Olympic summits to provide £1bn boost for British business

Britain's biggest ever business investment conference.

The 2012 Games are the greatest business networking event in the global calendar where companies from all over the world will come to London to meet, interact and do business. To take full advantage of this unique opportunity to deliver a worthwhile and lasting business legacy across Great Britain, the Government will be hosting the biggest ever investment conference Britain has ever seen. The bold and innovative programme, run by UK Trade & Investment, will enable international companies to come together and discuss both opportunities and the major issues affecting them and will, over time, generate more than £1 billion of additional revenue for British businesses.

The Government has developed an exciting Games time programme of networking opportunities, conferences, summits, seminars and face- to- face meetings for British and international businesses. As the platform for showcasing international business partnerships and the best of British expertise and skill, the Olympics conference series is the key element of this programme running from the eve of the Games on July 26th to end of the Paralympics on September 7th.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

"This summer's Olympics will put the eyes of the world on Britain as we host not just an unparalleled sporting spectacle, but also a chance for companies from across the globe to interact and do business here in the UK.

"A wide range of British companies will be involved alongside the world's leading business figures in this exciting programme of events, putting the UK at the forefront of efforts to resolve the economic challenges that face us all.

"We are working hard to make sure the whole country can seize this once in a generation opportunity. We expect these events to generate at least £1bn for British businesses and they are vital to our efforts to secure a long-term return to sustainable growth.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

"Trade and investment is critical to our economic recovery and future prosperity. The Olympic business legacy programme will help British business identify new export opportunities and tell overseas investors why the UK is a great place for them to invest and grow."

Global Investment Conference

On 26th July, the eve of the Olympics, the Government will host the Global Investment Conference, a major international event which will be attended by more than 200 global financial and business leaders. The Global Investment Conference will address the vital issues that are facing all world economies; how to drive growth and how to stimulate increased global trade, investment and partnerships. It will create a global conversation and position the UK as a thought leader, a creative and innovative nation and a source of solutions to the global issues facing businesses today.

The Global Investment Conference will feature leaders of the multi- national and central banks (including the Bank of England), sovereign wealth funds, foreign trade ministers from key emerging markets, leading global investment managers and Chief Executive Officers from energy, infrastructure, technology and healthcare companies. Companies that have already confirmed their participation as speakers include ARM, Autonomy, GlaxoSmithKline, Vodafone, and WPP. Other confirmed attendees include Airbus, China International Capital Corporation, DP World, Gamesa, Goldman Sachs, Google, HTC, Iberdrola, Korea Investment Corp, Nissan, Prudential, and Standard Chartered .

Global Business Summits

To give British and international businesses the chance to attract inward investment and grow their business internationally the Government will host a series of Global Business Summits from July 26th to September 7th 2012.

Focusing on a different high growth global sector, country or sports related issue each day, the programme includes summits on key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, automotive and aerospace, creative industries, energy, infrastructure and construction, life sciences, technology and telecom as well as high growth partner regions such as Brazil and China. During the Paralympics the Government will host the second International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Academy Inclusion Summit. Government ministers will support each of the sector summits providing companies the opportunity to engage with UK Government at the highest level, providing a real forum for debate and discussion.

UK and International companies who have, to date, confirmed their participation include: Aggreko, Airbus, Alliance Boots, AMEC, Arup, BBC, BT, CMS Cameron McKenna, Diageo, Facebook, Google, Intel, Jaguar Land Rover, JCB, Kraft, Marks & Spencer, Mind Candy (creators of Moshe Monsters), Mott MacDonald, National Grid, Openreach, Pascall & Watson Aviation Architects, Pearson, Qualcomm, Shell, Tesco, Twitter and Vodafone.

Earlier this year UK Trade & Investment launched the British Business Club, another important element of the overall Government Olympic programme. The Club brings together UK and overseas businesses to network, identify business opportunities and develop partnerships.

Companies can register online for free at:

British Business Club

In a ground breaking arrangement brokered by the Government, UK and overseas businesses who are members of the British Business Club, who come to London during the Games will be given temporary membership of the Institute of Directors (IoD). This will allow them to use the IoD’s Pall Mall Offices during their stay and highlights how the British Business Club is helping businesses connect during the Games.

Startup Games

During the Paralympic Games, up to 300 of the world's most exciting new businesses will be invited to take part in the StartUp Games event. Hosted in Tech City, the StartUp Games will give entrepreneurs the chance to share in the Olympic atmosphere and experience for themselves the fantastic facilities of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the innovative culture of Tech City, while competing to be recognised amongst the world's highest potential startups.

The Tech City Investment Organisation will organise the StartUp Games, working alongside partners including StartUp Britain and the Olympic Park Legacy Company, which will also allow new UK startups the chance to learn from some of the best from around the world, and provide the finalists the support they might need to bring their businesses to Tech City.

Notes to editors

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy - acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information on UKTI, visitwww.ukti.gov.ukor telephone +44 (0)207 215 5000. For latest press releases, visit the onlinenewsroom atwww.ukti.gov.uk/media.

Further details on attendance and sponsorship at both the Global Investment Conference and Global Business Summits will be announced in due course.

Date Sector Event

Thurs July 26 -Global Investment Conference

Sat July 28 - China -UK – Partnerships for Growth

Mon July 30 -Creative Industries: Advertising, Media, Design and Architecture

Tues July 31 - Creative Content: Music, Games, TV, Film, Fashion and Publishing

Wed Aug 1 - Education

Thurs Aug 2 - Life Sciences

Fri Aug 3 - ICT - Tech, Telecom and Internet

Mon Aug 6 - Energy - The Journey to Smart Energy

Tues Aug 7 - Energy - The Journey to Smart Energy

Wed Aug 8 - Infrastructure - Construction (urban renewal), Rail, Airports & Water

Thurs Aug 9 - Retail, Food & Drink

Fri Aug 10 - Advanced Engineering, Automotive, Aerospace

Sun Aug 12 - Global Sports Projects - Delivering a Business Legacy

PARALYMPICS

Mon 3 Sept - Life Sciences

Wed 5 Sept -Delivering world class sports events

Thurs 6 Sept -International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Academy Inclusion Summit

Fri 7 Sept - International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Academy Inclusion Summit

The Business Club is being run in partnership with UK Trade & Investment, London & Partners, London Business Network and BIS.

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