North London - A Growing Sub Region
North London has a population of over 1 million people - greater than the city of Birmingham - that is projected to grow by 160,000, or 15%, by 2016. The sub-region provides the link between central London and three of the Government’s growth areas: the London-Stansted- Cambridge Corridor and the Milton Keynes – South Midlands Growth Area to the north and Thames Gateway to the east. North London therefore occupies a strategic position in relation to the growth agenda and overall development of London.
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Employment
Supplying Olympic Services
Procurement
Olympic benefits for London and the UK
Employment
The North London population is predicted to grow faster than employment by a ratio
of 3:1, this will therefore create a greater potential pool of labour to service the Olympics. While much of North London’s labour force is skilled or highly skilled there are significant numbers of workless people, mainly concentrated in the more deprived areas of the Upper Lee. Concentrated effort will be required to ensure that these people are given strong support through programmes such as ‘Employ’ to be take advantage of opportunities presented by the Olympics.
Supplying Olympic Services
North London Limited is the agency responsible for inward investment, business retention and leisure & tourism within North London. The North London Chamber of Commerce, working with North London Limited will be ensuring that the sub-region’s businesses are well prepared to support the needs of the Olympics. Briefing meetings are already being held by both bodies to enable a close working relationship between North London businesses and the Olympic authorities. Networks are in place to provide a strategic approach to ensuring local business can bid to be part of the Olympic supply chain. North London Ltd is also working closely with the London Development Agency on the opportunities for relocating businesses displaced from the Olympic site. The North London Tourism Steering Group, with the
LDA and Visit London will also be working to improve the visitor facilities of the sub-region as part of its Olympic contribution.
The Construction Web network promotes opportunities for employment and training in the construction industry for Upper Lee Valley residents; and aims to support local construction firms through business advice and support to improve access to procurement opportunities in North London. We believe this service will be of great value in supporting the Olympics.
Procurement
The London 2012 eTendering Service is the authoritative site to access directly tendering opportunities generated by the Olympic Delivery Authority. The site provides a range of web-based eTendering support material which enables buyers and suppliers to engage with the Olympic Delivery Authority throughout the delivery of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
The site provides a simple, secure and efficient means of managing the tender process. Click here to enter the 2012 e-tendering service.
Olympic benefits for London and the UK
A Government commissioned report produced by Price Waterhouse Coopers has revealed that the capital’s GDP is set to rise by £5.9bn as a result of London hosting the Olympic Games. This, PWC predicts, is to the detriment of £2.8bn to surrounding regions giving a net benefit to the UK of a £1.9bn rise in GDP. This is further questioned as costs may increase particularly in the light of heightened security since July 7.
In the Financial Times (15 December 2005) Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary and Olympics Minster points out that from the outset the Olympics was set to benefit London disproportionately to the rest of the UK by the very fact that London would be hosting. It must be borne in mind that when bidding to host the Olympic Games, the host country does not do so to primarily reap economic benefits. It does though offer an excellent opportunity to rapidly catalyse growth and regeneration, and the area of the UK chosen, East London, is much in need of revitalisation and will stand to capitalise on the legacy following the Games in 2012. Whether East London is the area of the UK most in need of regeneration is difficult to say, but it will make the very most of this once in a lifetime boost to the area and will be a huge leap in the London’s economic development.
As part of the economic benefit to the Games the development will create immense commercial opportunities in supply, with the design and build of the huge infrastructure required. That in turn will create jobs directly and far down the supply chain. Companies eligible to bid for this work will do so to the Olympic Delivery Authority upon its formation in 2006 through the official OJEU tender process, with winning companies chosen on merits that will not solely relate to geography; businesses across the UK will have the chance to supply and be involved with the Games, overseas companies will also become involved if they represent the best supplier.
With London set to enjoy a gain in GDP, it must be remembered that Londoners will pay for this benefit; set to be at a rate of around £20 per annum for an average band D property for 10 years. That being the case why should Londoners not be able to enjoy the heightened economic benefits? Although with the demand in labour and skills that will be generated, much of this benefit will be drawn into London or its commuter rings in the years up to 2012, the net effect post-2012 will be very difficult to quantify or pinpoint.
London businesses have built up large enthusiasm for the Games and the regeneration will be maximised upon and enjoyed across the capital, including North London which contains the hosting borough of Waltham Forest. Activity has already begun in other boroughs of North London including Enfield and Haringey as companies facing relocation as a result of the land preparation for the Games zone search for alternative premises. Many look at the industrial areas on offer including Brimsdown, London's 2nd largest industrial area, in light of the Mayor's desire to transform Eastern London into an area for the finance and business sectors.
