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NEWS FOCUS 9
News
2012
Olympic opportunities for BAME businesses
“ The contracts and tender processes for all work relating to the Olympic Delivery Authority are designed to be as open and transparent as possible and equality and diversity considerations are a key element of this ”. These were the words of Morag Stuart , ODA Head of Procurement , speaking at the “ Ethnic Minority Business and the 2012 Games – The Opportunities ” Conference last January 2007 .
Held to highlight the opportunities for ethnic minority business arising from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games , at the conference , Ms Stuart outlined the ODA ’ s approach to procurement and Equality and Diversity policies .
“ Our draft Equality and Diversity Strategy is currently out for consultation and sets out how the ODA will aim to make procurement processes as inclusive and fair as possible ,” she said as she addressed almost 100 delegates , including Black Asian and Ethnic Minority businesses .
The conference was organised by the Ethnic Minority Business Forum . Speakers included the Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP , the Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP and Adeeba Malik MBE , Chair of the DTI ’ s Ethnic Minority Business Forum .
Key points The ODA launched its Draft Procurement Policy in July last year . The final version of the Procurement Policy is expected to be issued in March 2007 .
Its Draft Equality and Diversity Policy was launched last month ( January 2007 ).
The ODA ’ s Draft Equality and Diversity aims are to :
• Create and build an Olympic Park for Games and Legacy , which are inclusive for people of all cultures , faiths and ages and fully accessible to disabled people with a wide range of impairments
• Ensure all processes used to recruit and manage employees working to build the venues , infrastructure and transport are demonstrably fair and offer equal opportunities to all
• Work with partner organisations to encourage women , Black , Asian and Minority Ethnic ( BAME ) and disabled people to train and apply for jobs in construction and to combat workplace discrimination
• Ensure that the procurement of all work , goods and services is transparent , fair and open to diverse suppliers
• Engage with diverse groups within the local communities
• Build its own organisational capacity in equality and diversity and develop the equality competence of our direct employees
• Integrate equality and diversity into its business processes
For further information about the London 2012 Olympic Games visit http :// www . london2012 . com
ISSUE THREE 2007 engage | uk