Now that Tokyo has been chosen to play host to the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, British SMEs need to get involved and win business ahead of the event.
Speaking at a conference in Canary Wharf, Mayor of London Boris Johnson addressed 500 London-based small businesses to encourage them to use their skills and the experience of the 2012 Games to win contracts around the world.
“London is synonymous around the world with outstanding innovation and expertise,” he said.
“Our small businesses provide the foundation of that reputation and my team are determined to provide the assistance that will help them trade on the international stage. Every contract they sign and every Peso, Rand, Yen or Euro they win will help drive regeneration, create new jobs and spur growth in London.”
Some 80 per cent of Londoners work for SMEs. Meanwhile, SMEs account for nearly 60 per cent of employment in the UK and represent almost half of private sector turnover, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.
The Rio 2016 Games are already proving beneficial for British firms. A group of UK tech startups are heading to Brazil to seek further commercial opportunities and potential business available for them in Rio, Sa Paolo and Campinas. The ‘Great Tech Expedition to Brazil’ is an initiative supported by the Mayor’s Export Programme, delivered in partnership with UK Trade & Investment.
Further trade missions available to small businesses in London, held in partnership with UKTI, will head to Kenya, Austria and South Africa this year, and to Mexico in 2014. The Export Programme is funded by the London Enterprise Panel’s SME Working Group, which supports the creation of jobs and growth in London.
Parveen Thornhill, UK Trade and Investment’s Regional Director for London added: “Last year the Olympics showcased the best of British, both in the Stadium and in the international marketplace. We need to build on that success and encourage businesses to harness the expertise and experiences gained from the 2012 Games.”
