Work and Money

The London Development Agency has been advising businesses in the Brick Lane area about how to the most of opportunities arising from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"We are all excited about the Olympics because this is going to generate more business for us and the area," said Muquim Ahmed, the owner of Café Naz on Brick Lane.

Almost 70 per cent of business owners and 80 per cent of the workforce on Brick Lane are Bangladeshi, according to data from Agroni, an independent research organisation.

Many of the businesses are restaurants serving British Asian cuisine, earning Brick Lane the title, 'Curry Capital of London'. There are also retailers serving the local Bangladeshi community, including sweet shops, sari stores and supermarkets.

Head of Olympic Opportunity at the LDA, Tom Travers, said, "Brick Lane holds a unique place in the hearts and minds of both Londoners and tourists.

"By tailoring support to its diverse community not only will businesses large and small benefit, but so too will the thousands of people that visit before, during and after the Games."

To see the report by Newham and Tower Hamlets reporter, Angela Saini, about how businesses on Brick Lane hope to benefit from the Olympics, click on the link at the top right of this page.

angela.saini@bbc.co.uk