David Tonkin tells firms there are many ways to promote their Olympic work other than using the media

government construction summit

There are 鈥渕any ways鈥 of promoting your involvement in building London 2012 venues other than media promotion, Atkins鈥 UK chief executive David Tonkin has said.

Tonkin tackled the 鈥渢horny鈥 issue of the Olympics鈥 marketing restrictions on firms involved in delivering the project during a panel debate on London 2012 at the Government Construction Summit.

Atkins is the only construction firm able to promote its involvement in London 2012 as it paid up to be an official partner of the Games.

Tonkin said: 鈥淭here are many different ways [to promote your involvement] without broadcast, such as one to one with clients.

鈥淚n an open competition we won the right [to partner London 2012] and it鈥檚 been very helpful.鈥

But Nick Baird, head of UK Trade and Investment, told the conference his organisation was working with Olympic authorities to try to 鈥済et to a better place鈥 with regard to the marketing rules.

He said UKTI was looking to create a London 2012 鈥榮uppliers directory鈥 to help firms promote their involvement at home and abroad.

He encouraged any firms interested in the initiative to get in touch with UKTI.

Baird added that London 2012 was a 鈥渇antastic selling point鈥 for the UK construction industry.

Tonkin said London 2012 should give the UK construction industry 鈥渢he confidence鈥 that it could deliver major infrastructure projects successfully.