For local businesses, Athletes Village represents a unique opportunity.

Across the four boroughs that border the site — Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Hackney — there are currently around 25, 000 VAT registered companies. 97 per cent of these employ fewer than 50 people.

No matter what business you're in, or would like to be in, there's the potential to benefit from the regeneration, both during construction and afterwards.

Firstly, there'll be up to 9,000 workers on site at any one time for the next four years. Post-2012, Athletes Village will become home to many thousands more, as well as a thriving centre for commerce, hospitality and leisure. And in between, there'll be the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, attracting vast numbers of people to the area.

If you're one of the 1,500 local businesses in the construction sector, it's an exciting chance to secure long-term contracts close to home, working on a high profile, world-class development.