Firms target sports convention to win new contracts

TWO Midland firms are targeting a global sports convention in an attempt to boost their business.

Warwick based sports consultancy Commercial Doctor and Wolverhampton steel fence manufacturer  Zaun are forming part of the West Midlands’ delegation to the Sport Accord event in London next month.

The convention brings together more than 1,500 representatives from all international sports organisations, sports governing bodies and host cities.

To cash in on the opportunities available, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and Advantage West Midlands have booked a trade stand so West Midland companies can showcase their expertise in supplying goods and services to major sports events and venues.

The focus will be on identifying opportunities beyond the London 2012 Olympics, such as the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia, 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Commercial Doctor, founded in 2005, advises its clients on maximising opportunities provided by events such as these.

Philip Gray, managing director, said: “Sport Accord is the one event where the whole sports world gets together and every activity is represented.

“We will be promoting the capability of the West Midlands sports industry by showing how companies that are successfully supplying goods and services to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games can replicate this model in Brazil, Russia, Qatar and other global event host countries.”

Zaun supplies a vast range of fencing, railings and gates, and also provides integrated security solutions, which includes security camera systems and advanced perimeter detection systems.

One of its high profile contract wins was for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to design, manufacture, supply and install a new high security fence and gates around the 17km perimeter of the Olympic Park.

Paul Painter, director of sales and finance, said: “We are very excited about joining the West Midlands delegation to Sport Accord and showing representatives from Brazil and Russia in particular how we have worked with the organisers of London 2012 and how we can now move forward with other organisations around the world.”

Jim Johnston, West Midlands business manager for the 2012 Olympic Games, said: “West Midlands businesses have already won contracts worth nearly half a billion pounds to supply goods and services to the 2012 Games. Sport Accord now gives these companies the opportunity to use the expertise gained from their 2012 success, to bid for similar tenders from upcoming major sports events around the world.”