Preparing your business for 2012
With just months to go until the start of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it's time to make sure your business is fully prepared, whether it's planning around likely transport difficulties, making the most of business opportunities, or dealing with licensing, trading standards or waste issues during what will be the busiest summer ever in Hackney.
With eight million people due to attend the London 2012 Games, Hackney will be affected by at least six weeks of severe travel disruption on the roads and public transport which will affect your employees, customers, contractors, visitors and suppliers. There will also be activities taking place in Hackney before the Games, such as the Radio 1 Hackney Weekend 2012 on Hackney Marshes on 23/24 June and the arrival of the Olympic flame and the One Hackney Festival street celebrations on 21 July.
Sources of information for businesses
- London 2012 - LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) has provided a free business toolkit which explains which areas of the transport network will be affected and offers advice.
- 2012 transport issues for business - Hackney's road and rail network will be busier before, during, and after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which may have an impact on your business in terms of deliveries and how staff get to work .
- London 2012 and Transport for London workshops - London 2012 and Transport for London would like to invite you to attend a London 2012 Travel Advice for Business workshop that will help you prepare for the Games. At various venues in Hackney Central, Dalson and Shoreditch.
- 2012 business news and events - keep up to date with what's happening with Games-related news and events
- Useful services for Hackney businesses - help and advice on licensing, commercial waste, food hygiene, Olympic Park business opportunities and town centre regeneration.
Download our small business factsheet (PDF, 987KB)
Useful services for Hackney businesses
Licensing
Businesses planning to extend their offer at Games time in public entertainment, gambling, selling hot food or drink, hosting events of more than 500 people or offering services such as tattooing, massage or cosmetic treatments should check whether a licence is needed.
Please apply for licences well in advance of Games time to prevent delay. For more information visit the Licensing page, contact Hackney's Licensing Service on 020 8356 2431 or email licensing@hackney.gov.uk
Waste services
Waste, including recyclable waste, from any business however big or small is classified as commercial waste. During the Games you may have more waste and will need to ensure that you have the relevant documentation in place.
For more information visit the Commercial Waste page, tel 020 8356 6683 or email commercialwaste@hackney.gov.uk
Food hygiene
If you do not already sell food and wish to at Games time you will need to contact the Council in order to register your food premises, and comply with Food Hygiene and Standards regulations.
For more information visit the Environmental Health page, tel 020 8356 4911 or email environmental.health@hackney.gov.uk.
Olympic Park business opportunities
The Olympic Park Legacy Company is launching a project to help local businesses access contract opportunities through the legacy development of the Olympic Park. Hackney Council is working with the project's delivery partner, Business to Business, which is compiling a database of local firms. If you are interested in registering, please contact Louise Henry at Louise.Henry@btob.co.uk and on 0207 700 0008.
Town centre regeneration
Hackney Council's Regeneration Delivery team provides support to enable businesses and educational, creative, retail, leisure and services industries to operate more easily in the borough. Hackney's town centres include Shoreditch, Dalston, Stoke Newington, Hackney Central and Hackney Wick. For more information, please tel 020 8356 7746 or email regen@hackney.gov.uk
For general information and advice for business please visit our main business section.
Page updated: 25 Apr 2012
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