Just 40 weeks to Go? Is Your Business ready for the Games?

Reduce, Re-time, Re-route, Re-mode was very much the message coming out of yesterday’s well-attended Olympic Travel Advice workshops, in association with Transport for London.

With the two-hour workshop tightly targeted to the impact that the Olympic Route Network will have on the busy roads, rail, tube and buses right here in Hammersmith, Rose MacArthur from London2012 (the company organising the Games) lost no time in revealing the sheer scale of the Games. Her initial 40-minute presentation pulled no punches:

• With an extra 8 million people loading down the network, the hub of Hammersmith will be severely affected
• Workers coming in and out of Hammersmith will find their conventional commute severely affected
• Imaginative solutions will be required for all levels of attempts to conduct a normal working day

The four main issues that Rose encouraged all businesses to think about was how the games was going to affect Staffing, Deliveries, Customers and Business Travel. The 2 hour workshop also included an interactive group activity which was notable for the communal desire to share advice and suggestions, consider their own business and the issues that will mostly affect their individual operation’s supply chain and in the wider scheme of things – their sector.

The consensus was that previously, the thinking by most businesses was very much, “It’s not on my doorstep, therefore it will not affect me”. Rose McArthur proved that this way of thinking is WRONG and precautions need to be taken now so that your business and customers would not suffer or take the brunt of the ricochet effects from the Games. “Take nothing for granted with your supply chain!” was an oft-repeated phrase. She concluded the workshop with two case study overviews of SMEs where interventions had already been put in place to mitigate any potential complications that would arise.

The event was considered excellent by all who attended: as one participant said, when leaving the afternoon session:

“What an eye opener!”

Important information about the Olympic Games 2012:

• 205 Countries will be involved – It is estimated that Heathrow will welcome almost 80% of all Games passengers, including athletes, officials, sponsors, media and spectators.
Please note 13 August 2012 is set to be Heathrow’s busiest day ever

• 55, 000 make up the Olympic Family – This group will have overall priority over all road and air travel to ensure the smooth running of the Games.

• £8 million ticketed spectators will be present at the Games with up to £1 million expected per day, commuting from all over London

• 32 competition venues with 3 main LIVE sites situated within ten miles of Hammersmith including Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square

For more information about the Games and how you will be affected, please visit www.london2012.com/traveladviceforbusiness

19 October 2011 - Olympic Travel Advice Workshop presentation is now available for download.

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