IF you want to go for gold at the London Olympics in 2012, the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce can help fire you out of the starting blocks.

The chamber has organised a series of workshsops to make local businesses aware of what opportunities the Olpmpics present and how to make the most of them.

Christopher Harvey, the chamber’s head of policy and representation, said: “In the chamber of commerce we are already working towards London 2012 because there are a vast number of business opportunities in that area.”

Peter Turvey, Olympic opportunities coordinator for Worcestershire, said: “Opportunities are not just the big contracts for big companies building a stadium, but there is a vast range of business opportunities often for very small businesses.

“Businesses need to make sure they are positioning themselves now in order to win contracts. Recently, tenders were available for contracts ranging from anti graffiti paint to occupational health, from paper supply to IT software.”

Mr Harvey said: “The chamber has already organised several well attended events over the last year to make businesses aware of the opportunities available and in conjunction with the West Midlands Business Council a new series of workshops are been organised.”

Dates and places fixed so far include: Tuesday, November 11, Pear Tree Inn, Smite, near Droitwich; and Tuesday, December 2, Bromsgrove Hotel, Bromsgrove. All are between 4.30-6.30pm. Workshops in Redditch, Evesham and Kidderminster will take place in 2009.

To book a place on a workshop, call Alistair Druett on 0845 6411497. Places are limited and the workshops are free to local businesses.