One of London 2012's key sponsors Cisco, who are helping to provide network infrastructure, stimulate economic growth and support long-term learning across Great Britain before and after the Games, has been looking into what the legacy will be from the City's third Olympic Games.

In many cases, sponsors' have been looking beyond a sporting legacy to focus on the importance of education, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Cisco plans to relocate nearly a third of the infrastructure it installs at Olympic venues to both new and existing network academies in the East London area - and in turn, provide training for the next generation of network engineers.

This will involve the creation of 30 new academies, across the six Olympic boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

The company also recently began a partnership with V3, who compile news and reviews for technology professionals, in the run up to the start of the Games in July to analyse how the event will impact upon the IT sector.

Cisco's chief information officer for the UK, Ian Foddering, said: "We're hoping to have at least 30 of these new academies opened in the next five years to help tackle the skills shortage that's looming within the STEM subjects.

"These should help find employment for graduates and provide the skilled workforce we are crying out for."

While the networking academies will be a great training ground for future network engineers, the firm has also taken to the classroom to push its focus on STEM subjects and to try to create a UK workforce that has more technical skills.

Working with education charity The Pearson Foundation, Cisco has built up a curriculum of lessons that help show the real-world relevance of STEM subjects to pupils, with an Olympic twist.

Foddering added: "It's all about creating a link between the Olympic Games happening outside education and the lessons they're sitting in."

Hackney Community College Principal Ian Ashman commented: "Hackney Community College is delighted to be setting up one of the 2012 legacy Cisco Academies. The equipment supplied, combined with the training of our staff will help us meet the needs of students at the College, including apprentices and at Hackney University Technology College. It will also help us better meet the needs of local businesses and get Hackney people into Tech City jobs."

Image credit: Hackney Community College

By Stuart Appleby