The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London represent a real and significant opportunity to drive up skills not only in London , but nationally.
In order to successfully host the Games, we need to ensure that there is a skilled workforce to deliver the Olympic park and venues on time, and on budget. The Games are also an excellent opportunity to drive forward the national employment and skills agenda, expanding the opportunities for employment and contributing to the wider upskilling of the national workforce. This will ensure a nationwide legacy that is felt long term outside London - with the Games as a catalyst for additional but sustainable activity and better partnership working across the UK . This will also build on the unique opportunity provided by WorldSkills 2011 to link world class achievement in skills with world class achievement in sport.
A cross-Government programme has been set up to manage the Games and their legacy, with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) responsible for ensuring that the employment and skills benefits of the Games are felt nationally. In partnership with key stakeholders in the Skills and Employment sector, DfES and DWP have drafted a National Delivery Plan which focuses on maximising the employment and skills benefits for the UK from Games-related business, so driving a national legacy across the UK . The plan is currently out for consultation, and views have been sought from, among others, the Sector Skills Councils via the SSDA.
The consultation is taking place now and if you have any thoughts or views on what the national plan should contain, please feed them in via Sandra Scott, Olympic Skills Manager at the SSDA, at Sandra.scott@ssda.org.uk by 29 September.
http://www.london2012.com/en | 
