The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has underlined its commitment to improving local employability and sustainability by awarding a major transport contract to new social enterprise E&HCT.

ECT Group and HCT Group, two of the country's largest social enterprises, formed the partnership. Both already provide services that focus on making transport available to all.

E&HCT will be operating a bus service that will transport workers from key pick up points between construction areas, venues and compounds within the Olympic Park. The service will reduce the number of private vehicles on local roads, offering environmental benefits and reducing local congestion.

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E&HCT is also committed to employing local people and targeting people that find it hard to find employment. The service will create new job opportunities for local communities around the Olympic Park.

E&HCT were awarded this contract following a detailed, rigorous and fair evaluation of all bids. E&HCT demonstrated that they have the experience and capability to deliver a high quality, reliable bus service for the ODA, whilst providing value for money.

The four-year contract will cover drivers, buses, vehicle maintenance, vehicle decommissioning, route planning and time-tabling. The buses will start on 14 April 2008, and increase in number according to the growing numbers of workers on site.

ODA Director of Transport, Hugh Sumner, said: "E&HCT were the successful bidders for this contract due to their commitment to making a difference to the areas in which they operate, primarily targeting the unemployed locally, who they then recruit and train to drive their vehicles."

Dai Powell, Chief Executive Officer of HCT Group, also said: "We are really delighted to be participating in this landmark project and, through its operation, to be given the opportunity of demonstrating once again how social enterprise can play an important part in the delivery of public transport services up and down the country."

(JM)