REGENERATION of the East End is creating jobs for locals and improving the area.

Jobs at Commonwealth games venues have gone to local ­people, businesses have been attracted to the area and stubborn jobless figures are showing signs of ­improvement it has been said.

Clyde Gateway, charged with overseeing the regeneration of the East End around the main Games venues of the Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, said the Games have been a catalyst.

Niki Spence, Business and Community Growth manager, said the hard work doesn't stop ­because the Games have arrived and the venues are built, instead she said it must be translated into opportunities for the people who need them most.

She told the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce daily Warm Up Breakfast event held during the games in the Scotland House business hub, the changes has to last years but it has started.

Ms Spence said: "We have got the village and the buildings, so is it job done? No.

"We now need to link the opportunities to need."

She said some success could be seen already.

Ms Spence added: "We had 27 out of 50 of Emirates staff from the Clyde gateway postcode areas, they had to compete with people from other areas."

Business and education leaders at the meeting heard how thanks to the M74 completion and the Clyde Gateway regeneration route linking to the M8 in the north firms are moving in.

Glacier Energy Services an oil and gas engineering firm and Japanese pump manufacturer Torishima were cited as two examples locating in the area and taking on staff and trainees who will go on to highly paid jobs.

Ms Spence added: "The Commonwealth Games has been the catalyst. The key changes have been in infrastructure and transport, with the M74 having three junctions in our area."

She said there has also been a reduction in the number of people claiming Jobseekers' allowance.

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk