Prepare your business for the London 2012 Games

• Key dates
• Key messages
• Frequently asked questions
• Sign up for GovDelivery email updates

Key dates

Olympic Games
Friday 27 July – Sunday 12 August 2012

Paralympic Games
Wednesday 29 August – Sunday 9 September 2012

Torch Relay in Sussex
Monday 16 July (overnight stop in Brighton), Tuesday 17 July (overnight stop in Hastings) and Wednesday 18 July 2012

• Note: The Torch Relay dates are during school term time.

Road cycle event
Saturday 28 July and Sunday 29 July 2012 

• The circuit of Box Hill is on the Surrey/Sussex border, so West Sussex roads may well be congested.
• Find out where the road race route goes on the Go Surrey website.
• Sign up to a regular business newsletter from Surrey County Council with the latest information on the cycle event and times of road closures.

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Key messages

• The Torch Relay comes through Sussex on Monday 16 July and Tuesday 17 July, leaving from Hastings on the 18 July 2012.
  
  
• Are you in an affected area? Employers, understand the impacts on your staff, suppliers and customers and make an action plan - the official London 2012 website gives lots of advice on its Action Plans web page. There is lots of advice covered in our frequently asked questions section below.
  
  
• Keep to the The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) commercial and copyright rules. Further information will be published shortly.
  
  
• Sign up for GovDelivery email alert updates and keep regularly informed by email.
  
  
• During Games time employers should seek to reduce staff travel by 30% to reduce transport pressures where possible. The London 2012 website provides travel advice for business.

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Frequently asked questions

What route is the Olympic Torch taking through Sussex?

Discover the communities on route in Sussex using the official Olympic Torch Relay map on the London 2012 website.

Are there maps for all communities on Torch Relay route by district?

The street level route map will be made available nearer the time and will highlight the timings of the Torch Relay, best viewing locations, parking and any restrictions including road closures and parking suspension.

Sign up for GovDelivery email alert updates to receive this information.

What can you tell me about the history of the Torch and the role of the Torch Bearers?

Please see the London 2012 website's FAQs section for detailed background information.

Will the Torch be run the whole way?

No. The convoy has two modes of travel, driving in convoy between communities and being run by Torch Bearer through the communities that have been notified as being on the route. The convoy will make stops for lunchtime and evening festivities.

Where is the best place to see the Olympic Torch?

The Torch Relay convoy will be travelling slightly slower than the national speed limits, so the best place to see the Torch is where it is being run through the communities on route.

Will roads be closed and for how long?

There will be rolling roadblocks for the Torch Relay and there may be additional road closures for local events on adjoining roads and other celebration sites.

It is expected that the Torch will pass through most communities within 10 to 20 minutes, with the exception of lunchtime and evening stops.

Traffic may be slow or congested for brief periods either side of the convoy.

Timings for road closures will be published in the local papers and signs put up nearer to the time. There also might be a need to close certain roads or put in place diversions where there is a need to reduce traffic. As we get closer to the dates, further information will be made available via the news alerts. 

How many spectators are expected?

The precise number of spectators is unknown at this time, however LOCOG are currently estimating numbers. Figures will depend on a variety of factors – including the weather.

What are the main business opportunities?

There will be thousands of visitors to the Torch Relay. Visitors will need car parking, accommodation, food and beverages. Opportunities to market local food and produce to visitors may also be available.

What are the rules around advertising and street trading on the route?

Rules and regulations for advertising and street trading have been published on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website. 

How best to avoid any congestion from the Torch Relay?

We advise you to share the Torch Relay route map with your employees, and to consider the impacts on your business. Do bear in mind however that any impacts will be very localised and any congestion will pass fairly quickly as the Torch Relay moves on.

• Change the time you go to and leave work. Timetable staff to start and finish at times when access is available.
• Think about where else you might park if parking restrictions are in force.
• Plan deliveries when access is available.
• Arrange appointments and meetings with customers at times when access is available.

Public transport will be affected by the Torch Relay. You can check out Sussex bus and train timetables through our public transport web pages.

Will compensation be paid for inconvenience or lost business revenue resulting from the Torch Relay coming through Sussex?

There will be no payments for inconvenience or loss to business revenue. We expect that the advanced notice and freely available information will allow businesses to plan for and take advantage of the opportunities the event will bring.

What arrangements have been made to ensure the security of businesses on the route, when so many people are coming to the area?

Sussex Police will lead on the planning of all aspects of security of local homes and businesses.

My business is on the Torch Relay route and I usually park my car on the street outside, what do I do on the day of the Torch Relay?

We strongly advise you to check the timings of the Torch Relay and to ensure that you park your car on a road that is not affected. Parking restrictions may be in place and highways signs will be placed in the vicinity well before the event.

What arrangements have been made for emergency service vehicles to access roads that are closed?

Planning for the Torch Relay involves the Police, Fire and Rescue and Ambulance services.

Emergency vehicles will be placed in the most appropriate locations across the county to allow any situation to be dealt with quickly and safely. Emergencies will be treated in the usual way, and the safety of residents and visitors will be dealt with as a priority.

What about the Paralympics Torch Relay?

The Paralympics will have its own torch relay starting in five cities across the UK, ending up in Stoke Mandeville. Keep an eye open for Sussex celebrations.

My business is not an official London 2012 sponsor, what can we do to show support for the Games?

Businesses are encouraged to engage with the Games, but must make sure this is done in a way that does not promote their business to have an association with the Games, unless they are official sponsors.

Displays of patriotism or office parties to celebrate the Games are fine, but marketing campaigns or promotional events framed around the Games may infringe on the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) legal rights.

What advice and support is available to businesses to help them prepare?

A business support programme is in place to help organisations prepare. All companies may be affected, particularly if staff are actively engaged in cultural or sporting events during this very busy time. If you are a trip generating business to London or have London based suppliers you will be affected throughout Games time. If you are Sussex based, you may be affected, albeit temporarily, particularly during the Torch Relay. 

Companies based in the south east can get support from local business support groups.

How do employers establish and manage the impact on their business?

Business toolkits are available to help employers understand the impacts on their staff, suppliers and customers and make an action plan. You can find information on the London 2012 website's Tools for planning page.

You can download a booklet about preparing your business for the Games from London 2012's Preparing your business web page.

The toolkit provides employers with information and materials giving practical advice to businesses including on planning travel for Games time.

Further information is available from the Lloyds TSB 'Games Time Ready Guide'.

Some of the ways managers can manage the impact on their business include:

• Reducing non-essential travel: On key dates - reducing workloads at peak times, moving deadlines, rescheduling meetings, using teleconferences, increasing home working.
  
  
• Re-timing: Avoid am/pm peaks, use remote offices, pre-order goods and stockpile.
  
  
• Re-moding: Walk, cycle etc. particularly for Sussex visitors going into key London terminals such as Waterloo, Victoria and London Bridge. Much is reachable within a 30 minute walk from these stations.
  
  
• Re-routing: Use different roads, tube lines etc.

Having considered these points how will you now communicate with your customers? If you do business in London or with London based suppliers you are well advised to look at the London 2012 website for advice.

Some of my staff may find it difficult to get to work. Is there anything I can do to get around this?

Having established the impacts of the Games, businesses will need to undertake planning with staff to ensure their availability. Particularly within London and around venues, the greater flexibility staff can be offered in terms of working hours and days and ability to work from home and other less impacted locations, the less they are likely to be caught up in Games time impacts. Please refer to the '4 Rs' in the question above to assist in managing impacts.

Where can I go for further advice on business continuity?

Further advice on business continuity is available from the Sussex Resilience Forum website.

Advice and support is available from local authority emergency planners at district and borough councils and at the County Council.

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