Major Capital Contracts (Skills Training Requirements) Bill

Contents

1   

Interpretation

2   

Apprenticeships and major capital projects

3   

Provision of skills training

4   

Ongoing skills training

5   

Advertisement of workforce vacancies

6   

Short title, commencement and extent

Bill 80                                                                                                 

54/5

A

Bill

To

require public authorities letting contracts for major capital works to require

contractors to provide apprenticeships and skills training; and for connected

purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and

consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present

Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1       

 Interpretation

In this Act—

“advanced apprentice” is a person studying under the Government

arrangements known as Advanced Apprenticeships;

“apprentice” has the meaning given in section 32 of the Apprenticeships,

Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009;

“local people” means people who live either in the local authority area in

which the main site relating to the major capital contract is situated or

a neighbouring local authority area;

“local provider” means a provider which has an office within a reasonable

commuting distance of the main site relating to the major capital

contract;

“major capital contract” means a contract which—

(a)   

exceeds a total value of £50 million,

(b)   

is issued by a public authority, and

(c)   

includes, but is not limited to, the construction of power stations

and other energy-generation facilities;

“public authority” means any body or person discharging functions of a

public nature, including local authorities;

“workforce” means—

(a)   

full-time employees,

(b)   

part-time employees,

(c)   

casual workers,

(d)   

directly employed workers, and

(e)   

sub-contracted workers.

Bill 80                                                                                                 

54/5

2       

Apprenticeships and major capital projects

(1)   

When a public authority (“an authority”) issues a major capital contract the

contract must require the contractor to ensure that a minimum average of 2%

of the workforce are apprentices or advanced apprentices.

(2)   

An authority issuing a contract under subsection (1) may require that a

minimum proportion of the apprentices employed by the contractor are

advanced apprentices.

3       

 Provision of skills training

When an authority issues a contract under section 2(1) the 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)   

a total equivalent to not less than one hour of training each week to

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

4       

 Ongoing skills training

(1)   

When an authority issues a contract under section 2(1) the contract must

require the contractor to fund skills training for the workforce and local people,

provided by local providers, for a period of ten years from the commencement

of the contract.

(2)   

The contract issued under section 2(1) 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.

5       

 Advertisement of workforce vacancies

When an authority issues a contract under section 2(1) the 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 major

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

authority areas, and

(b)   

include in these advertisements details of the training on offer.

6       

Short title, commencement and extent

(1)   

This Act may be cited as the Major Capital Contracts (Skills Training

Requirements) Act 2010.

(2)   

This 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, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Major Capital Contracts (Skills Training Requirements) Bill

A

Bill

To require public authorities letting contracts for major capital works to

require contractors to provide apprenticeships and skills training; and for

connected purposes. 

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