London 2012 Jobs: Apprenticeship Programme

The Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) aim is to create at least 350 apprenticeships on the Olympic Park during the construction programme, and liaise with colleges and training providers to promote apprenticeship opportunities on the Park.

Although this target was achieved by December 2010, the ODA will continue to identify apprenticeship opportunities wherever they are possible and is also encouraging contractors to realise the benefit of investing in apprentices.

Olympic Park apprentices

Training and skillsOnce they start work on the Olympic Park, we monitor the progress of each apprentice and give them additional support if needed.

We work closely with the Park’s contractors to ensure that each apprentice:

- gains job-specific skills through being partnered with experienced construction staff;

- is registered for training with a relevant sector skills body such as ConstructionSkills; and

- completes a vocational qualification and develops their key skills.

 

What facilities are available for apprentices?

The Apprenticeship Hub is an office on the Olympic Park that provides:

- a breakout area for apprentices to meet, study, seek advice or just hang out;

- IT facilities;

- classroom facilities for on-site training;

- lecture facilities for workshops and presentations;

- meeting rooms for one-to-one mentoring and coaching sessions;

- a space for London 2012 apprentice communication sessions; and

- London 2012 branded Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The Hub provides a meeting point for each apprentice and the work-based coordinators, such as ConstructionSkills, JTL Training, BEST: Building Engineering Services Training,  and the National Apprenticeship Service.

It is also a place where employers can get advice on funding initiatives to help them support the Apprenticeship Programme.

National Apprentice Week

National Apprenticeship Week ran from 7–11 February 2011 and was the last one for the London 2012 Apprenticeship Programme. We ran a variety of events throughout the week, including contractor awards presented by TV presenter Tommy Walsh.

Apprentices on the Village took part in our Entrepreneurs in Action course, a one-day session that helps apprentices develop skills around managing their money, team building, communication, networking and entrepreneurial skills.

Chris Collins, the Blue Peter gardener, also came in to meet landscaping apprentices and find out what they are doing on the Olympic Park.

Olympic Construction Skills Showcase

The ODA holds a Olympic Construction Skills Showcase event twice a year. This highlights the importance of vocational training and the talent of students training in construction and engineering disciplines in the Host Boroughs, and across the London region, in the run up to the London 2012 Games.

The first event was held in October 2010 in conjunction with Barking and Dagenham College. The second event was held on 10 March 2011 at Hackney Community College, east London. A selection of  young people from colleges across Greater London, Hertfordshire and Essex competed for awards in eight disciplines – including a new discipline in Landscaping - in front of invited employers and other guests.

Alongside this, for the first time, a careers event was held in conjunction with the Skills Showcase to provide an opportunity for other students to learn about  opportunities in the construction industry.