Athletes in running to beat skills crisis

Olympic athletes could soon be seen on construction sites up and down the country under a new agreement between construction recruitment specialist Blue Arrow and the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Last week, Blue Arrow became the official recruitment partner for Team GB and the Olympic and Paralympic Employment Network (OPEN), which helps athletes and coaches find flexible employment while they train.

Blue Arrow UK chief executive Mark Adams said: "Many of the country's best athletes are keen to maintain a focus on their careers while training, but have limited time to identify suitable work placements. We look forward to helping athletes to develop their careers and simultaneously introduce ambassadors for best practice into the workplace."

But is it a wise move to place Britain's top athletes in a sector renowned for its high rate of accidents and fatalities?

"No one will be forced into a position - the athletes will choose whether they want to accept the jobs," said a Blue Arrow spokesman.

"If someone has previously worked as a plumber or bricklayer and wants just two or three days' employment a week while they train, then Blue Arrow should be able to accommodate them," said the spokesman. "We are not planning on taking on people with no previous construction knowledge - it is for people with existing skills."