ODA chair Sir John Armitt to report on business benefits of London 2012 construction project

[richard]

Sir John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) ensured that the building programme for the London 2012 Olympic Park was completed both on time and on budget, has been asked to produce a report that will serve as a blueprint of the operation for future British construction success.

"I hope that Sir John's report will pave the way for British businesses after 2012 and help secure a long term economic legacy for UK plc," said Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt in announcing the project today.

Armitt commented: "This report will help UK companies to learn from what has been achieved and reap the benefits of future projects at home and abroad, whether or not they have been involved in the 2012 Games."

The report, due to be completed this spring, will focus on the 1,500 businesses which won direct contracts from the ODA.

It will include lessons learnt from the delivering the Olympic construction programme and details of new business wins and jobs created including contracts with the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2016 Summer Games in Rio.

Hunt believes that the Olympic Park project is a template for delivering large-scale construction projects and that sharing the lessons of its success will help British businesses win more lucrative contracts around the world.

Around 1,500 businesses in the UK won 98% of the Park's construction contracts, totalling more than £6 billion.

Thousands more businesses won contracts on top of that through the supply chains, again generating work and creating jobs.

"London 2012 has undoubtedly been good for British business," Hunt said.

"But the key to long term economic success from the Games is not about a Keynesian boost in difficult times.

"Instead, we need to ensure that the companies who built the Olympic Park, and others, learn from the experience of London 2012, exploit the global spotlight, and go on to bigger and better things in the future."

Armitt added: "London 2012 has been a showcase for the best of British construction and engineering.

"It has set new standards – delivering against an immovable deadline, thanks to a truly collaborative approach, with an impressive record of industrial harmony, employment opportunities and workplace safety."

The report will be completed ahead of the British Business Embassy at Lancaster House that UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) will run through the Olympic Games period to promote British business.


Source
By Mike Rowbottom
www.insidethegames.biz