Assuming most candidates pass the necessary checks, at least 40% of the G4S Olympic workforce will be from the six host boroughs: Barking and Dagenham (1,353 recruits), Greenwich (1,396), Hackney (1,296), Newham (3,473), Tower Hamlets (1,630) and Waltham Forest (1,550).
Mark Hamilton, managing director of G4S London 2012, said: “It was always our intention to mobilise a large part of our workforce from the six boroughs around the Olympic Park in East London. I’m delighted that we’re on target to secure the services of thousands of local people who will help make the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games safe and secure.”
Hamilton added: “I’m also thrilled that so many have come forward to seek work. They have a very responsible and, I hope, rewarding part to play in the sporting extravaganza and they are helping to add to the buzz of excitement that’s building around London 2012. The fact that we have so many new employees isn’t just good news for the Games. It’s also good news for London and Britain, particularly when you consider the issue of youth unemployment.”
In conclusion, Hamilton stated: “The scale of our operation is so big that it will have a massive and positive impact on jobs. The people who we are recruiting are gaining precious work experience but also significant volumes of training that will stand them in good stead for a permanent job once the Olympics is over, either inside G4S or across the wider jobs market. This will be a practical, enduring and broad legacy of the London Games.”
G4S confirmed that over 105,000 people have applied for positions at the various Olympic venues, and that over 3,800 have already been deployed, either working on the Olympic Park itself in Stratford or across the country in other venues.
G4S Events once again secured the site at Epsom over the ever-popular Oaks and Derby weekend. More than 120,000 people were expected on Epsom Downs last Friday and Saturday to help kick off Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The G4S team of more than 600 employees provided a range of security and safety management services during the event, such as conducting ticket checks and bag searches at the gates across the site and stewarding the crowds once they were inside.
Over 3,000 G4S employees were present at events held throughout the country, providing security services to businesses, revellers and transport operators to ensure the Bank Holiday/Diamond Jubillee weekend was a success.
Epsom marks the first of a series of Jubilee festivities to be secured by G4S across the UK spanning sport, music and the tour of the Olympic Torch in Liverpool and St Helens.
Eric Alexander, managing director of G4S Events, commented: “The Jubilee celebrations present a fantastic opportunity for Britain to showcase its entertainment, sport and heritage. With any event of this scale, taking place across multiple locations, it’s critical that the support and infrastructure is in place to guarantee the security of all involved. The skills and experience of our team meant that we could provide the great British public with a safe and enjoyable weekend.”
