17th Nov 2011 - 00:00
Abstract
Three in five UK businesses (59%) say they wish that London Olympics money had been invested elsewhere, with a quarter (26%) claiming it would have been better spent on training young people to help them secure employment.
The research, commissioned by serviced office operator Business Environment, will come as a blow to the Government, which last month launched a drive to maximise the economic impact of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The sentiments echo the ambivalence in some parts of the catering industry. Contractors such as Sodexo, Aramark, Compass, BaxterStorey, Amadeus and Arena have all done well in winning business at the prestige event. However, many caterers working in the capital believe that staff restaurant business over the six weeks of the games will take a hit as workers operate from home or take holiday to avoid the expected tourist rush. David Saul, managing director of Business Environment, says: "Due to the general negativity felt by businesses, many are ill-prepared for the Games, sparing little thought for staffing levels or alternative methods of travel. "Just a quarter (25%) say they think flexible working hours would benefit their business during the Olympics, 14% are intending to take on extra staff to cope with increased work load and 15% will use video conferencing to replace face-to-face meetings." But he feels the results are unsurprising. "We're living in a difficult economic period, with businesses struggling to make a profit and keep afloat. It is understandable then that companies are sceptical about how London 2012 will directly increase their bottom line." Only a quarter (24%) of UK companies believe the Olympics will boost their business and as few as 17% say they will use them as a way of selling products or services. Saul adds: "Businesses are simply not acknowledging the effects of the Olympics and are therefore being a little naive when it comes to maintaining staff levels and reducing the impact caused by increased traffic congestion. "It is critical that all businesses, including those based outside of London, consider the impact of the Games on staff, customers, visitors and suppliers and make arrangements to reduce disruption, operate as smoothly as possible and maintain productivity levels."
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