An Olympic first has seen hundreds of suppliers to the London 2012 Games given free license to promote the work which culminated in that glorious summer almost two years ago.
The Supplier Recognition Scheme, a joint effort from the British Olympic Association and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, aims to support businesses in securing new contracts on the back of their successful efforts in delivering the Games.
To date, 780 companies have been awarded licenses, with 60 per cent securing new business as a direct result of their work and a third going on to be involved in other major sporting events.
Expedition Engineering are the business behind the design services for the velodrome and BMX track and company director Andrew Weir says the scheme has been a huge help in allowing small firms to prosper.
“It’s great that we can talk about it and show the work,” he said. “We’re a small company and a relatively young one too and the velodrome has been the main piece of work we’ve been able to promote in the last few weeks so that’s massive for us.
“For a small company this kind of scheme is really important.”
The scheme is a first for the Olympic movement and suppliers are granted specific designation to access over 4,000 images of the Olympic Park to help promote their work in the UK and overseas.
SRS has helped to contribute to the huge success of British business since the Games and according to official UKTI figures more than £11billion has been generated in trade and investment.
Expedition Engineering were recognised last month’s last part of the scheme, just in time for the reopening of the Lee Valley VeloPark in Stratford, and Weir is delighted that his business can show off their work to potential customers.
“The Supplier Recognition Scheme allows us to talk about our work on the velodrome. That’s what we like about it,” he added.
“The flip side to that would be everyone saying what a great job it is but no one knowing the engineers behind it. How bonkers it that?”
© Sportsbeat 2014