A government-sponsored construction trade mission is to visit South Africa to promote British involvement in the building programme for the 2010 football World Cup, to be held in the region.

The mission, which is part-funded by UK Trade & Investment, a government organisation, is being organised by the British Consultants and Construction Bureau. Several high-profile firms including HOK Sport, Turner & Townsend and WSP are expected to attend.

Graham Hand, BCCB鈥檚 chief executive, said he expected British firms to have significant involvement in the building programme. He said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 early days, but the South African market is an open door for us. They understand the qualities of the British industry.鈥�

The week-long mission, to be held in September, will involve meetings with South African institutions responsible for the building programme, and will provide networking opportunities for companies. Projects that could be open to British firms include stadium design and planning, specialist fit-out, security planning and transport infrastructure works.

Hand stressed that a British involvement in the South African programme would not drain resources away from the British market as it prepares for the Olympic construction timetable.

He said: 鈥淎 lot of our member companies will be heavily involved in building for the Olympics, but we have plenty of capacity for the South African projects for 2010. We do of course have finite resources, but this project doesn鈥檛 mean that we will forget 2012.鈥�