Crown Commercial Service as the Authority has put in place a pan government Framework Agreement for use by UK public sector bodies identified at V1.3, which include Central Government departments and their agencies, non-departmental public bodies, NHS bodies and local authorities. Contracting Authorities funded by public money are under scrutiny, and to ensure the delivery of excellent public service it is important that they have access to the right quality apprenticeship training. This is a single supplier framework. This procurement related to training and related services for the delivery of the Professional Economist Integrated Degree Apprenticeship — which are Educational services listed in Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 as a specific service. The procurement was conducted under the Light Touch Regime (“LTR”) therefore subject to limited regulation and was conducted in accordance with Regulations 74 to 76 PCR 2015.

Crown Commercial Service as the Authority worked with the Government Economic Service (GES) support team in HM Treasury to establish a single supplier Framework Agreement for Professional Economist Integrated Degree Apprenticeships. As the largest employer of economists in England the GES are committed to employing Professional Economist Apprentices. The Professional Economist Apprenticeship entry route is seen as the important new pillar of the GES Recruitment Strategy and will have parity of esteem with the established Fast Track and Main Stream entry routes. The apprenticeship route is considered a vital part of the GES’s drive to ensure that the economics profession continues to attract the brightest and the best from all backgrounds. Through this Framework Agreement GES will form an enduring professional relationship with a single training provider to deliver all of the Professional Economist Integrated Degree Apprenticeship Training for GES member organisations. Current indications are that 75 apprentices will be recruited for August 2019 starts and this may grow in subsequent years. The duration of the Framework Agreement is the Initial Framework Period of 2 years. There are also two additional 1 year extension options available in that Framework Agreement.