Prime Minister heralds London 2012 jobs

The figures show over one in ten workers on the Olympic Park were previously unemployed before finding work on the project. There are currently 2,275 people working on the Olympic Park, a fifth of these are local residents.

Mr Brown said: ‘The Games will be a fantastic sporting celebration in 2012. They offer the opportunity not only to showcase sporting talent to its full, but also to promote a range of skills and talents in the local community. The job figures and the ODA employment and skills strategy published today show that the construction of the site can be the catalyst for lasting social and economic change.’

The launch of the ODA’s strategy ‘London 2012 Jobs’ took place in the Olympic Park as the new Plant Training Centre was officially opened by Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell.

She said: ‘Everyone understands the physical legacy from hosting the Games in 2012 – new sports facilities, a new urban park and new homes. But just as important is the legacy for thousands of people who will acquire skills enabling them to get jobs in the Olympic park and then work for the rest of their lives. The ODA’s employment and skills strategy sets out a clear approach to achieve these objectives.’

The Plant Training Centre will deliver practical training, specific to the Olympic Park project, on equipment such as dumpers, telescopic handlers and excavators.

The strategy also includes a new jobs brokerage service that will match candidates living locally and elsewhere in the UK with Olympic Park jobs. A National Skills Academy for Construction will coordinate training for people to get the skills needed to win work on the Olympic Park

Download the ODA's employment and skills strategy ‘jobs, skills, futures’.

Read the full media release.