London,
18
February
2008
|
23:00
Europe/London
London 2012 jobs and training for Hackney
Hackney residents are already getting new jobs and skills as a result of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Two of those to have benefited from construction training courses at the new Plant Training Centre on the Olympic Park site were today (Tues 19 Feb) awarded certificates to mark their achievements.
Curdy Nelson, 36, from central Hackney, found out about the training through On Site – Hackney’s recruitment centre which links residents to London 2012 jobs and training opportunities.
On Site put him on a four-day Slinger Signaller (Banksman) course, where he learned what hand signals to use to relay crane movement to a crane driver moving heavy materials.
Curdy has previously worked as a plasterer and is currently a labourer on the Olympic Park site. He is hoping to put his new skills to use soon.
He said: “Plastering work was a bit on and off so I was keen to try construction as I wanted to get more regular work and to learn something new. I hope that I can move forward from labouring and start to work as a Banksman soon. It would be good to keep working on something as big as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, right near my home.”
Vincent Kelly, 47, from central Hackney, found out about On Site through Job Centre Plus. He has worked in construction since he was a teenager but wanted to boost his skills so he could take advantage of the opportunities arising out of the London 2012 Games.
He has since worked on the Olympic Park site to help clear Japanese Knotweed and has completed a Slinger Signaller (Banksman) course and a Forward Tipping Dumper Driver course at the Plant Training Centre.
He is hoping that these new skills will help him get more consistent employment with a job helping to build the London 2012 Games.
Vincent said: “I’ve worked with people who had jobs on Wembley stadium, the Millennium Dome and Emirates Stadium. It would be great to point to the Olympic Park in 2012 and say, ‘I worked on that’. It is rare to start on such a big job and see it through to completion, so it would be really good to get a long-term job and see the finished product.”
Curdy and Vincent were among a number of residents from the five 2012 host boroughs who were awarded certificates. The presentations were part of an event to launch the Olympic Delivery Authority’s employment and skills strategy, ‘London 2012 Jobs’. The event also marked the official launch of the Plant Training Centre.
The Plant Training Centre will deliver practical training tailored to the Olympic Park project on equipment such as dumpers, telescopic handlers and excavators.
Cllr Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “Improving the skills and employment opportunities of residents is a key objective of Hackney Council, and the London 2012 Games are a catalyst to deliver this. More jobs related to the 2012 project will become available this Spring, so now is a good time for residents to find out how they could benefit.”
Hackney residents can find out more about London 2012-related jobs at the Council’s annual training and employment fair ‘Opportunities Now’ from 11am to 7pm, Ocean, Mare Street, Thursday 13 March.
More jobs related to the London 2012 project will become available this Spring. Up to 10,000 construction workers will be needed at peak on the Olympic Park site.
Two of those to have benefited from construction training courses at the new Plant Training Centre on the Olympic Park site were today (Tues 19 Feb) awarded certificates to mark their achievements.
Curdy Nelson, 36, from central Hackney, found out about the training through On Site – Hackney’s recruitment centre which links residents to London 2012 jobs and training opportunities.
On Site put him on a four-day Slinger Signaller (Banksman) course, where he learned what hand signals to use to relay crane movement to a crane driver moving heavy materials.
Curdy has previously worked as a plasterer and is currently a labourer on the Olympic Park site. He is hoping to put his new skills to use soon.
He said: “Plastering work was a bit on and off so I was keen to try construction as I wanted to get more regular work and to learn something new. I hope that I can move forward from labouring and start to work as a Banksman soon. It would be good to keep working on something as big as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, right near my home.”
Vincent Kelly, 47, from central Hackney, found out about On Site through Job Centre Plus. He has worked in construction since he was a teenager but wanted to boost his skills so he could take advantage of the opportunities arising out of the London 2012 Games.
He has since worked on the Olympic Park site to help clear Japanese Knotweed and has completed a Slinger Signaller (Banksman) course and a Forward Tipping Dumper Driver course at the Plant Training Centre.
He is hoping that these new skills will help him get more consistent employment with a job helping to build the London 2012 Games.
Vincent said: “I’ve worked with people who had jobs on Wembley stadium, the Millennium Dome and Emirates Stadium. It would be great to point to the Olympic Park in 2012 and say, ‘I worked on that’. It is rare to start on such a big job and see it through to completion, so it would be really good to get a long-term job and see the finished product.”
Curdy and Vincent were among a number of residents from the five 2012 host boroughs who were awarded certificates. The presentations were part of an event to launch the Olympic Delivery Authority’s employment and skills strategy, ‘London 2012 Jobs’. The event also marked the official launch of the Plant Training Centre.
The Plant Training Centre will deliver practical training tailored to the Olympic Park project on equipment such as dumpers, telescopic handlers and excavators.
Cllr Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “Improving the skills and employment opportunities of residents is a key objective of Hackney Council, and the London 2012 Games are a catalyst to deliver this. More jobs related to the 2012 project will become available this Spring, so now is a good time for residents to find out how they could benefit.”
Hackney residents can find out more about London 2012-related jobs at the Council’s annual training and employment fair ‘Opportunities Now’ from 11am to 7pm, Ocean, Mare Street, Thursday 13 March.
More jobs related to the London 2012 project will become available this Spring. Up to 10,000 construction workers will be needed at peak on the Olympic Park site.