The government is moving towards making training policies a factor in whether firms win public work

The Office of Government Commerce, which sets Whitehall鈥檚 procurement policy, published guidance on Friday on how departments can include training and apprenticeship criteria when awarding contracts without breaking EU competition law.

A spokesperson for the skills department, which co-authored the report, said interpreting the guidance would be up to individual departments. He said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e not being prescriptive about it. It depends on the type of contract.鈥�

John Denham, the skills secretary, said it was vital to continue to invest in skills in tough times. He said: 鈥淲e want to play a leading role by making greater use of the 拢175bn a year the government spends on construction to promote training opportunities.

鈥淚t is only right that the investment does more than provide new buildings.鈥�

The government will also seek to 鈥渕aximise training, employment and apprenticeship opportunities鈥� on projects funded by the 拢5bn Homes and Communities Agency budget, the 好色先生TV Schools for the Future initiative and Olympic programmes.

Topics