During a visit to a construction 'taster event' for women on the Olympic Park, Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said that the London 2012 'big build' can offer construction job opportunities for women and help breakdown gender barriers within the industry as a whole.

The Minister joined local women at the Plant Training Centre on the Olympic Park while they gained first-hand experience on diggers and other equipment and learned more about the training and employment opportunities available helping build the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Games.

The taster sessions are part of a 'Women into Construction', a ground-breaking Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) initiative funded by the London Development Agency and Construction Skills to help women access training and jobs on the Olympic Park and secure work placements for at least 50 women a year. The Minister also met women that the project has already helped get training and work on the Olympic Park.

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Women in manual trades make up just 2% of the national construction workforce. There are currently 155 women working for the Olympic Park, 34 of whom were placed by Women into Construction, in jobs ranging from dumper truck driver to general machine operative.

Ms Jowell said: "The London 2012 Women into Construction project is an excellent example of how we are using the Games to blaze a trail for equal employment opportunities.

"Not only will this programme help more women get construction jobs working on the Games, but also make a significant contribution to breaking down gender barriers within the industry as a whole."

ODA Director of Construction Howard Shiplee said: "London 2012 is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the fascinating and fulfilling careers open to women in the construction industry.

"Through the Women into Construction project we are also working closely with our contractors, training organisations, the five Host Boroughs and local networks to attract, train and support women into construction.

"This challenging project is part of our efforts to ensure London 2012 leaves a long term employment legacy for east London by helping local people, particularly those currently unemployed, access training and jobs on the Olympic Park."

(CD)