The London 2012 Olympics, one of the country’s biggest business procurement opportunities for decades, has delivered a publicly funded bonanza for companies in London and south-east England.
Poorer parts of Britain, however, are deriving relatively meagre direct benefit.
At a time of deepening concern over the nation’s economic divide, official figures obtained by the Financial Times suggest that public spending on the Olympics is widening the gap.
Companies based in London have won more than £2.7bn of contracts awarded to create venues and infrastructure – over half the total £5.1bn so far spent by the Olympic Delivery Authority – with south-east companies gaining contracts worth £805m and those in eastern England £719m.
In contrast, companies in north-east and south-west England have clinched £9m each, while businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland combined have netted £43m.
Financial Times, p3