The Project aims to place 50 women in hands-on roles in the Olympic Park every year up to its completion in 2011. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has been working with social enterprise Hackney Community Transport to deliver training to enable women to become bus drivers.

The women, most of whom were previously unemployed, will now move onto work placements as part of their preparation for working on the Olympic Park from the Spring.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: 'I’m pleased to say the Women’s Project is having notable success in employing women on the Olympic Park site. The programme is open to women across the capital and provides training and support for those seeking work on the Park and in the industry generally. Since April 2008, 280 women have been supported and of those 79 have gone on to secure work on the Park.

'The result of our partnership with Hackney Community Transport has meant that the number of female bus drivers on the Olympic Park will increase from 1 to 11.'

Semra Kamil Yusuf completed the programme: 'I was unemployed for five years, lost my confidence and self esteem, found it very difficult to get into employment. I looked into courses that I could do that would lead to employment and I found this programme.

'Gaining employment has changed my life tremendously as I was very depressed and had a lack of confidence. This has helped me financially, emotionally and socially. My life has turned around again. I am excited to be part of London 2012.'

Rudo Kalinda also completed the programme: 'I was excited that Hackney Community Transport won the London 2012 contract – a local company supporting a big international event that is going to change lives of our community. I wanted to be part of that and do my bit for the community whilst doing what I enjoy. "Life is for living so enjoy what you do", that’s my new motto.  Thank you for letting me be part of it.'

The women were presented with their training certificates at Stratford Town Hall on 7 September 2009, following a tour around the Olympic Park with their family and friends.

If they wish, the women can continue to work for Hackney Community Transport once their contracts finish in 2011.

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Notes to Editors

1.      Hackney Community Transport won the contract to operate site bus services at the Olympic Park in April last year.

2.      The London 2012 Women’s Project was established to encourage more women into hands-on roles in the Olympic Park: http://www.london2012.com/news/media-releases/2008-12/london-2012-can-blaze-a-trail-for-women-in-construction-work-says-olympics-m.php. Currently females comprise just 1.3 per cent of manual trade workers in the UK and 2 per cent in London. Meanwhile women make up only 9 per cent of the London construction industry, and 10 per cent nationwide.

3.      To download images: http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/locog?object=a128317994

 – Ends –

For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700.

The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.

Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog.