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Residents are first choice for Olympic Park build

07/02/2008
Local residents will have a greater chance of getting jobs building the Olympic Park after Newham Council signed a deal with the Olympic authorities and other host boroughs.
The agreement sets up a new service, in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, which will match local candidates with Olympic Park job opportunities before recruiting further afield.

Newham residents can access this service via Workplace at Stratford, a recruitment service set up by Newham Council and partners in May last year, and which is opening a second branch in Canning Town in May.

Thousands of construction workers will be needed as the construction programme gets underway on the site and are expected to peak at 9,000-10,000 in 2009/10. In January, 2,275 workers were already working on preparations for the Games, the majority on the Olympic Park site, with 18 per cent (408) from one of the five host boroughs.

The new service was unveiled as the Olympic Delivery Authority officially opened a Plant Training Centre on the Olympic Park at Eton Manor on the borough's north western border.

The training centre offers practical training tailored to the Olympic Park project on using equipment such as dumpers, telescopic handlers and excavators. Thirteen Newham residents have already gained qualifications there since it opened in December.

Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales said:

"Getting people into work is one of the council's key priorities and I welcome any move to help residents find employment and get involved in preparations for the London 2012 Games. We are working to equip residents with the skills they need to benefit from the many opportunities that are opening up in Newham, not only with on the Olympic Park, but with the major redevelopments of Stratford City, Canning Town and the Royal Docks.

"This arrangement opens up really exciting prospects in the area and will allow Workplace to match more local people with local jobs."

Workplace is already on course to place 400 people into the construction industry in its first year. The agency is a free customised recruitment and training service that matches job seekers with vacancies and provides training courses tailored to the needs of both employers and people seeking work. It offers large and small businesses skilled employees without charging recruitment costs.

Find out more about Workplace on 020 8430 4331.

Newhamworkplace.co.uk

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