The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has launched a catering and hospitality training initiative for west London residents in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. 

The Skills for Food scheme, spearheaded by the London Development Agency, will see £227,000 invested over the next three years supporting more than 150 people. 

The scheme will target communities in areas of work-related deprivation, including Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent, Ealing, Hounslow and Hillingdon.  

Livingstone said: “Skills for Food will provide catering and hospitality training courses to give locals the skills and experience they need to get a job in the restaurant, hotel and catering trade and help to meet the growing demand as a result of the London 2012 Games.”  

The initiative, supported by the Peabody Trust, City Gateway, Princes Trust, Centrepoint and Sports Coaches U, is one of 27 Olympic-related Opportunities Fund projects running from now until 2010.

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By Daniel Thomas

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