Olympic Park and East London

The construction of the Olympic Park – completed on time and within budget – generated thousands of jobs and apprenticeships in East London, as well as providing contracts for businesses across the UK.

Three-quarters of all jobs created on the Olympic Park have gone to local people, while 98 per cent of ODA contracts and 94 per cent of LOCOG contracts went to UK firms. The success of the building project showcases UK expertise in cutting edge design and sustainable solutions.

The knowledge gained from the London 2012 construction project has been captured in the Olympic Delivery Authority’s Learning Legacy project, which gathers and publishes findings for the benefit of future industry projects. Meanwhile, the Games is helping to make East London a magnet for enterprise and private investment, including:

• Sustainable development industries – such as London Sustainable Industries Park, the first industrial park in London to focus on recycling, waste reduction and reprocessing;
• Retail – including the £1.4 billion Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, the biggest of its kind in Europe; and
• Technology – with Tech City, running from Shoreditch to Stratford, now home to more than 300 new start-up companies.

Read key facts about business and tourism.

Read about the government’s GREAT campaign, which aims to boost tourism and investment to the UK.