On the anniversary of the London 2012 Business Network launch, a group of Scottish companies met with Olympic Park contractors and London Organising Committee (LOCOG) representatives to discuss opportunities to help deliver the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The companies represented a cross-section of Scottish business including IT, security and manufacturing.

The 2012 Business Network was launched in Scotland in September 2008. It provides a one-stop online shop for businesses looking to get involved with London 2012.

The Network includes the 'CompeteFor' service, a business 'dating agency' that will match companies to thousands of opportunities supplying London 2012 and its contractors.

Olympic contracts offer great opportunities for companies, particularly in the current economic climate

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In the four months since its launch, more than 1,300 Scottish companies have registered on the 'CompeteFor' website. Over 1,000 opportunities worth millions of pounds in total have been advertised on the service and London 2012 has engaged with thousands of companies in visits to every nation and region.

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said: "Opportunities provided by the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games for Scottish business, including the construction industry, are to be welcomed.

"We must ensure Scottish companies are able to take maximum advantage of these events to help Scotland emerge faster and stronger from the current downturn and stimulate job creation."

Scottish Enterprise chief executive Jack Perry said: "The Olympic contracts offer great opportunities for companies, particularly in the current economic climate. The contracts are guaranteed, unlike others that may be scaled down during the downturn, and could go on to provide further opportunities for Scottish companies with the forthcoming Commonwealth Games."

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and LOCOG expect to allocate over £6bn of work as part of an estimated 75,000 future business opportunities covering direct contractors and their supply chains over the coming years. Scottish companies that have already won work supplying the ODA include BiP Solutions from Glasgow, which is assisting the ODA deliver strong supply chain opportunities and the Miller Partnership is part of the team reviewing technical standards of venues.

(GK/JM)