Olympics construction experiences to be shared with industry

The ODA said its Learning Legacy website would "capture intellectual capital" from the Olympics construction process. Information has been shared by contractors, professional institutes, Government bodies and academia "in a bid to maintain and replicate the high standards set by the London 2012 project," it said.

"The programme, which is set to be a major showcase for UK plc as the Government looks to capitalise on the positive effect the London 2012 construction project has had on the industry, will see the organisations involved taking ownership of ten themes to help businesses raise the bar in areas such as design and engineering, planning, procurement and project management," the ODA said in a statement.

"In addition it will set out how the ODA tackled issues such as getting more women into construction, building better health and safety records, creating a green landscape from a former industrial site and completing projects on time and within budget," it said.

The ODA was established under the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act and has the power to buy land and make "arrangements in preparation for or in connection with the use or management before, during or after the London Olympics of premises and other facilities acquired, constructed or adapted in preparation for the London Olympics".

The "blueprint" contains reports on the "lessons learned, best practice and innovations from the construction programme", case study examples, research summaries and "examples of tools and templates used successfully on the project," the ODA.  It will also "be contributed to over time; becoming a comprehensive online library for companies of all shapes and sizes to refer to. It will go some way towards the ODA’s own legacy of sharing best practice and ensuring that the valuable lessons learned on the project can be replicated by others," it said.

Organisations including the Association for Project Management, Chartered Institute of Building, Health and Safety Executive, Institution of Civil Engineers and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors are working on "disseminating" the Learning Legacy lessons, the ODA said.

ODA chairman John Armitt said: “The Learning Legacy framework is the embodiment of a new benchmark that has been created in delivering Europe’s largest construction project to the ultimate deadline and within budget".

"The scale and speed of the coordinated UK effort to build the venues and infrastructure is unprecedented and the knowledge and lessons gained during construction will both benefit the industry and act as a catalyst for inward investment," he said.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the Olympic Park was a "showcase for the best of British design, engineering, construction and project management".

"We want companies to win new contracts off the back of this success story but also to share the best practice across industry as a whole. Learning Legacy will ensure that important lessons are shared throughout the industry," he said.

"The Learning Legacy framework has the capacity to offer thought leadership on procurement strategies, supply chain management and time and finance risk avoidance which will of great relevance and value to a wide range major infrastructure projects globally and as such will be of considerable benefit to those UK companies who are, or who aspire to be, operating internationally," said Martin Harman of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com Harman is also chairman of the UK Trade and Investment's Olympic Champions Group whose remit is to facilitate the delivery of the business legacy of the London Olympics.