero who was awarded both an MBE and an OBE in recognition for his services to British sport.

As part of a wider event taking place on the same day, Lord Sebastian Coe was in attendance, meeting representatives from sports clubs across the Wyre Forest Area. Lord Coe, who won numerous Golds throughout his athletics career, is a hugely inspirational speaker who led the winning London bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

West Midlands' businesses receive 2012 Olympic boost

One of the primary objectives of the event was to highlight how Midlands businesses can benefit from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This is part of the foundation of the winning London bid, which promised to make the 2012 Games an event for the whole of the UK, not just for London.

During the event, David Moorcroft reiterated that over 40 contracts have already been secured by firms in the West Midlands, either directly, or as sub-contractors in the supply chain.

Jo Davey of officebroker.com, who attended the event, says:

"David Moorcroft and Lord Coe were excellent speakers. They wanted to make sure we were all well aware that there are opportunities for West Midland businesses to pick up contracts for the Olympics. There are plenty of prospects out there."

Highlighting examples of the diversity of work available, Jo Davey adds: "They told us how one Worcester company has the contract to supply all the mustard in any venue concerning the Olympics!"

John Macaskill, General Manager of the Ramada Kidderminster, also commented on how the enormity of the Games benefit the West Midlands:

"It has raised the profile of the region's sporting achievements and businesses immeasurably. We would like to thank both Lord Coe and David Moorcroft for their support and wish all the businesses who took part every success in winning Olympic contracts."

Jayne Greene, from event organisers IJM Media, added:

"As a local company ourselves, we were delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to other Wyre Forest businesses and champion the wealth of opportunities available around 2012."

Representatives from Advantage West Midlands, Hereford and Worcester Chamber, and Olympic Sponsors Lloyds TSB Commercial were also in attendance at the business event, to advise further on how businesses can put themselves in the running for Olympic glory.

Starting young

One of the key objectives of the successful London bid, which has also been taken on board by the West Midlands in the region's bid to make the most of the Olympic Games, is the intention to incubate young sporting potential in the UK by encouraging greater participation in sporting events, and provide better facilities throughout the region.

According to Lord Coe, part of his approach towards securing the Olympic bid was not what the UK can do for the Olympics, but what the Olympics could do to help children become involved in sport in general.

Several targets have been set up focussing on young people in the UK, which includes helping and inspiring young people to achieve their potential - in sport, culture, business, learning or contributing to community life.

International attention

As part of a structured plan for the West Midlands, the region has launched its own Olympic vision - the key objectives being to help and support young people, boost business through increased international attention, and help local businesses to develop and grow. Find out more about the region's vision here.

In addition, the West Midlands aims to encourage an overall more active lifestyle in the region, improve sporting facilities, promote the area to visitors, and create long-lasting business and cultural benefits from the Games.

According to a recent comment in the Birmingham Mail, Warwickshire County Council member Coun Chris Saint, chairman of the West Midlands Leadership Group, said that local business involvement in the Games would leave a lasting legacy on the region's economy.

"We hope after the Games we will be a healthier region and we'll have the opportunity to improve our regional economy from the benefits the Games will bring, and bring a focus on business and tourism."

He adds, "We are already contributing to the structure of the Olympic Park through some of our firms' winning contracts and all these things bring momentum to the region."

The US track and field team will reportedly be basing their pre-Games preparations in Birmingham, and the city is set to highlight and promote its benefits to other contenders too.

Since the London bid was successfully secured, websites such as West Midlands for 2012 have sprung up, which aim to help local businesses find and promote new business opportunities in relation to the Games.

To find out more about how the West Midlands can get involved in business contracts for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, visit the official London 2012 website page for the region here: 2012 in the West Midlands.