As the Olympic and Paralympics flags are handed over from the Mayor of Beijing to the Mayor of London, City & Guilds’ Director General, Chris Jones, comments on his hopes for the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic games.

‘The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for individuals across the country to gain new skills, raise their aspirations or enter the job market for the first time.

‘At City & Guilds we are working with businesses, training providers and local communities to ensure this magnificent sporting event will create job benefits long after 2012.

‘The Games offer a unique opportunity for the UK to reduce unemployment, especially for the young people of the 2012 generation who will enter the job market for the first time, working on an Olympic project.

‘We also strive to ensure the positive impact of the Games engages the long-term unemployed and provides a second chance for some of the 60,000 adults in the UK, of working age, who have no qualifications at all.

‘We are working closely with the London Development Agency and partners across the country, to ensure that volunteering programmes give people a chance to turn their hand at something new and acquire valuable skills that may turn into a lifelong passion or career.

‘The Learning and Sector Skills Council is increasing investment in initiatives that contribute directly to skills needs. This includes £7 million that will enable us to meet the world class standards of delivery associated with the Games.

‘At City & Guilds our Olympic goal is to help businesses and colleges tap into these funds, offering them a world class portfolio of qualifications to get there. From travel to tourism, construction, waste management, and sport and active leisure - we are committed to ensuring that 2012 Olympic Games employees have the right skills to stage the biggest sporting event in the world.‘

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Notes to editor

City & Guilds is the expert and leading authority in vocational education and training in the UK and internationally. More about City & Guilds

London Development Agency (LDA): Is the Mayor's agency which is responsible for driving London's sustainable economic growth. It's their job to ensure that London remains a global success story. To help them deliver this they work with partners from industry, and the public and voluntary sectors. For more information go to: http://www.lda.gov.uk/

London First: Is an influential business membership organisation, whose mission is to make London the best city in the world in which to do business. They represent the capital's leading employers in key sectors such as financial and business services, property, transport, ICT, creative industries, hospitality and retail. Their membership also includes all of London's higher education institutions as well as further education colleges and NHS hospital trusts. For more information go to: http://www.londonfirst.co.uk/

CBI: Help’s create and sustain the conditions in which businesses in the United Kingdom can compete and prosper for the benefit of all. They are the premier lobbying organisation for UK business on national and international issues, working with the UK government, international legislators and policy-makers to help UK businesses compete effectively. For more information go to: http://www.cbi.org.uk/

Available City & Guilds qualifications

• Level 1 Award in Preparation in Event Volunteering (Personal Best)
• Level 2 Certificate in Working with Disabled Participants in Sport and Active Leisure
• Level 2, 3 & 4 NVQs in Spectator Safety
• Level 2 NVQ in Activity Leadership
• Level 2 & 3 NVQs Coaching
• Exercise & Fitness Apprenticeships

Find out more about City & Guilds sport and recreation qualifications