Registration opens for Birmingham 2022 business event to brief Midlands SMEs on Games opportunities
Published on Thursday, 08 November 2018
Businesses across the Midlands are being invited to a special event to provide a detailed update on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the extensive procurement and supply chain opportunities available for SMEs. The event – which will take place on Tuesday 27 November at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre (ICC) - will be hosted by Organising Committee Chairman John Crabtree and former Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion and broadcaster Jonathan Edwards.
John Crabtree, Chair of the Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games said: "The Organising Committee and its Games Partners will contract many hundreds of companies and suppliers to help deliver Birmingham 2022, or projects related to the Commonwealth Games.
"For the Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 Games, Organising Committee contracts alone had a total value of £241m and £333m respectively. On the Gold Coast, 84% of these contracts were won by local or regional businesses; in Glasgow, 76% of the total value of contracts awarded went to Glaswegian or Scottish companies.
"The local and regional business community will therefore play an essential role in the success of the Games; and we are truly looking forward to beginning the process of informing and supporting businesses about Birmingham 2022 opportunities."
Former Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion and broadcaster Jonathan Edwards said: "Major Games are not just about winning gold medals – for athletes it’s about being the best you can be, reaching peak performance. And that’s exactly what businesses should strive for in 2022 when the Commonwealth Games come to Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Birmingham and sport is a phenomenally potent mix – with great venues and fantastic crowds. But we all know it’s about more than 11 days of sport, and I’m looking forward to focusing on the economic legacy potential of the Games when I head back to Birmingham later this month, and help businesses make the most of this immense moment in time for the city and the region."
The briefing will offer practical information on the opportunities for businesses arising from the Games themselves and related infrastructure projects. There will also be panel discussions exploring their potential impact on the city-region and the experience of suppliers to previous Games. It will be open to all sectors and sizes of business and provide introductory information about the Organising Committee’s contracting and procurement approach.
Business Opportunity network FinditinBirmingham is coordinating the event, which is also being widely promoted and supported by local and regional Chambers of Commerce, Local Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships.
Paul Faulkner, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce said: "The Games are an incredible opportunity for the city and the region. They are a chance to both celebrate and demonstrate our city’s successes to the world, and consolidate and accelerate efforts to continue its impressive growth trajectory. We want to see the Birmingham 2022 Games building on this success and delivering even more opportunities for local businesses. I would encourage all businesses to take part in this event and learn more."
The event will take place from 0700 to 0930 on 27 November 2018 in Hall 4 of the ICC. Registration is essential and free places can be booked at
Due to expected demand, registrations are limited to two per organisation.