STUDENTS who enrol on some courses at Great Yarmouth College in September will have the chance of a lifetime to work as trained stewards at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

STUDENTS who enrol on some courses at Great Yarmouth College in September will have the chance of a lifetime to work as trained stewards at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The college is one of just 50 across Britain providing students with a specialist qualification to provide highly trained stewards for the London Games.

Every student who enrols on to BTEC First and National Diploma programmes in public services, travel and tourism and sport will be able to gain the extra qualification on top of their normal studies.

The opportunity comes from Bridging the Gap a partnership between further education providers, the security industry - currently facing a skills shortage and being stretched to its limit during the London Games - and the Government.

Kevin Bayes, Head of School for Service Industries at Great Yarmouth College, said Great Yarmouth College had quickly signed up to deliver the specialist 'Understanding Stewarding at Spectator Events' to offer its students the opportunity of a lifetime, an extra skill for their CV and wider career opportunities.

“This qualification was piloted by a few colleges and then rolled out nationally. Not many colleges are offering it so our students are very lucky.

They will get the chance to work at the 2012 Olympic Games, which is something they probably never even dreamed of.”