Section Menu

Sector Initiatives

BERR and our partners are working with different industries to determine what each can do to support and gain maximum benefit from the Games. Initiatives vary by sector but may involve:

• Measures to boost the supply chain so that stronger companies work to improve the performance of weaker companies.
• Projects to identify leading edge technology for the sector.
• Commitments on how the sector can support the Games
• Sector-based partnerships to bid for contracts

Existing bodies will expand activities to focus on the Games. These include:

The Information Age Partnership (IAP)

The IAP is a key government and industry collaboration established to provide leadership in the UK, and to take maximum advantage of the technological, economic and political developments which characterise the Information Age. IAP has developed a vision of how IT, Electronics, Communications and Content (ITEC) applications and services can be used to support the London Games. You can find the final paper called 'Towards the 2012 Games' on the IAP website.

Construction

The construction industry expects to make an outstanding contribution to the Games and deliver sustainable, exemplary projects with long-term benefits for the local community and the nation. With strong support from BERR, Government and the London 2012 Authorities, the industry has developed the 2012 Construction Commitments. These cover key areas of the construction process and are designed to promote collaborative working and best practice.

The Strategic Forum for Construction Task Group acts as a focal point for liaison between the industry, Government and the London 2012 Olympic Authorities, to help ensure the successful delivery of the facilities and infrastructure.

Renewable energy

The Games provide an opportunity to showcase renewable energy technologies to a broad audience and to boost UK renewable energy technology industries.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is the public body responsible for ensuring delivery of the new venues and infrastructure for the Games and the legacy that will follow. It has a stated objective to minimise the carbon emissions associated with the Olympic Park and venues. BERR is working in tandem with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to support the ODA's work in achieving this.

The ODA also has a commitment to minimise the energy demand of the Olympic Park venues and village, in addition to a renewable energy target. 20% of ongoing post-Games demand will be met from new on-site renewable sources. As well as new solar, biomass and hydroelectric energy technologies, a 80-metre tall wind turbine with 40-metre blades is proposed. This would provide energy for 1,200 homes for 20 years after the Games.

Environmental technologies

BERR is working with key industry stakeholders and Knowledge Transfer Networks - business support networks delivered by BERR's Technology Programmme - so that the Games can ensure:

• A unique opportunity for the UK to showcase its leading environmental technologies and to encourage wider uptake by demonstrating their use at the Games and in the UK as a whole.
• Olympic developments are implemented to the highest environmental performance standards.
• The environmental goods and services sector in the UK receives a measurable boost from involvement in the Games and the increased uptake of innovative sustainable technologies and processes.

Waste/resource efficiency

The organisers of the Games aim to deliver on environmental objectives and carbon use, biodiversity and waste by developing the tools and know-how for delivering a sustainable Games and spreading the benefits worldwide.

The aim is for the Games to:

• Be a catalyst for new waste management infrastructure.
• Demonstrate exemplary resource management practices
• Minimise waste at source wherever feasible
• Ensure all waste created by the Games is not landfilled
• Promote a waste hierarchy of 'reduce, reuse, recycle
• Facilitate long-term individual behaviour change