Group calls for fair play in 2012 (From Warrington Guardian)

Group calls for fair play in 2012

A KNUTSFORD-BASED lobby group is appealing to organisers of the London 2012 Olympic Games to support small businesses.

The Forum of Private Business wants them to award contracts to small firms.

"The Government and Olympic organisers must ensure that the fat companies' diet is kept in check," said spokesman Victoria Carson, who has written to bid leader Seb Coe, culture secretary Tessa Jowell and London mayor Ken Livingstone.

"Small firms, which are the lifeblood of London and the UK economy, need to benefit from this bonanza too."

Last month London beat Paris in the final round of voting by the International Olympic Committee to decide the 2012 hosts.

Many companies will now compete for contracts related to the Games such as catering, building, security, marketing, publishing and hospitality work.

The London Development Agency will first award contracts for designing the Olympic Park and Velopark.

The Forum, which is based in the Ruskin Rooms in Drury Lane, said there would be many opportunities for small businesses in the UK.

But Mrs Carson, the group's London policy representative, warned some bigger companies would be desperate to get the contracts.

She said the Government and Olympic organisers should consider how small firms could be helped and encouraged.

"That means providing smaller manageable contracts that small businesses can apply for," she said.

"Moreover there must not be excessive form filling. Small firms do not have the human resources to devote to bureaucracy like big firms. Red tape must be kept to a minimum."