IT company lifted by £2m Games contract

Business Correspondent/Personal Finance Editor

Monday 22 October 2012

The potential economic legacy of the Commonwealth Games 2014 has been underlined with the award of a £2 million-plus contract to North Lanarkshire IT services firm NVT, which says it will use it to create 15 modern apprenticeships – including three for athletes.

GAME ON: The directors of NVT Solutions outside the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow after the contract was awarded. Picture: James Galloway

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SIMON BAIN

Scottish companies have won 312 of the 418 Games contracts awarded over the past three years, including almost 90% of the £276m "tier 1" contracts.

NVT says such contracts, won in a rigorous and transparent procurement process, demonstrate how the Games can showcase Scottish companies and help furnish a platform for future growth.

Steven Park Brown, chief executive of the firm, which employs 90 at Bellshill, said: "We have seen so many businesses sold because they can't scale up, we see the Games as an opportunity to showcase our services."Hamish Fraser, business development manager, said: "NVT already has a modern apprenticeship programme but the Glasgow Commonwealth Games gives us the opportunity to expand that programme and create permanent positions – it is not like bringing in a contract resource for a short period of time."NVT recently won a £500,000 contract with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, after a customised procurement exercise outside the normal public-sector tender process that has been under fire for its inbuilt bias towards large companies.Mr Park Brown said the Games contracts were handled in a similarly progressive way. "The main feature was direct engagement with all the tendering organisations, all through the process – it is far more open, with a higher level of communication."David Brown, head of procurement at Glasgow 2014, said: "For Scottish and Glasgow suppliers, the opportunity to win business, raise international ambitions and deliver growth is huge. The vast number of Glasgow 2014 contracts which have been awarded to Scottish companies so far is an indication of Scotland's ability to provide world-class service, and over £50m of business opportunities are to be generated over the next six months. From construction to catering, businesses across Scotland will have the chance to win contracts resulting from the Games." The Herald last month reported how a £1.3m turnover Glasgow company, Abercromby Foods, planned to increase staff from 10 to 15 after winning the contract to supply drinks vending machines for the Commonwealth Arena.NVT, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, says its contract will help it grow towards its target of a £15m turnover and 150 staff by 2016, helped by what it believes will be a widening of the public procurement process.Mr Park Brown said: "There is no supply of any goods, this is all services, our expertise in putting together the other major sponsors and supporters and suppliers of all the equipment and software that will run at the Games. We are the integrator."The 2014 spectacular runs across 23 locations, with IT infrastructure critical to areas such as the athletes' village and media centre. NVT will work with the likes of Dell, Atos and Longines and begin designing its IT solutions this month.Mr Fraser added: "A modern apprenticeship normally lasts 12 months – ours last three to four years." The company would like to see its package gain formal accreditation, to help fill a qualification gap in the IT industry, and it expects some of its 15 recruits to come from the rest of Scotland or even London, where it is poised to open an office.NVT already supports Pollock Cricket, and match-funds Hamilton International Sports Trust to enable star local athletes to "earn and learn". Now three of its 15 apprenticeships will be for aspiring athletes. Mr Fraser said: "It is something that smaller companies like NVT do for the long-term. The Games will allow us to do it on a larger scale."

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IT company lifted by £2m Games contract

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