Business opportunities in a tough economic climate

This week I spoke at a business forum organised by the Confederation of British Industry to help galvanise support from the business community. It was a chance to show businesses how they can set about accessing opportunities created by London 2012 and champion the Games.

Ian Barlow, Chair of the London Business Board, Mike Mulvey, CEO of the London Business Network, and Brendan Dineen, 2012 Director for Think London, also contributed.

One of the themes that came out of the forum was of the ability for the Games to stand out as an inspiration for businesses in the challenging economic climate we currently find ourselves in. While other building projects might have to be shelved until the economy recovers, the venues and infrastructure for the Games simply must be delivered on time.

This creates an important opportunity for many businesses to access contracts throughout the supply chain. The audience, a cross representation of UK businesses, were provided with an update of the progress of the construction and talked though the importance of the Olympic Route Network for the smooth operation of the Games.

This was followed with practical information about how they can access these opportunities through the London 2012 Business Network.

Our key message is that that London 2012, as one of the largest construction projects in the UK, will offer huge prospects for regeneration and growth and one we hope will serve to stimulate and inspire businesses across the UK.

Londoners cheer for Beijing heroes

17 Oct 2008
Following their successful performance in Beijing, the Great Britain Olympic and Paralympic teams took part in a parade through the streeets of London.

The parade gets to The Strand headed up by a marching band.

The first of 12 floats arrives.

The athletes look excited.

The floats make their way towards Trafalgar Square.

The event was covered by the national media.

Loads of people turned up at the Trafalgar Square for the finale.

Some of the athletes were interviewed.

Looks like everyone enjoyed themselves!

London Fashion Week

The Exhibition is home to around 200 of the hottest designers, showcasing their collections for the international trade audience. This September, the Exhibition included the new creations of Stephen Jones (millinery), Mawi (jewellery), Linda Farrow's vintage and designer collaborations (eyewear), Made in Heaven (denim), Antoni & Alison (RTW), Heidi Klein (swimwear) and Melissa (footwear). There were a number of new initiatives: The Berlin Representative, a collective of three cutting edge designers from Berlin; 101% Brussels Showroom, showcasing six directional designers (RTW and accessories). They sat alongside Glasgow: Scotland with Style, representing the latest talent to come out of Scotland and Valerie Demure's contemporary jewellery from the UK and Europe. There continues to be a hotbed of fresh talent in the capital. This was evident at the Exhibition: BFC New Gen sponsored by TOPSHOP, Fashion East, known for its new designer talent and collaborated by Lulu Kennedy, and at the BFC Fashion Forward café, where the winners' shows were broadcast via LFW TV.

London's New 2012 Olympics Logo: Threat or Menace?

London's New 2012 Olympics Logo: Threat or Menace?London unveiled the official logo for the 2012 Olympics yesterday, and the race is now on to figure out what, exactly, they were thinking -- or smoking -- when making their selection. Created for 400,000 pounds (US$796,000) by the branding agency Wolff Olins, the graffiti-style design is an abstracted version of the numbers 2012, and it was intended to draw the attention of younger folk. According to the official brand statement:The new 2012 emblem will use the Olympic spirit to inspire everyone and reach out to young people. It is an invitation to take part and be involved [...]The new emblem is dynamic, modern and flexible. It will work with new technology and across traditional and new media networks.It will become London 2012’s visual icon, instantly recognisable amongst all age groups, all around the world. It will establish the character and identity of the London 2012 Games and what the Games will symbolise nationally and internationally.Right then.So far, the far the critics have been withering.London's Design Museum founder Stephen Bayley says the logo is "a puerile mess, an artistic flop and a commercial scandal."A wag named "farmboy" thinks it resembles a broken-up Nazi swastika."There were lots of good things about the 80s. Style was not one of them. And yet, this identity screams 1985 at me like a dodgy set of legwarmers," says Design in the fishbowl"Absolutely awful -- what performance enhancing drugs were the organisers on when they chose this as the logo for the games?" asked Pete East London in a comment on a BBC article.And most memorably of all, one caller to London's Radio4 brilliantly noted that the new logo reminded them of "Lisa Simpson fellating a stranger." (Others have carried this unseemly imagery to its NSFW logical conclusion.)In animated form, the new 2012 logo is a double-threat. Epilepsy Action, a British organizaiton, says several people suffered seizures after watching a variation of the jagged shapes that depicted a diver plunging into a pool. The BBC reports that a Mr. Christopher Filmer called a London radio station to complain that he suffered a seizure while watching the animated logo on television. "The logo came up on TV and I was thinking about the 2012 Games and then I was out," he said."We are taking it very seriously and are looking into it as a matter of urgency," says a London 2012 spokesperson.