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Many UK businesses are not sufficiently prepared to take advantage of the economic benefits that London 2012 will bring to the country, a new Deloitte report has warned.

The survey, which also points out that many companies are not aware of the potential risk of disruption from the event, comes in the week that all eyes turned to London following the completion of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

"Many of these businesses need a wake-up call," said the Deloitte report.

"We believe that – with insight and planning – businesses can maximise the opportunities to benefit commercially from London 2012," added Rick Cudworth, head of business continuity and resilience at Deloitte.

"The clock is ticking and the planning needs to start now."

The report also claims that 60 per cent of companies in London expect virtually no impact on their ability to operate "business as usual" during the games.

Meanwhile, 70 per cent of UK retailers expect no impact, despite this industry being one Deloitte feels "faces a direct impact in terms of a need to have high numbers of staff in store and product on the shelf".

More than half of companies surveyed expect the Games to deliver an increase in demand for their services.

But, said Deloitte, even here "there is a disconnect with many companies expecting an increase in demand, but not planning for how they are going to secure that extra business".

About a quarter of large businesses in the UK have appointed an individual or group to manage the potential risks to their business and assess the opportunities on offer as a result of the Games.

Heather Hancock, London 2012 partner at Deloitte, said: "It's a good start that, with just under two years to go, 25 per cent of the businesses we surveyed are already thinking about the impact and the opportunities of London 2012.

"These companies stand to be best-placed to benefit from the business boost the Games can deliver."