The Electrical Contractors' Association has taken training concerns to the heart of government, by meeting with skills minister, Matthew Hancock. In the wide ranging meeting covering funding and training quality, Hancock agreed with the ECA that local authorities need better guidance on incorporating apprenticeships into the procurement process. He advised that the National Apprenticeship Service is currently developing guidelines in a bid to boost apprenticeship recruitment. At present, authorities can specify that a contractor must take on a certain number of local apprentices as part of a construction contract. However, this process can do more harm than good. If the project finishes before a trainee completes their apprenticeship, they can't always transfer to a different framework, even in a neighbouring borough, leaving them unable to qualify.
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