Thousands of companies across North East England have signed up to the official London 2012 online brokerage service CompeteFor to help improve their chances of securing contracts to supply the 2012 Games.

Over 2,500 firms from the region are now accessing free service, which acts as an online ‘dating agency’ aimed at bringing together UK businesses and Games’ suppliers.

Co-funded by Regional Development Agency One North East, CompeteFor is part of the London 2012 Business Network and provides access to business support services which build skills and capacity to ensure that companies across the country can access opportunities linked to the hosting of the 2012 Games.

North East businesses have already won numerous contracts to directly supply the Olympic Delivery Authority and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) with many more firms winning further contracts withinin the supply chain.

North East companies which have already won contracts to supply London 2012 contractors through the supply chain include Sotech Ltd from Peterlee which is supplying gutters and roof cladding edges for the Aquatics Centre, and The Communicator Corporation based at Rainton Bridge Business Park in County Durham which is providing LOCOG with enterprise email management solutions to help deliver digital communications.

Also, Hanson Building Products of Washington is supplying precast concrete slabs for the bridges and highways within the Olympic Park. Transport service provider Mammoet UK won a contract to help complete the Docklands Light Railway, which will transport thousands of sports fans to and from several competition venues, including the Olympic Park.

Paul Taylor, Project Director at Business Link said: “It is very encouraging to see so many North East businesses taking the opportunity to access the range of tender opportunities related to the 2012 Games through CompeteFor. The dedicated Business Link procurement service Compete North East is here to ensure that those with the ambition to compete for Olympic opportunities get all the support, help and guidance required to ensure they are tender ready and in the best possible position to win major contracts.

“There are still a huge amount of available opportunities related to the 2012 Games and I urge business in the region to make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity by registering with CompeteFor and getting in touch with Compete North East today.”

Stacy Hall, Director of Communications and Tourism at One North East, added: “With a range of commercial opportunities still available in the run up to the 2012 Games, our aim is to ensure that North East businesses are positioned in the best possible way to increase their chances of securing contract successes.

In doing so, Compete North East will help underpin this goal by offering key business advice and support.”


For more information on the Compete North East service or the support Business Link can provide, visit www.competenortheast.co.uk or www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast, or call 0845 600 9 006.

To sign up to the CompeteFor service visit www.london2012.com