The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is bringing together small businesses from its membership and Crossrail bosses to discuss how firms can win contracts to supply the infrastructure project.

The event, which is the first of its kind that Crossrail has done with small firms, will attract business people from a wide range of industries including engineering, building, manufacturing and marketing. One of Crossrail's most stalwart supporters, the LCCI will host the event at Savoy Place where a number of topics, including procurement policy and sub-contracting opportunities, will be discussed.

The LCCI's Chief Executive, Colin Stanbridge, will chair the meeting which will include an extensive question and answer session allowing a detailed discussion of how companies can land Crossrail contracts.

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Crossrail, for which construction work has now begun, will relieve pressure on the tube network and increase rail-based transport capacity by 10 per cent. It will deliver a significant economic benefit of at least £20billion to the UK economy following the start of services in 2017, and will provide benefits across all London boroughs and a lasting skills and jobs legacy.

Commenting on the event Mr Stanbridge said: "Crossrail is absolutely essential to London's future competitiveness, so we are delighted to bring together the project's directors with the firms that can help to make it a reality. Crossrail will add at least £20 billion to the UK economy and will give London's small firms the chance to win lucrative contracts at a time when new deals are not easy to come by."

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "Crossrail is a crucial project for London and the UK, which promises to benefit small and medium businesses hugely. Along with the Tube upgrades the new railway will play a central role in ensuring our future global competitiveness.

"The construction of Crossrail will create thousands of jobs at a time when they are most needed, and will inject many billions in to the economy. Events such as this will help smaller enterprises to compete for contracts effectively, offering them the chance to benefit from the business opportunities that Crossrail is already starting to bring."

(CD/KMcA)