Bradford’s main business body is hoping that the biggest business programme ever organised to help UK firms boost trade in the wake of the London Olympics will bring benefits to local businesses.

The Government has unveiled details of an Olympic business legacy programme aimed at helping firms increase exports as a result of the London Games.

A series of global business summits – many focused on particular business sectors – will be held in the capital, with some support events in the regions.

UKTI, which helps firms to export, said it will be the biggest business programme it has ever organised, with companies from all over the world coming to London to meet, interact and do business.

The British Business Embassy programme will help firms identify new export opportunities and act as a “powerful magnet” for international firms looking to invest.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The Olympic business legacy programme will help British business identify new export opportunities and tell overseas investors why the UK is a great place for them to invest and grow. We are working hard to make sure the whole country can seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

“Trade and investment is critical to our economic recovery and future prosperity. We expect these events to generate at least £1 billion for British businesses and they are vital to our efforts to secure a long-term return to sustainable growth.”

According to UKTI, more than £74 million of Olympic Park contracts were won by Yorkshire businesses, with more than 40 firms playing a part in the construction of the Olympic Park.

The Bingley-based Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) has been working at Greenwich Park, which will host the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events, with STRI experts managing the entire project. Chief executive Gordon McKillop hopes it will put the organisation on the front foot to win contracts for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mike Cartwright, policy executive at Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: “It would be good if some of our local firms can be included in a future legacy from the Olympics.

“The Government should pull out all the stops to help business take advantage of the international attention given to the Games.

“Whether or not we are too far away from the main event itself remains a key question – we’ve certainly not heard of any significant economic gains so far – so the opportunities need to be available to all businesses, not just those in the South-East.”

Fast food chain McDonald’s has unveiled a new sustainable mustard uniform to be worn by staff at the Olympic Games and by all its 87,500 employees across the UK.