The first group of stewards who have qualified were presented with their CEMS certificates at a special presentation on Friday evening at WNSL hosted by FA Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking.

For every major event the stadium will need 5,000 event day staff to operate including 2,000 stewards. The stewards will put their skills into practice when the stadium opens later this year.

Stewards will play an integral role in the stadium’s operation on a major event day and the new CEMS qualification launched in August 2005 recognises the skill level involved in the position.

CEMS is endorsed by The Football Association, The FA Premier League, The Football League and is awarded by 1st4Sport Qualifications. WNSL is the first organisation to have successfully trained stewards for this qualification.

It is the stadium’s ultimate goal to become a Centre of Excellence for steward training in the future. Wembley stewards have completed 70 hours of training; 35 in the classroom, 10 hours of home study and 25 hours of live event training.

WNSL has developed a partnership with the College of North West London to teach the theory aspects of the course including first aid, customer care and crowd management.

Practical training has taken place at Brentford and Chelsea Football Clubs where the trainees have been shadowing qualified stewards.

Wembley Stadium’s Head of Human Resources Peter Swordy said: "We have asked local people to take up the offer of stewarding training with Wembley and they have done so with great enthusiasm.

"The CEMS training, run by the College of North West London and Akona Training with the help of Brentford and Chelsea football clubs, has been a great success and I congratulate our first batch of stewards on achieving their new stewarding qualifications."

Chris Whalley, The Football Association’s Head of Stadia, Safety and Security, said: "CEMS has been introduced to further improve the quality of stewarding in our stadia and with that to increase the safety and well-being of spectators.

"I am delighted that Wembley is the first stadium to put stewards through the CEMS qualification showing the Stadium’s commitment to providing stewards trained to the highest standards."

The 32 stewards that have qualified are all from the area local to the Stadium. Heeran Master from Wembley, said: "As a Wembley resident I have seen the progression of the Stadium being built and it will be a brilliant experience to work at the Stadium, being apart of the amazing events that will happen there."