Places for People are seeking to appoint a number of providers for the supply and training of apprentices that consistently meet the standards required. The providers will need to be able to provide a range of services to meet the varying requirements of Places for People and other organisations. As such, Places for People wish to form and let an Apprenticeship Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) which will be utilised and owned by Places for People Procurement Hub. It is intended that this DPS will be capable of being used by other Procurement Hub members and contracting authorities in the United Kingdom.

In May 2017 the system for the funding and procurement of apprenticeship training changed with the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, which will require public sector employers with a pay bill over 3 000 000 GBP each year to make an investment in apprenticeships (0.5 % of their annual pay bill).

Employers will access the funds through a Digital Apprenticeship Account (DAA) controlled by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The DAA will be hosted on a system known as the digital Apprenticeship Service (AS). Each levy-paying employer will have a virtual account equivalent in value to its contribution, minus an amount equivalent to the notional contribution for its employees that live in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus a government top-up of 10 %.

Places for People are seeking to appoint a number of providers for the supply and training of apprentices that consistently meet the standards required. The providers will need to be able to provide a range of services to meet the varying requirements of Places for People and other organisations. As such, Places for People wish to form and let an Apprenticeship Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) which will be utilised and owned by Places for People Procurement Hub. It is intended that this DPS will be capable of being used by other Procurement Hub members and contracting authorities in the United Kingdom.

The principle of the Apprenticeship DPS is to group the provision of Apprenticeships training services that Places for People and other contracting authority clients require under the new Apprenticeships Levy provisions and market the services ensuring quality and value for money allowing a range of contracting authorities to join the Hub and get best value services. The core DPS will be owned by Places for People.

Apprenticeship spend that will be managed through this agreement will be grown organically. The successful suppliers will be expected to work with Places for People to develop it and encourage its growth. In addition to being available to other Procurement Hub Members, Places for People have several departments and subsidiaries that have a requirement for Apprenticeship training services who may use this DPS as a vehicle to procure their demand.

This agreement will therefore provide an OJEU compliant platform which the Procurement Hub members (including Places for People Group) can procure a range of Apprenticeship training services via the subsequent tender process.