The new centre in Stratford is already testing candidates as G4S, the security provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, look to identify the right staff to man venues and other posts both in and outside of the Olympic Park.

The recruitment drive will also deliver employment to thousands of jobseekers around the country, with more than 20,000 already expressing an interest in the vacancies.

The recruitment process entails interviewing, screening and vetting candidates before their application is passed onto London 2012, if successful.

Thereafter, recruits will be trained at the centre before being assigned to their respective roles.

Already G4S has 1,000 staff in place at the Olympic Park, and the London 2012 chief executive, Paul Deighton, said that this marked the beginning of the operation phase of their preparations: "We're switching from planning to beginning the process of operational delivery.

"This is a massive operation.

"The big, big promise of the Games which we have taken seriously from the beginning is to deliver economic opportunities in the boroughs around the Olympic Park – that is why we are here

"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."


Quizzed by insidethegames on whether there is any chance of London 2012 under-estimating the number of security staff needed, Deighton (pictured left) responded: "We have about 10 million hours of security guard work to do.

"What is the efficient number of people to provide that man guarding?

"The number that pops out of the [planning] model is between 23,000 and 24,000 people, building in further assumptions, i.e. people not turning up for work in the morning.

"The big numbers are only needed for a few days in the Games."

Mark Hamilton, the managing director of the G4S Olympic and Paralympic security operation, added: "As London prepares to play host to the rest of the world, G4S is thrilled to be giving something back to the capital."

"Our recruitment drive offers unique employment opportunities to thousands of Britons, allowing them to get closer to the excitement and play an important role.

"There are a number of people who will have employment not just through the Games but for a lot longer than that."

Though it represents one of the biggest challenges in the company's history, Hamilton insisted: "We're very familiar with deploying large scale work forces to multiple venues so there is a very similar footprint.

"We're [also] familiar with working at venues which are high risk."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2011: Olympic Park security boss charged with child sex offences
March 2011: Guard in Olympics explosives arrest
March 2011: London 2012 secure G4S sponsorship
September 2008: EastEnders to guard Olympic Park