The four London boroughs bordering the Athletes Village site – Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Hackney – have a combined population of around 850,000. But the area also has one of the highest unemployment rates in Britain. A key priority for the project is to support the regeneration of east London, by making sure local people and businesses benefit from the opportunities it offers.

Between now and 2012, the face of Stratford will be completely transformed and while the changes will be massive, so will the opportunities.

There will be a variety of different jobs on offer at the Athletes Village, from professional occupations to general construction opportunities. Many of these jobs are already available – in fact over 1,000 local people have worked with us or are currently working with us – but there will be many more new opportunities over the life of the programme.

Training

If you are not qualified or don’t currently have the skills you need for the jobs on offer, then a variety of training is on offer to enable you to get into work.

This training is open to everybody. There are introductory courses and long term apprenticeship-style programmes – you can discuss the options with one of our Workplace coordinators to see what best suits your needs.

Examples of training opportunities to date at the Athletes Village have included;
— Formwork systems
— Logistics
— Off-site manufacturing

Planned programmes include;
— Window installation
— Dry lining
— Landscaping

Targets

The Athletes Village has been set some clear, challenging targets for jobs and training, both in order to comply with Section 106 of the Town and County Planning Act (1990) and to secure a lasting legacy for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This has led to the development and implementation of a clear strategy, which focuses on project objectives linked to jobs and training, business support and education development. The main
aim is to help local people make the most of all employment opportunities, boost people’s skills levels and provide long-term, sustainable career opportunities.

• 1,600 employed from the wider East London area, including at least 400 from the London Borough of Newham.
• Apprenticeships and jobs for ‘improvers’ – people with no site experience or relevant training.
• New opportunities for apprenticeships or employer lead training programmes which will lead to sustainable employment.
• A commitment to providing on site training and professional development for the entire workforce.