Commenting on the new requirement from the 1 September 2015 for businesses bidding for government contracts to demonstrate a clear commitment to apprenticeships, Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said:
“Many Norfolk businesses already employ apprentices and we would encourage more businesses to consider the benefits of apprenticeships. However adding an extra layer of bureaucracy to winning government contracts is placing a greater burden on business. Small and medium size businesses in particular would view this as yet another hoop they have to jump through in the already complex world of doing business with the public sector.”
Also commenting on the new requirements, Adam Marshall, Executive Director of Policy and External Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce said:
“Everyone wants to see more high quality apprenticeship places being created but adding red tape and bureaucracy to government procurement opportunities isn’t the way to make it happen. Businesses up and down Britain agree that the best way to increase the number of apprenticeships is to focus relentlessly on their quality, and by ensuring that they are viewed as positively as academic qualifications by employers.”
