Apprenticeships and Skills (Public Procurement Contracts) Bill (HC Bill 70)

1 Interpretation

In this Act—

• “advanced apprentice” is a person studying under the Government
  
  arrangements known as Advanced Apprenticeships;

• 5“apprentice” has the meaning given in section 32 of the Apprenticeships,
  
  Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009;

• “public authority” means any body or person discharging functions of a
  
  public nature, including local authorities;

• “relevant contract” means a contract which—

  (a)

  10exceeds a total value of £1 million, and

  (b)

  is issued by a public authority.

• “relevant OGC guidelines” include guidance issued by the Office of
  
  Government Commerce “Promoting skills through public procurement
  
  2009”

• 15“workforce” means—

  (a)

  full-time employees,

  (b)

  part-time employees,

  (c)

  casual workers,

  (d)

  directly employed workers, and

  (e)

  20sub-contracted workers.

2 Apprenticeships requirements

(1) When a public authority (“an authority”) prepares to issue a relevant contract

the authority must—

(a) give due consideration to the relevant OGC guidelines, and

(b) ensure that the provisions in the OGC guidelines relating to

apprenticeships and skills training are reflected in that contract, where

relevant.

(2) 5An authority issuing a contract under subsection (1)—

(a) may require that a minimum proportion of the apprentices employed

by the contractor are advanced apprentices, and

(b) may include provisions relating to Apprenticeship Training Agencies

in that contract.

3 10Provision of skills training

(1) A relevant contract must require the contractor to make continuous skills

training available to all members of the workforce. This training must consist

of—

(a) a nationally accredited scheme, and

(b) 15a total equivalent to not less than one hour of training each week to

every member of the workforce for the lifetime of the contract.

(2) A relevant contract must provide that the total value of the skills training to be

provided under subsection (1) is a minimum of 1% of the total value of the

contract.

4 20Advertisement of workforce vacancies

A relevant contract must require the contractor to—

(a) advertise all vacancies for members of the workforce in all job centres

in the local authority area in which the main site relating to the relevant

contract is situated, and in all job centres in neighbouring local

25authority areas, and

(b) include in these advertisements details of the training on offer.

5 Short title, commencement and extent

(1) This Act may be cited as the Apprenticeships and Skills (Public Procurement

Contracts) Act 2011.

(2) 30This Act comes into force at the end of the period of 12 months beginning with

the day on which it is passed.

(3) This Act extends to England and Wales.