London 2012: Stratford hosts ‘biggest ever’ recruitment drive for Olympic Games workers

Luke Jacobs

Published: 11:32 AM January 27, 2012 Updated: 9:53 AM October 13, 2020

Stratford is home to the biggest paid recruitment drive in a century in a hunt for security staff to work at the Olympic Games.

Security firm G4S opened its new London 2012 recruitment centre at Rokeby School in Pitchford Street to fill 10,000 vacancies for people to carry out tasks such as bag and vehicle searches during the event.

But it was swamped with 20,000 applications - with more than 4,000 vacancies already filled.

Candidates are being asked to turn up for an interview, before being screened and vetted.

But G4S stopped short of promising posts for Newham jobseekers, with a spokesman stating that it was still too early in the process.

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Mark Hamilton, from G4S, said: “Our training will provide successful applicants with a professional security services qualification that will kick-start their careers in the sector post-2012.”

Paul Deighton, chief executive of Games organisers Locog, added: “This recruitment drive offers a once in a lifetime opportunity for Londoners to take part in a world-class event and is a great way of bringing jobs to London and the UK.”