Teens learn about 2012 employment and skills opportunities at careers fair
Date: 24 November 2008
The London Development Agency (LDA), Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) joined forces to promote the employment and skills opportunities arising from the 2012 Games at 'Skills London 2008' – a major careers fair aimed at 14 to 19 year olds held at Excel from 20 to 22 November.
Staff from all three organisations, the five host borough brokerages, and apprentices and contractors from the Olympic Park manned the stand and discussed the opportunities with visitors.
One particularly interested visitor to the stand was Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who was introduced to Derek Reed, a former bus driver who has been through the construction training available and is now a ground worker on the Olympic park site.
Visitors were provided with information on the types of construction jobs currently arising on the Olympic Park site, as well as advice on the opportunities likely to arise in the future. They were also advised on apprenticeship opportunities that have become available which are helping to encourage Londoners into construction roles.
Also present on the stand were members of the LDA community engagement team, who spoke to visitors about the possibilities being considered for the legacy of the Olympic Park. Many students engaged with the Legacy Now Olympic Park model and got involved in discussions over how the Park should be used in legacy and how the surrounding areas should be regenerated.
