Local people winning Olympic Park work as ‘big build: foundations’ ramps up

Activity is increasing steadily on the Olympic Park and in July the ODA set out the ‘big build: foundations’ milestones it aims to reach by next summer. These include completing the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre foundations.

The latest figures show that of the 2,701 strong workforce currently delivering the progress on the Olympic Park:

• Nearly a quarter are local residents (24 per cent)
• Over half are from London (58 per cent)
• Just under one in ten (9 per cent) was previously unemployed before finding work helping deliver the Games and a fifth (20 per cent) of these workers live locally

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: 'We are on track to complete the ‘big build: foundations’ by next summer and are also making encouraging progress to deliver a real employment and skills legacy for east London. We are working closely with our contractors and partner organisations to help ensure that alongside a physical legacy of world class sporting venues, new infrastructure and a new park the Games can also help local people build new career paths long into the future.'

Up to 9,000 construction workers will be needed at the peak of construction on the Olympic Park in 2009/2010. The ODA has published the ‘London 2012 jobs, skills, futures’ strategy which sets out how it is working with a range of public and private sector partners to help Olympic Park contractors recruit workers whilst at the same time helping people develop sustainable skills and a long term career path after the Games.

Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister, said: 'One of the most important legacies for the five Host Boroughs will be new jobs and local people with the skills to take these jobs.

'These figures are further proof of how staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 is proving to be a catalyst, transforming lives for the better in one of the most deprived parts of the country, let alone just our capital city. This demonstrates that, once again, we are doing what we promised - delivering on our commitments to local people and to providing a lasting legacy in east London.'

Geoff Newton, Director of Olympic Opportunities at the London Development Agency, said: The 2012 Games are already leaving a lasting skills and employment legacy. We want to give Londoners the best opportunity to benefit from Olympic jobs and together with our partners we have already provided 3,000 training places across London.

'Over the next three and a half years the LDA is supporting plans for three construction training centres in east London, offering specialist training in trades such as scaffolding and dry lining, many of which have been identified as of need by Olympic Park contractors. It is by working with our partners in the ODA and across London that we will ensure that training programmes meet future skill demands of the industry, whether for the Olympics or for other projects such as Crossrail.'

The ODA ‘jobs, skills, futures’ strategy includes:

A new jobs brokerage service, in partnership with Jobcentre Plus and the five Host Boroughs, that matches candidates living locally and elsewhere in the UK with Olympic Park job opportunities. Over 200 people have been placed into jobs through the brokerage since May 2008.

A National Skills Academy for Construction, funded by ConstructionSkills, the Learning and Skills Council and the London Development Agency. This coordinates training across a range of providers for people to get the skills needed to win work on the Olympic Park and continue their career development once in work.

As part of this Academy a Plant Training Centre on the Olympic Park site providing local people with practical training tailored to the needs of contractors. Just under 250 people have graduated from the Plant Training Centre since its launch in February 2008.

A target of 2,000 trainees, Apprenticeships and work placements working on the Olympic Park and other London 2012 venues, including a programme aimed at specifically at placing women into construction jobs. There are currently just under 200 Apprentices and trainees working on the Olympic Park.

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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.

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