Apprenticeship targets for public sector take effect

Implementation date: 31 March 2017

The Public Sector Apprenticeship Targets Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/513) set specified public-sector employers with at least 250 employees in England a target that an average of at least 2.3% of their workforce in England must start as new apprentices across the target period. The target period begins on 1 April 2017 and ends on 31 March 2021. To calculate their target, organisations in scope of the requirement will be required to determine their headcount in England by reference to the number of employees working for them on 31 March each year, beginning in 2017. Public bodies will have a duty to publish information annually on their progress towards meeting their target.

The Government has published statutory guidance setting out what public bodies must do to comply with the requirement.