Millennium Dome may suffer from bug

by Michael Gordon



The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) warned last week that they could not provide guarantees that Year 2000 compliance issues will not affect the Dome.

Despite the budget of £758 million, the NMEC said it is unsure as to whether the millennium bug will hamper celebrations.

The NMEC, in its first annual report published last week, said that the company was undertaking a comprehensive assessment to identify and mitigate potential risk arising from the date change to 2000 and to address issues of compliance.

Once this assessment has been completed, the company will determine the likely impact on its activities and develop prioritised plans together with an assessment of costs that may be necessary to deal with key risks.

The report says: "Given the complexity of the subject it is not possible for any organisation to provide absolute guarantees that Year 2000 issues will not arise.

"However, the company believes that it will be able to achieve a state of readiness which will be as robust as possible and resources will be allocated to ensure comprehensive monitoring, early identification of potential failures and prompt remedial action."

The company will continue to request those with whom it contracts for goods, works and services to provide assurances of year 2000 compliance. A spokesman for NMEC was not available as CJ went to press on Monday.

New Research by Action 2000 further highlights the problem, which chairman Don Cruickshank described as a "perception vacuum", with just 23 per cent of construction businesses having taken realistic measures to tackle the Bug.

He said: "Too many still believe it's just about their computers, and not about every bit of business equipment, business environment and every business relationship they have."

Further problems dogging the Dome include the procurement of financial support and sponsorship. The report admits that the forecast £9 million private investment failed to appear during the construction phase. Instead, the NMEC funded construction with a loan of National Lottery money from the Millennium Commission. The exhibition is still £50 million short of the sponsorship needed.