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 and Paralympic Games.

The London Development Agency is investing £227,000 in its new Skills for Food scheme to support more than 150 people over the next 3 years in training needs and work placements in sports coaching, cooking and building.

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

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

Ken Livingstone said: “Skills for Food will provide catering and hospitality training courses for residents in Hillingdon, Brent, Hammersmith, Hounslow and Ealing to give them 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.”