The Legacy Corporation will give young people the chance to become apprentices with park transformation contractor BAM Nuttall, with the first 30 places on offer through training provider Reds10.

The Legacy Corporation has also ensured an apprenticeship legacy when the Park reopens with 410 apprenticeship places being offered over 10 years by GLL, operator of the Copper Box and the Aquatics Centre, and Balfour Beatty Workplace, operator of the ArcelorMittal Orbit and park maintenance.

Chief Executive, Dennis Hone outlined the opportunities at the London Assembly’s Budget and Performance Committee, along with a commitment to the payment of at least the London Living Wage for those employed on the Park’s construction, operation and management.

More apprenticeship opportunities will become available over the course of the transformation project through Legacy Corporation contractors including Balfour Beatty and Taylor Wimpey.

Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said:

“We want to create a ladder of opportunity and apprenticeships can get people on the first step. Our plans to develop the area span 20 years so we have a great opportunity to help the apprentices of today become the managing directors of tomorrow.

“Apprenticeships are just one of the ways we are helping local people benefit from employment opportunities. We are committed to paying a London Living Wage and we are also working with local colleges to begin training people now for future job opportunities.”

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:

“Apprenticeships are a fantastic way of helping London’s young and ambitious workers start their careers, and what better place to do it than at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. We are on track to create 100,000 apprenticeships in London by the end of this year and these placements will help build a lasting legacy from the Games, while boosting the job prospects of local people.”

Tom Storey, Director, REDS10, said:

“REDS10 are delighted that BAM Nuttall have agreed to employ 30 local residents into apprenticeships. We have been impressed with the leadership the Legacy Corporation has shown in ensuring local people benefit from the work taking place on this project. We have been working closely with LLDC to ensure that this commitment is reflected in procurement.  We have then undertaken skills forecasting on the project to identify the jobs and training needs.

“We have designed pre-employment training with the Legacy Corporation which reflects these needs and ensures the individuals are job ready. We are very excited about the potential that this collaborative approach will have in transforming the lives of local peoples.“

The 30 apprentices courses will include pre-employment training, hands-on experience and qualifications in construction, administration and health and safety that will help them to secure a long term career.

Apprentices will spend four days working on site with one day a week at college. They will also learn how to lay domestic drainage and concrete slabs, interpret and extract information from drawings, plan methods statements, and how to form concrete structures.

The apprentices will add to the current workforce of around 500 people that have just started working on the transformation of the Park. Up to 1000 people are expected to be employed at peak during the 18 month project to create Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The Legacy Corporation has set a minimum target of 25% of these jobs going to local people in the six Olympic Host Boroughs.

The Legacy Corporation is working with the Host Boroughs to ensure that the people living closest to the Park are in the best possible position to take up the job opportunities on the Park. This includes providing support to apply for jobs, interview skills and  basic skills training. Working with businesses coming to the Park the Legacy Corporation is able to identify the skills they need and support the local work force to develop the right skills.

The £292m transformation project  is called  ‘Clear, Connect, Complete.’ It will clear Games overlay including the removal of temporary venues, walkways and stands, connect the Park to the surrounding areas with new roads and pathways and complete the Park’s venues to their legacy designs for everyone to enjoy.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will begin to reopen in phases from 27 July, 2013 before fully opening in spring 2014.

For those interested in apprenticeships, please email jobs@reds10.com.