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CompeteFor, the online business 'dating agency', continues to grow.  Over 4,000 contract opportunities have now been published on CompeteFor since it started in January 2008.

CompeteFor was designed by the LDA with the London Business Network and London 2012 so that the massive Olympic contract and supply chain opportunities could be opened up to small and medium-sized businesses. CompeteFor allows companies to register as potential suppliers online. The system then notifies them of contracts as they are put out to tender and enables small and medium-sized businesses to apply quickly and easily.

Originally developed to open up contracts from London 2012, CompeteFor has been recognised as an effective way to increase competition and open up procurement by the wider public sector and business organisations. The Greater London Authority ‘family’ - the London Development Agency, Transport for London, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Metropolitan Police - now use the system routinely for their procurement of goods and services.  Westminster City Council has also adopted CompeteFor to strengthen its procurement code and support local businesses.

Almost a third of the contracts awarded through CompeteFor have been won by businesses based in London.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

"It is excellent news that so many businesses, many from London, are able to benefit from Olympic contracts. Even better, there are now a myriad of opportunities arising from the Greater London Authority as a whole, attracting a whole raft of smaller businesses who may have missed the boat without the aid of CompeteFor."

Mike Mulvey, Chief Executive of London Business Network, said:

"The London Business Network wants the capital’s business community to get the maximum benefit from the London 2012 Games.  With over 4,000 contracts published on CompeteFor, this innovative tool is helping businesses to access countless contract opportunities freely and easily."

"Over 26,000 London businesses are now registered on CompeteFor and with more London 2012 business opportunities up for grabs, more London-based firms are going to benefit from this system."

The organisers of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games announced last week that there are some £1.7 billion worth of Olympic-related contracts still up for grabs, which will generate thousands of additional business opportunities through the supply chains.  The majority of London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games' opportunities are due to be published on CompeteFor.

London Development Agency Director of Olympic Opportunity Geoff Newton said:

"CompeteFor has proved to be a unique tool in allowing smaller businesses to access Olympic contracts. We designed the service so that it could be expanded into other areas and we are delighted that this is now being used to open up both contracts on the Olympics and other public sector procurement.”