Bids for £10m government contracts must commit to apprenticeships: PM

All bids for government contracts worth more than £10m will from the beginning of next month have to demonstrate a clear commitment to apprenticeships, the Prime Minister has announced.

“In particular, employers’ bids will be reviewed in line with best practice for the number of apprentices that they expect to support,” the Government said.

Ministers believe the requirement will provide a significant boost in apprenticeship numbers, with more than £50bn a year spent on government procurement contracts.

The Crown Commercial Service is to publish details of the relevant procurement changes in due course. The changes will apply to central government departments, their Executive Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies.

Proposals made in any bid will be assessed and weighted alongside other elements relevant to the contract, the Government said. “The successful bidder will then have its agreed apprenticeship numbers written into a contract schedule which can be monitored and necessary action taken if the numbers are not met.”

The procurement measures are part of a package of reforms aimed at increasing the number of quality apprenticeships across England.

The Government is consulting on the introduction of an apprenticeship levy, which is expected to be operational in April 2017. This will apply to larger companies across the UK.

The Prime Minister said the Government was committed to supporting three million quality apprenticeships over the next five years – “to help strengthen our economy, deliver the skills that employers need and give millions more hardworking people financial security and a brighter future”.