Overview

This bill mandates that public authorities in England and Wales include apprenticeship and skills training commitments in all public procurement contracts exceeding £1 million. It aims to boost skills development and apprenticeship opportunities within the workforce of companies contracting with the public sector.

Description

This bill, the Apprenticeships and Skills (Public Procurement Contracts) Bill, requires public authorities to incorporate specific apprenticeship and skills training provisions into contracts valued over £1 million. Key aspects include:

• Apprenticeship Requirements: Public authorities must consider government guidelines on promoting skills through procurement and reflect these in contracts. They may stipulate a minimum percentage of advanced apprentices and include provisions for Apprenticeship Training Agencies.
• Skills Training Provision: Contracts must mandate continuous skills training for all workforce members (full-time, part-time, casual, directly employed, and subcontracted). This training must meet national accreditation standards and total at least one hour per week per employee throughout the contract's duration. The training's total value must be at least 1% of the contract's value.
• Advertisement of Vacancies: Contractors must advertise all job vacancies in all local and neighboring job centers, detailing the training opportunities available.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending increases. However, the indirect cost could include administrative burdens on public authorities for overseeing contract compliance. Potential savings might stem from a more skilled workforce in the long term, although quantifying this is difficult.

Groups Affected

• Public Authorities (Local Authorities, etc.): Increased administrative burden in managing contracts.
• Contractors Bidding for Public Contracts: Increased costs associated with providing apprenticeships and skills training.
• Apprentices and Workforce Members: Increased access to apprenticeships and skills training opportunities.
• Apprenticeship Training Agencies: Potential increase in demand for their services.

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