On the podium with the certificate were deputy director Steve Smith, IHG director of corporate responsibility Julia Hunter and course leader Luigi Lipparelli

Newham College students have landed jobs in Stratford’s booming hotels after successfully tailor-made completing courses.

More than half of those who took the six-month course were rewarded with immediate employment by the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG).

Newham College was approached by IHG with a view to training future staff for 140 vacant posts for the Staybridge Suites Stratford and Holiday Inn Stratford.

The course has now been officially recognised after it was awarded a silver medal by the Olympics organisation Podium in the Award for Inspirational Skills Project.

Course leader Luigi Lipparelli collected the award at a ceremony near to the Olympic Park.

He said: “There was strong competition from around the country and so it’s fantastic to be recognised,

“The course is a great example of how our college can work with employers to secure benefits for local people from the Olympics.

“We have knowledgeable and innovative tutors and hardworking students and I’m pleased their work’s been recognised.”

The course was launched in February by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Other trainees are set up to gain other jobs in the IHG hotels or in other parts of the industry.