Uh oh! Have you forgotten anything on our Olympic checklist for business?

There are just four weeks left until the start of the Games. And while they’re are sure to be a time for celebration among London’s business community, as has been well documented, they could also cause a few hiccups.

So for those of you who’ve kept your heads in the sand like anti-Olympic obdurate ostriches, fear not, we at LondonlovesBusiness.com have diligently compiled an Olympic care package for you to save you from the hurdles (pardon the pun) that will no doubt disrupt your course to a smooth running business this summer.  

And of course for those Olympic-preparation boffins, this is a chance to check off all of the hard work you’ve put into getting ready and make sure you haven’t missed anything.

So, counting down from next week, here’s what you should be doing over the next 28 days.

4 weeks to go

Bid for lingering Olympic contracts

You might think the moment has passed but you’d be wrong. There are still plenty of opportunities to land Olympic contracts through the CompeteFor platform in the run up to the Games, but also beyond the Games, for legacy contracts.

Want to know more?

London SMEs! It’s still worth bidding for Olympic Games contracts

Keep Olympic system to award SMEs jobs, business group says

Work out how you can advertise/market during the games

There has been a lot of fuss made about the strict rules surrounding Olympic advertising but there are ways to capitalise and get your brand noticed this summer that doesn’t involve ambush marketing. That means you too Nike.

What to know more?

Are taxis your ticket to marketing during the Olympics this summer?

Businesses warned over Olympic ambushing

Organise your deliveries

Making sure you get the deliveries you need during the Games is going to take some planning. You might have to budget for high costs and be prepared to get advance deliveries, work during the night and use unique methods such as jogging couriers.  

Want to know more?

Make relaxed night time delivery rules an Olympic legacy, says FSB

Cost of deliveries to rise during the Games as UPS monopolise “last mile”

DHL to introduce fleet of jogging couriers to beat Olympic congestion

Put flexible working plans in place

With public transport over-stretched your staff might struggle to get to work on time – if at all. Making sure you have flexible working plans in place to cope with staff working remotely is essential.

Want to know more?

Read our guide to flexible working: Flexible working - Myth or Reality?

Manage cash flow to prepare to possible post Games slump

Will your business be directly impacted by the Games? Will you have an increase in orders or more customers through the door? Answer ‘yes’ and your cash flow could be affected, consider now options to manage your cash flow.

Want to know more?

Managing cashflow: Why you should consider invoice finance

How long can your business hold its breath?

3 weeks to go

Test run tech to make sure it is up to scratch for remote working

Remote working is about more than letting your workforce stay at home. You need to make sure your systems are secure and can cope with staff logging on remotely. And do your employees have all of the gadgets they need?

Want to know more?

Five must-have gadgets for flexible working

The technologies that will shape the future of business

Reorganised face-to-face meetings to video conferencing

The technologies are out there to make physical meetings a thing of the past. There’s no need to get stuck in traffic trying to make it to a boardroom on the other side of town. Video conferencing is the answer.

Want to know more?

How to make your business a lean, green productivity machine

How to kill your daily dead time

How to turbocharge your workforce’s productivity

Made sure you’re fully staffed (or prepared for staff taking holidays)

Businesses taking on Olympic contracts will need to make sure they’re operating at full capacity staff wise. And for those businesses not directly involved, put in place measures to deal with any sickness, holiday or volunteering among staff.

Want to know more?

The Legal Eagle: Olympic volunteers, how employers can manage the mayhem

Employers step up Olympic recruitment efforts

Order free parking permits

Have you heard, one million parking permits are being issued across the capital to help control traffic? Businesses as well as residents will be affected – see if you’re included and order yours now.

Want to know more?

1m free parking permits to be issued during Olympics

2 weeks to go

Brief staff on whether they can come in late/early/work from home

You’ve put your plans in place and checked them, now you need to make sure that everybody knows and understands your flexible working strategy.

Want to know more?

 Flexible working arrangements: the legal process for employers

London SMEs embrace flexible working

Make sure staff have planned routes to work

Despite flexible working plans you might find that staff need to attend the office on occasion. Ensure they have planned their route appropriately. TfL has created a nice heat map showing possible congestion spots at any given time throughout the Games.

Want to know more?

TfL’s Games travel hotspot list gets a warm welcome

Jubilee travel chaos adds to fears over Olympic transport problems

Make a map of Olympic lanes and then avoid them

Olympic Lanes have caused quite a stir already, it would be a good idea to know exactly where they run to and from so as you can avoid them. Like the plague.

Want to know more?

Commuting fears over Olympic traffic lanes

Charlie Mullins: “Why I’ll probably sue TfL”

Make sure staff can watch events if needs be

We have the pleasure of working in a multinational city alongside colleagues from all over the world. If staff really don’t want to miss certain events, it’s a good idea to let them know they can take time to enjoy a few of the important ones.

Want to know more?

The top 5 questions your business needs to answer NOW to be ready for the Olympics

Double-check you’re not infringing Olympics branding regulations

A cheeky set of rings here, a smattering of 2012s there. Make sure you’re not going to get caught out jumping on the Olympic branding bandwagon. Better to be safe than smacked with a big old fine.

Want to know more?

Politicians slam Olympic branding rules as “ridiculous”

Olympic sponsorship: What are the benefits?

Look at our forthcoming Olympic business events calendar and RSVP to which ones you want to attend

The Games will present an unprecedented networking opportunity as businesses from around the globe fly in to be part of the festivities. Make sure you’re there, hilted to the max with business cards and ready to make some new acquaintances.

Want to know more?

Business legacy targeted for Olympic Games

1 week to go

Organise your Olympic culture plans

You might be surprised to read that it’s not all about sport this summer. There are a swathe of cultural events hitting the capital to coincide with the summer of sport.  

Want to know more?

Olympic culture! Our top 10 London 2012 events

Decide which events you’ll watch with beers in the office (good for motivation)

You’d be mad not to get excited about cheering on your country in their various Olympic endeavours. Allowing staff to watch some events will do wonders for moral. It might present an excuse to get a nice wide-screen telly for the social area too – “come on Team GB!”

Put your bid in for the Olympic Stadium

Well…it is still up for grabs! Who knows what your business could do with an 80,000 capacity sporting venue – just saying.

Want to know more?

Olympic Stadium bidding process extended as row rumbles on

Olympic venues scout for sponsors

Make up any Olympics-themed customer newsletters you want to send out during the Games (though avoid any branding so you don’t infringe on Locog regs)

Obviously you need to be careful (see above) but why not create a newsletter with relevant Olympic-themed content for your customers. If done correctly you can ride on the back of Olympic good feeling and deliver appropriate messages to your customer base.

After the Games

Apply for Olympic legacy contracts via CompeteFor

When all has died down, the Olympic rings have come off our monuments and the crowds have retreated, there is still time to cash in on contracts. There’s no reason your business can’t be part of the legacy.

Want to know more?

London SMEs! It’s still worth bidding for Olympic Games contracts

Game on.