East London businesses being trained on how to get Olympic Park contracts

An alliance of small firms and enterprises wanting to get work in east London’s Olympic Park development has won agreement with the Legacy Corporation. The ‘East London Business Place’ organisation is working with the corporation to make sure businesses and social enterprises are primed and ready to take on contracts in the lucrative development over the coming years.

Signing up for 'East London Business Place' alliance - Credit: E/Lond Business Place

“Bidding for work is a risky process that can be intensive and take up resources,” alliance director Glen Addis explained.

“So we are working with the Legacy Corporation to find competitive firms which are ready to tender for contracts.

“We’ll make sure they’re ready to bid for work of interest to them that’s relevant for their size and scope.”

The enterprising alliance, which is supported by Canary Wharf Group, is running training workshops and networking events where buyers and suppliers get together informally to cut through “barriers to procurement” red tape that can prevent small firms getting involved in the lucrative Olympic Park construction work.

They get to know what’s needed to win contracts by being taken through a robust training process to make sure they are ready for the bidding process.

The alliance is busy signing up enterprises in Tower Hamlets and three other neighbouring Olympic boroughs of Hackney, Newham and Waltham Forest that want to take the plunge for work in the park development.

Firms in the four Olympic boroughs and the Olympic Park buyers can email East London Business Place.