THE South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) has teamed up with Business Link and Team South West for masterclasses about successful tendering for the Olympics.

It is estimated that there will be £21bn of potential new business up for grabs nationally through the 2,000 direct contracts with the Olympic Delivery Authority, 5,000 contracts with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) plus 75,000 supply chain opportunities.

The diversity of contracts available is wide-ranging. They include the structural framework, lighting and security systems for the Olympic Park, manufacturing turnstiles, seating and vending machines.

Over the next few years, businesses will be invited to submit tenders in relation to the development and furnishing of Olympic venues and villages in East London, Eton Dorney, Weymouth and Portland.

The MAS, Business Link and Team South West have joined forces to encourage businesses in Dorset to ensure that they take advantage.

The second in a series of seven Tendering for Manufacturers workshops for leaders and senior managers in manufacturing will be held in Dorchester on May 8 at Kingston Maurward College from 9.15am to 4.30pm.

The workshop will give manufacturers exposure to different types of tenders, both small and large.

It will explore tendering as part of a manufacturing business strategy, why tender submissions fail, how to access opportunities and most importantly how to improve tender performance.

Team South West has been instrumental in launching CompeteFor, the chosen website of London 2012 for the publication of Games-related contract opportunities.

Guy Lavender, who is South West England director for the London 2012 Games, said: "CompeteFor provides South West companies with an unprecedented chance to become involved in the London 2012 Games opportunity.

"This is the first time that any country hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games has instituted this type of mechanism to ensure businesses from across the host country and those from outside traditional supply chains benefit.

"The best piece of advice I can give is for businesses to register on the site now, take advantage of the South West MAS workshops and start thinking carefully about how the London Games will create demand for products and services."

The cost of the Tendering for Manufacturers workshop is £70.

Pre-registration is essential.

E-mail info@swmas.co.uk, visit http://www.swmas.co.uk/Events/Events.php/586 or call 0845 608 3838.