Unite welcomes Olympics print opportunities
Monday, 6th August 2007
The Head of Procurement at the Olympic
Delivery Authority, Morag Stewart, and her team met recently with
representatives of PrintLondon, the BPIF and Unite to discuss print
tendering for the 2012 games.
At the meeting Unite, PrintLondon and the
British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) sought assurances
that small and medium sized print companies would not be excluded
from successfully tendering for Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)
print contracts and that the commercial opportunities that will
flow from the Olympics will benefit the print community as a
whole.
PrintLondon's Chairman, John Pulford,
commented: “The ODA have taken on board our views about the
importance of Small & Medium sized Enterprises
(SME) in the print sector. Whilst the relatively modest size of the
ODA’s direct print spend will restrict contracts to a small number
of bidders, they have agreed to look at other means of encouraging
all first tier suppliers to place sub-contracts with smaller
firms.
“First tier suppliers have already
been required to advertise their sub-contracts through the ODA’s
electronic broking service. Although for legal reasons the ODA
cannot require sub-contractors to widen their supplier base, they
have now agreed to consider our suggestion that they follow the
local authority precedent of requiring contractors to use their
best endeavours to contract with local SMEs.”
Unite Assistant General Secretary, Tony Burke,
who welcomed the decision said: “Unite has stressed the
importance of ensuring that the Olympic Games generates employment
and increased job security across the printing industry notably in
small and medium sized print companies in London and in the UK as a
whole and the ODA has clearly recognised this
objective.”
The Olympic Delivery Authority has published
the print tendering criteria for a range of four-year contracts for
marketing and communications materials relating to the 2012 Games.
The contracts cover print, design, copywriting and distribution,
and include individual lots for litho and digital work as well as
branded stationery. The EU-restricted procurement tender closes on
the 20th August.
-ENDS-
For more information contact Tony
Burke on 07831 659939 or Ashraf Choudhury Unite
Press Office 0207 420 8914 or 07980 224761.
