Get Involved: live and coming up opportunities to get involved in the B2022 Commonwealth Games

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Introduction

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place between the 28th July and 8th August 2022.

The Commonwealth encompasses almost one-third of the world’s population. The Commonwealth Games take place every four years and bring together athletes from across the Commonwealth for 11 days of competitive sport. It is viewed by a global audience of up to 1.5bn with between 500,000 and 1million domestic and international visitors are expected to visit the area during the Games.

Find out more about the Commonwealth Games Federation here

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About the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games

There are a number of key partners involved in delivering the Games including:

Birmingham City Council – the host city, responsible for providing the city services, transport, and venues infrastructure to facilitate the Games

The Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee - responsible for the planning and operational delivery of the Games. This includes the sport programme, venue and competition management, ticket sales, all ceremonies and the Queen's Baton Relay

The West Midlands Growth Company – responsible for delivering the £24m Business and Tourism Programme (BATP)

West Midlands Combined Authority – responsible for delivering a Commonwealth Games Jobs and Skills Academy, coordinating transport (through Transport for West Midlands) and other wider support for the Games

The Department for Culture Media & Sport, the Department for International Trade, Visit Britain, Sport England and the Commonwealth Games Federation among others are also playing roles in various activities.

In the run up to the Games, an array of products and services will need to be procured in order to ensure the success of the games. These will range from large scale infrastructure to the Commonwealth Games branding, to catering and training. In addition, there will be further supply chain opportunities created by the organisations delivering the major direct contracts.

All contracts over a value of £10k will be advertised via the Birmingham 2022 Business Portal.

All host-city contracts over £10k will be advertised on FindItInBirmingham.

CGF Partnerships – a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Games Federation – is seeking expressions of interest to acquire the rights to manufacture and sell products bearing the Birmingham 2022, Commonwealth Sport and Home Nations brands. Local businesses with distinctive ideas can contact licensing@cgfpartnerships.com.

The Birmingham 2022 competition schedule features more medal events for women than men for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, as well as a fully integrated para-sport programme.

In total there will be 286 sessions across 19 different sports taking places at venues across Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Cannock Chase, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Leamington and London.

Attending the Games is an ideal way to be part of this once in a generation experience, engage and reward teams and/or engage customers or suppliers.

The West Midlands Ticket Ballot closed 30th July 2021 and the National Ticket Ballot closed 30th September 2021 (click here)

Further information on corporate hospitality packages at a selection of sporting events will be available later in 2021.

The Games will involve the recruitment and deployment of up to 13,000 volunteers known as ‘the Commonwealth Collective’.

Find out more about volunteering here.

The West Midlands Combined Authority is also funding a Commonwealth Games Jobs and Skills Academy. This offers fully funded qualifications in Event management, Digital marketing, Hospitality, Health, Lifestyle and Science, Sports coaching and Team Leading.

It is available for West Midlands Combined Authority Area Residents over the age of 19. Find out more here

The Games have also launched Gen 22.

Gen22 provides an opportunity for young people (16-24) from the West Midlands to gain employability boosting opportunities through the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. It is aimed at young people who might otherwise struggle to access Games related opportunities. Barriers could include: lack of confidence; being a young carer or young parent; or having a criminal record.

Participants will work with Birmingham 2022’s authorised organisations to undertake a 30-hour volunteering assignment.

The Gen22 team are looking for organisations that might be able to offer one or more Gen22 participants the opportunity to undertake their assignment with them. Assignment Providers can be from any sector – for example charities, businesses, sports clubs or educational establishments. Assignment Providers will be given a licence to use the Gen22 brand (if they meet eligibility criteria). Find out more here.

Alongside the 11 days of sport that the Games will deliver, the organisers will be coordinating a programme of cultural events including a major festival, opening and closing ceremonies, live viewing sites across the region and activity to coincide with the Queen’s Baton Relay. Find out more here .

Separate to, but coinciding with the Games is Festival 2022. It aims to be a £130m Government backed UK-wide celebration creativity and innovation, designed in collaboration with the devolved administrations to showcase the best of UK art, culture, heritage, design and technology sectors. The project will be delivered by a dedicated team established within the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. Find out more here

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is backed by a number of different sponsors, partners and supporters. Find out more about becoming a partner or sponsor here.

Birmingham 2022 Legacy Plan
 
In March 2021 the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee launched its national Legacy Plan, outlining a series of Games’ firsts that aim to leave a lasting, positive impact on jobs, skills, education, culture, physical activity and investment across the West Midlands and the UK. These include:
 
• The first carbon-neutral Commonwealth Games;
• The first time firms bidding for contracts must include a social value requirement;
• The largest business and tourism programme of any Games to attract international visitors and investment to the region and the UK;
• The first Games to fully integrate volunteers from all delivery partners into a united volunteer programme.
You can read the full Legacy Plan and find out more here
 
United By Birmingham 2022
 
In Spring 2020 the Games launched its community programme, United By Birmingham 2022. The programme aims to recognise and raise awareness of community projects that are helping us to achieve the Birmingham 2022 vision and mission.
 
• Bringing people together
• Improving health and wellbeing
• Helping the region grow and succeed
• Being a catalyst for change
• Putting us on the global stage
 
There are 80+ projects already approved as community partners. You can find out more as well as how to apply here
 
United By 2022 Legacy Charity
 
Inspired by the life-changing work going on across the community programme and the legacy programmes, United By 2022 has been established as the legacy charity for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
 
The United by 2022 Legacy Charity will support projects that:
 
• Are community led, enabling our communities to put their ideas into action and work to solve the challenges on their doorstep
• Promote fairness and social inclusion, keeping the Games for Everyone vision alive
• Ensure our venues and other games assets are turned into well used and well-loved community spaces after the Games
 
Applications for United by 2022 community fund grants will open after the Games in the Autumn of 2022. Further updates will be posted here

As part of their “Get Set for the Games” campaign, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee have released information on road races taking place during the Games and associated temporary road closures. The main locations are:

The Marathon Course, 30th July 2022 : The Birmingham 2022 Marathon is made up of two distinct sections. An 18km loop starting from Smithfield heading South out of the city towards Bournville which all athletes will complete twice. This is followed by a 6.2km section through the city centre, which finishes in Victoria Square.

The Triathlon, 31st July 2022: Sutton Park and Sutton Coldfield

Cycling Time Trial, 4th August: It will start and finish in West Park, Wolverhampton, but pass through Dudley, Staffordshire, and South Staffordshire.

Cycling Road Race, 7th August: It will start and finish in St Nicholas Park in Warwick

Find out more at www.Birmingham2022.com/GetSet or click here for a briefing pack including information on when further details will be made available

Given the volume of visitors, the Games will also have an impact of employees’ and clients’ ability to travel to and around certain areas of the city while they are taking place. Traffic may also be impacted by infrastructure developments taking place in the run up to the Games. Over the next 12 months, the GBCC will be working closely with Transport for West Midlands to understand the challenges that businesses will potentially face in delivering goods and services as we approach July 2022 and step firms can take to minimise disruption.

Find out more about the Transport for West Midlands Games Transport Plan here.

In 2018 the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce founded the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce to help enable a positive legacy from the Games. It aims to support local businesses in forming bilateral trading relationships with customers and suppliers in Commonwealth nations, tapping into our extensive international trade networks and partnerships. Find out more about how you can get involved here.

The West Midlands Growth Company is the lead partner for delivering the B2022 Business and Tourism Programme. It is a £24m programme aimed at creating a long-term legacy by boosting perceptions of the West Midlands and UK as a world-class destination for trade, investment and tourism. Find out more here.

The UK Government’s Department for International Trade will be delivering a range of webinars and support on trading with Commonwealth Markets and the Global Sports Economy in the run up to B2022. They will also be leading delivery of UK House during the Games itself, activity based at a strategic location aimed at showcasing sporting, cultural and economic strengths of the UK and exploiting the international and domestic business opportunities arising from the Games.

Businesses looking to tap into the Games spirit and organise promotions, campaigns or other activity linked to the B2022 Commonwealth Games must make themselves aware of the Brand Protection regulations applied to the event.

There are strict rules in place on use of Games Marks and logos or presenting association with the B2022 Commonwealth Games, click here for more information


 

What are our members saying about B2022? (Q1 2021 Survey):

Almost 300 local businesses took part in the GBCC Birmingham Commonwealth Games Business Barometer Poll in Q1 2021:

93%

feel CW22 will
positively impact
the city

45%

are interested in
bidding directly
for contracts

56%

 were interested in
being part of the
wider supply chain

43%

were interested in
developing trade links
with CW countries​

The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce will be representing our members’ needs and ambitions for the Games throughout this period. In 2020 we released our Commonwealth Games manifesto A Game Changer for Businesses?

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GBCC Resources

Get set for the Games

A Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce webinar to help businesses prepare for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Guest speakers include Craig Cooper and Paul Lankester from Birmingham City Council and Anne Shaw and Sarah Crane from Transport for West Midlands.

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Birmingham 2022 visitor economy opportunities - GBCC | Ensuring Success and Long-Term Sustainability

With less than 50 days until the start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Chamber hosted a webinar on visitor economy opportunities.

Chamber chief executive Henrietta Brealey is joined by Alicia Winfield-O'Hare, tourism industry lead at the West Midlands Growth Company, and David Grady, chief financial office at Birmingham 2022.

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Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Advertising and Trading Measures for Businesses

The Birmingham Commonwealth Games Act 2020 provides a small number of essential, temporary measures for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, including a prohibition on unauthorised associations with the Games.

Learn More

October 2021 Q&A: Games director on Birmingham 2022 opportunities

What developments have there been since our last Q&A? What opportunities for businesses are coming up? GBCC CEO and B2022 legacy director discuss

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August 2021 Q&A: Games director on Birmingham 2022’s legacy

What impact and legacy will B2022 leave? And how can businesses get involved? GBCC CEO and B2022 legacy director discuss

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1 Year to Go: Special Edition of the GBCC Podcast

An exploration of how preparations for the Games are progressing and the opportunities ahead with a range of special guests.

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1 Year To Go: Special Edition of ChamberLink Magazine

A collection of interviews and comment pieces with key players in the Games as part of the GBCC’s high profile monthly magazine

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Birmingham 2022 Business Opportunities

An exploration of the opportunities for businesses arising from B2022

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The Benefits of Trading With Commonwealth Markets

A guide to trading opportunities with Singapore and South Africa

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Opportunities on Our Doorstep

An overview of how Solihull is preparing for and aiming to make the most out of B2022

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How to prepare your business for public sector tendering and Commonwealth Games 2022 procurement

An overview of the world of tendering for public sector contracts with a Commonwealth Games focus

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Useful Links

Find out about our Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce

Keep up to date on opportunities with the Games and bilateral trade with Commonwealth nations.

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Games Organising Committee Contracts

Register with FindItInCommonwealthGames for the latest contracts from the Games Organising Committee.

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Host City Contracts

Register with FindItInBirmingham for the latest contracts from the Host City: Birmingham City Council.

 

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The B2022 Organising Committee

Keep up to date on the latest news and opportunities for tickets, Games programme and volunteering.

find out more information

Commonwealth Games Jobs and Skills Academy

The latest information on funded training opportunities for your employees related to hospitality and tourism skills.

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Business and Tourism Programme

The £24m West Midlands Growth Company led programme focused on trade, investment and tourism.

find out more information

How can the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce help?

  • We will be keeping our members plugged in to the latest developments and opportunities surrounding the Commonwealth Games though this page, our ChamberLink Daily newsletter and member events.
  • We will continue to work closely with stakeholders to maximise the potential positive impact of the Games.
  • We are proud to be delivering the Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce; a membership-based international gateway for firms wishing to develop bilateral trade opportunities in Commonwealth countries.
  • In due course, the GBCC will also be working closely with stakeholders to understand the impact of the Games on travel arrangements and to help local businesses prepare for them.

The GBCC Policy & Strategic Relationships Team can be contacted about their work, sponsoring reports, commissioning research and participation in GBCC campaigns on 0121 725 9002 or emailing policy@birmingham-chamber.com