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Mayor 'failed on Olympic jobs' - report | Mayor 'failed on Olympic jobs' - report |
(35 minutes later) | |
London Mayor Boris Johnson has failed to deliver long-term Olympic jobs for the capital, a new report has found. | London Mayor Boris Johnson has failed to deliver long-term Olympic jobs for the capital, a new report has found. |
A year on, the government and the mayor say London 2012 has generated nearly £10bn for the economy and led to 70,000 jobs for Londoners. | A year on, the government and the mayor say London 2012 has generated nearly £10bn for the economy and led to 70,000 jobs for Londoners. |
But the study, by consultants SQW, reveals failings in flagship projects set up to generate long-term jobs. One scheme was terminated early. | But the study, by consultants SQW, reveals failings in flagship projects set up to generate long-term jobs. One scheme was terminated early. |
A spokeswoman for the mayor insisted his results were reasonable. | A spokeswoman for the mayor insisted his results were reasonable. |
The study found there was "exemplary" practice - led by games organiser Locog - to ensure temporary jobs during the games went to local people. | The study found there was "exemplary" practice - led by games organiser Locog - to ensure temporary jobs during the games went to local people. |
'Hard-to-reach Londoners' | 'Hard-to-reach Londoners' |
The mayor also promised to spend £20m on training, advice and support for long-term unemployed people to ensure a lasting Olympic jobs legacy for the capital. | The mayor also promised to spend £20m on training, advice and support for long-term unemployed people to ensure a lasting Olympic jobs legacy for the capital. |
But according to the independent consultants' report, less than £8m has been spent so far. | |
The mayor pledged to get nearly 6,500 long-term unemployed Londoners back into work, concentrating on those who had been economically inactive for at least two years. | The mayor pledged to get nearly 6,500 long-term unemployed Londoners back into work, concentrating on those who had been economically inactive for at least two years. |
So far fewer than 3,000 have got jobs - and only a fraction have held on to those jobs for six months or a year. | So far fewer than 3,000 have got jobs - and only a fraction have held on to those jobs for six months or a year. |
City Hall shelved one initiative, the 2012 Employment Legacy Project, at the beginning of the year. | City Hall shelved one initiative, the 2012 Employment Legacy Project, at the beginning of the year. |
It was originally intended to get 1,400 "hard-to-reach" Londoners back into work. | It was originally intended to get 1,400 "hard-to-reach" Londoners back into work. |
But only 86 people got jobs. Just 12 of them were in work six months later, and none were in post after a year. | But only 86 people got jobs. Just 12 of them were in work six months later, and none were in post after a year. |
The report says one of the key aims of the project, run by private company Seetec, was meant to help people from disadvantaged groups access jobs. | The report says one of the key aims of the project, run by private company Seetec, was meant to help people from disadvantaged groups access jobs. |
'Intensive support' | 'Intensive support' |
But not one black or ethnic minority, disabled or female employee held on to their job for more than six months. | But not one black or ethnic minority, disabled or female employee held on to their job for more than six months. |
The report said: "Despite the scale and experience of Seetec, it did not have the in-depth knowledge of working with the economically inactive, the key target group for the project." | The report said: "Despite the scale and experience of Seetec, it did not have the in-depth knowledge of working with the economically inactive, the key target group for the project." |
The report criticises the payment by results approach, arguing it could prevent the kind of intensive support needed for people who have not worked for long periods. | The report criticises the payment by results approach, arguing it could prevent the kind of intensive support needed for people who have not worked for long periods. |
It questions whether the mayor's approach offers "the right financial motivation to risk-averse providers to deliver both the volume and quality of post-employment support, when there is no guarantee that this will be recouped in the current economic climate." | It questions whether the mayor's approach offers "the right financial motivation to risk-averse providers to deliver both the volume and quality of post-employment support, when there is no guarantee that this will be recouped in the current economic climate." |
A large percentage of the contractual payment is only forthcoming if people remain in their jobs for six or 12 months. | A large percentage of the contractual payment is only forthcoming if people remain in their jobs for six or 12 months. |
Neale Coleman, the mayor's Olympic adviser, said: "These are very difficult programmes to carry out. | Neale Coleman, the mayor's Olympic adviser, said: "These are very difficult programmes to carry out. |
"Clearly, some element of payment by results is a good discipline, but one of the things we have learned is that we shouldn't have brought this model in, nor brought it in so sharply. | "Clearly, some element of payment by results is a good discipline, but one of the things we have learned is that we shouldn't have brought this model in, nor brought it in so sharply. |
"We can do this better in future. But in terms of the employment and skills generated during the games themselves, we deserve credit." | "We can do this better in future. But in terms of the employment and skills generated during the games themselves, we deserve credit." |
A second mayoral jobs initiative - the Host Borough project - was set up to target long-term unemployed in the six Olympic boroughs. | A second mayoral jobs initiative - the Host Borough project - was set up to target long-term unemployed in the six Olympic boroughs. |
It has fared better than the London-wide project, but the report says it has also under-performed. | It has fared better than the London-wide project, but the report says it has also under-performed. |
Mr Johnson promised it would get 5,000 people into work. | Mr Johnson promised it would get 5,000 people into work. |
'Need to improve' | 'Need to improve' |
So far 2,026 have been helped, with a little over half of those still in their jobs six months later and 735 in employment after a year. | So far 2,026 have been helped, with a little over half of those still in their jobs six months later and 735 in employment after a year. |
The report says the projects "need to improve their performance, especially in terms of translating job entry starts into sustained employment outcomes". | The report says the projects "need to improve their performance, especially in terms of translating job entry starts into sustained employment outcomes". |
It found the commitment of the government and mayor to get 70,000 jobless people into work as a result of the Olympics had been met. | It found the commitment of the government and mayor to get 70,000 jobless people into work as a result of the Olympics had been met. |
But the analysis accepted job creation figures included jobs only indirectly related to the Olympics - such as those created at Stratford's Westfield centre - with some likely to have existed irrespective of the games. | But the analysis accepted job creation figures included jobs only indirectly related to the Olympics - such as those created at Stratford's Westfield centre - with some likely to have existed irrespective of the games. |