The following article was submitted by Philip Fanthom, Jenrick CPI’s Sales Director, after attending a seminar at the Madejski Stadium (home of Reading Football Club) targeted at identifying potential suppliers to the London 2012 Olympics.
Phil’s aim was to explore the opportunities available for Jenrick CPI to supply contract and permanent I.T. personnel solutions to the companies responsible for delivering the 2012 Olympics in London:
“Yesterday I attended an excellent seminar which outlined the business potential throughout the South East for businesses who wish to get involved with London 2012 Olympics.
Paddy Herlihy (London 2012 Olympics South East Co-Ordinator) opened the event with a great overview and was very clear on the possibilities available and the way forward for businesses to “Compete, Create, Collaborate” - this is London 2012 Olympics business strap line.
The day’s activities were a number of presentations by:
* Jeff Alexander (Exec Director for Global Competitiveness for London 2012 Olympics)
* Charles Allen (Chair of London 2012 Olympics Nations and Regions Group)
* James Braithwaite CBE (Chairman SEEDA)
* Mike Mulvey (Chief Executive London Business Network for 2012 Olympics)
* Rob Knight (Head of Procurement & Contracts London 2012 Olympics Delivery Authority)
* Richard Mould (Head of Procurement for LOCOG)
* Ronnie Epstein (Chief Executive Business Link, Berkshire)
In addition to the presentations, there was a round table discussion and open floor audience questions.
However, I was particularly inspired by a video about getting into sport – that is to be extensively used within Schools and other establishmente to encourage people to take up sport and (hopefully) represent the Great Britain Team in the 2012 Olympics.
As I watched this, I felt there was a great amount of synergy between the message it was communicating and our own ethos within Jenrick CPI regarding the importance we place on personal wellbeing and ‘Getting fit for work’.
For those that would not be aware, we actively encourage healthy eating with our ‘5 a day’ campaign. Where we have partnered with a local fruit and vegetable agent who deliver fresh produce to us ensuring that all staff have the opportunity to avail of a healthy alternative to junk food snacks.
In addition, Jenrick CPI are making gym membership subsidy available to all staff to encourage health and fitness, together with actively encouraging our staff who live locally to ‘Take the bike to work’ instead of their car.
Finally, later this year we will continue our very successful client engagement program where we have undertaken a number of wellbeing events and promotions, including delivering healthy food baskets to our client’s offices (see www.jenrickcpi.co.uk/wellbeing for more information).
Jenrick CPI will be an active part of the London 2012 Olympics build up and hope to partner up with other like minded companies throughout the South East.
The official handover of the Olympic torch will happen later this year at Beijing 2008 Olympics closing ceremony - this represents the start of the UK’s 4 year Olympiad.
After the seminar yesterday, I not only feel proud that we, in this country, have the opportunity to host a prestigious event like the Olympic Games, but also recognise that this is a great opportunity for our business from an internal and external prospective.”
For a bit of fun (and seeing as we are on the subject of the Olympics), we thought it might be good to re-live some of the most famous Olympic moments of the past by asking you to tell us what your favourite Olympic memory is - just enter it below:
For me - 1984 LA Olympics. Daley Thompson wore the the biggest grin you’d ever seen on the final lap of the the last event (800m) as he knew he had the competition won. That guy never forgot to enjoy competing. An excellent all-round athlete.
My favourite Olympics memory was Barcelona ‘92. Linford Christie and the 100m Gold. I always wanted to get some sprinting trainers after that and dared to practice my running every lunchtime at school! Wiggins and Boardman in the Cycling too, great memories!
I have various memories of the Olympics but I think two stand out for me. One was seeing Greg and Jonny Searle win the coxed four in rowing in the nineties. I was working for their dad at the time so knew them personally as they used to visit our office quite often. It meant so much to them and they had trained so hard. The other was watching Olga Corbett winning gold medals in gymnastics in 1972 I think, she was very young at the time and became a real sweatheart of those games.
I was 20 years old when the Mexico Olympics were held in 1968 with the substantial advantage (in the sprint events) of being 7400ft (2240 metres) above sea level.
So much so that 9 men’s world records were set at the 100m & 200m sprints, 400m, 800m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 4×100m relay, 4×400m relay and long jump.
Having set a long jump school record the previous year I was in awe when watching Bob Beamon “fly” 29ft 2ins.(8.90 metres) bettering the previous world record by nearly 22ins (55cms).
Not only was he the first man over 29ft he was the first to achieve 28ft!… His world record stood for 23years, when Mike Powell jumped out of the pit with 8.95 metres, but his Olympic record still stands today!