Extension of current Work Based Learning contracts

However, in the last tendering round for WBL delivery, the Welsh Government’s Tender Specification included the flexibility to extend framework Agreements by up to a further year, at the discretion of the Welsh Government.

With the announcement of an additional £5m of funding for Apprenticeships in the Programme Commission year from August 2012 to July 2013, and an additional £20m of funding for Apprenticeships in each of the two financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15, the WBL network is being asked to rise to the challenge of expanding its reach and engaging with new employers to offer more Apprenticeships to young people.

In view of this challenge, the Welsh Government has decided to use the available flexibility within the contracting arrangements to allow more time for the current network to mobilise and meet this challenge. The network must now deliver against these priorities, helping more young people into jobs with the skills that Welsh employers need.

As a consequence we are postponing the tender to secure WBL delivery by up to eight months.

In order to continue the delivery of WBL in Wales the Welsh Government will need to secure delivery from April 2015 by running an open or restricted competitive tendering process. In this way we intend to maintain quality WBL provision for learners and employers and to ensure value for public money. The tender process will be fair, open and transparent, and we intend to evaluate tenders on the quality of provision.

The Welsh Government will issue a Prior Information Notice about this tendering process in Autumn 2013.