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30 December 2005
Jowell's New Year Message To UK Industry: Get Ready For 2012
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell will spell out to businesses and their employees in January how they can all be winners when the world's biggest sporting event comes to the UK.
She will be the keynote speaker at a high-level business summit on 24 January at Cabot Hall in Canary Wharf, London – just two miles from the site of the Olympic Park that will be the heart of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012.
Tessa Jowell said:
"The Games are a unique opportunity for business and workers to benefit in a host of different ways. There are great opportunities here to win lucrative and rewarding contracts – everything from providing food and drink for spectators to building the venues themselves. All the UK can – and must – benefit.
"I want companies to be champing at the bit for the chance to share in the 2012 experience. But they need to understand the big picture now and how they can get involved – and that's where this summit comes in. We will provide hard facts on the potential benefits, how contracts can be won, what skills are needed and what the sponsorship opportunities are."
Details are announced today of the summit, which will bring together 300 senior representatives from British firms, trade associations and the unions, as well as key figures from central and local government and Regional Development Agencies.
Speakers will include CBI Director-General Sir Digby Jones, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber and Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London.
The summit will also be addressed by businessman Keith Mills, Deputy Chairman of the London Organising Committee (LOCOG), and by David Higgins, who will become Chief Executive in 2006 of the new Olympic Delivery Authority, which will have responsibility for venues and infrastructure for the London Games.
Sports Minister Richard Caborn and ministers from other key Government departments will attend. And special 'breakout' sessions at the summit will focus on skills, procurement and construction, and maximising the economic benefits of the Games to all the UK.
It will be followed by a second conference in June 2006 looking specifically at how those benefits can be maximised in the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Sir Digby Jones, Director-General of the CBI, welcomed the Canary Wharf summit:
"The 2012 Games will be a triple win for Britain - the redevelopment and regeneration of the world's global city, the ability to promote the whole of the UK around the world, and, thirdly and probably most importantly, the stimulation of competitiveness and risk-taking among the young of our nation.
"It is in the interest of every business in Britain that the London Games are an enormous success and the CBI will be with the London Organising Committee and the Olympic Delivery Authority all the way to the finishing tape."
And TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
"Hosting the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is a great opportunity for us to show the world that we have the skills and organisation to deliver a top-quality major event. The whole of industry needs to start gearing up for 2012 immediately.
"London was awarded the 2012 Games on the basis that this country could deliver an event that would challenge and inspire the world's young athletes. We will only achieve that vision if we meet world-class standards in every aspect of our work. That means high-quality jobs, with the best training, highest levels of safety and with commitment to equality and representation for all in the project."
And Tessa Jowell hailed the possibilities for business and workers:
"This is a unique showcase for Britain. We can use 2012 to enhance our skills and show them off to the biggest audiences you can imagine. But this will not just be a short-term benefit. Companies who work on 2012 will be powerfully well-placed to win contracts for future Games – as the Australians discovered after Sydney.
"But we want to learn from business and the unions too, putting their expertise to good use in the years ahead – so this will be a two-way conversation at Canary Wharf in January."
Notes to Editors
- There will be some media access to the summit – for instance for keynote speeches. A separate operational note will be sent out nearer the date with further details.
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The Olympic Delivery Authority will come into existence following the completion of the parliamentary stages of the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill and its royal assent, expected in the first half of 2006.
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6274
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
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