Apprentices Win 'Olympic Race'

Scottish apprentices feature strongly among the employment data just published by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) that show that the construction workforce on the Olympic Park is approaching its peak.

There are now 6,450 people from across the UK - including hundreds from north of the border - working on the Olympic and a further 2,909 people working on the Olympic Village.

Almost 250 apprentices have been placed with contractors on the Olympic Park to begin their two to four-year training, and the first 31 of them have graduated at a recent award ceremony.


ODA Chairman John Armitt said: "The Olympic Park 'big build' is on track and set to peak as we progress through this year, the toughest period for the project. We are providing a range of work and training opportunities in a challenging time for the UK construction industry and meeting our commitments to an employment and skills legacy for people living around the Olympic Park.

"By creating 350 apprentice positions we are helping young people get their first foot on the ladder to a career in construction."

Of the current 6,450-strong Park workforce, just under one in five (19%) are resident in the five Host Boroughs (Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Greenwich) and over half live in London (52%).

(CD/GK)