YPO has developed a new iteration of the successful long-standing apprenticeships and associated training framework that has been running since 2018. This has been developed and improvements made to support the needs of the public sector when procuring apprenticeship standards, end point assessment and associated training in a variety of ways. Follow the link to search and procure apprenticeship standards.
The framework gives contracting authorities access to both regional and national providers.
The framework is structured into three tiers:
• Regions
• Routes
• Standards
YPO has created a solution that will be flexible and allow for new standards and providers to be added on a quarterly basis. We’ve created a 4 year timetable to give both providers and contracting authorities an understanding of the YPO activity timeline for this framework. This document can be seen under the 'framework documents' tab.
Documents
The framework documents are all available to download from the 'framework documents' tab above. Customers are required to create an account and sign in to download; the specification, standard lot breakdown, terms and conditions, call off terms and conditions and order form.
Contracting authority call-off period
We haven’t set a minimum or maximum length for any call-offs created by contracting authorities. Contracting authorities can create an agreed call-off based on the term they believe will suit their requirements.
Value of the framework
The apprenticeship marketplace is open to continuous change due to the fluctuations in the apprenticeship levy. The spend in this area is difficult to predict due to the market conditions and is anticipated to be between approximately £8 billion and £10 billion across apprenticeships and associated training.
Contracting authorities can carry out a direct award or further competition through the framework. Please see the 'framework documents' tab for guidance and template documents. All providers tender response and pricing schedules are shown here search and procure apprenticeship standards against each relevant standard they have been awarded onto the framework for.
Framework terms and conditions
YPO has agreed a set of framework terms and conditions; these are between YPO and the provider. These framework terms and conditions cannot be amended by the contracting authority or the provider.
To supplement the framework terms and conditions, YPO has created call-off terms and conditions for contracting authorities to put in place with the provider.
The call-off terms and conditions can be utilised to ensure that they fit your requirements and if both parties agree, they can be amended to support the delivery of the service.
Once the call-off terms and conditions are agreed you will need to specify these within the order form under the “amendment to terms and conditions” section. This can be completed either through the YPO apprenticeship website or through the offline process detailed above. The order form then forms the legally binding contract between you the customer and the provider.
Providers
The framework structure reopens the opportunity on a quarterly basis for new providers to join all tender documentation can be found at www.tendering.ypo.co.uk. Due to the constantly developing market of apprenticeships we want to ensure the framework is as flexible as possible, the structure of the framework allows existing providers to add standards to their offering at anytime (subject to successful evaluation). All live standards and providers offerings on the framework will be live on our bespoke apprenticeships website and updated accordingly when required.
YPO developed an over-arching specification that providers must deliver against when delivering an apprenticeship standard, end point assessments or associated training. The full specification can be downloaded from the Framework Documents tab located at the top of this page.
YPO's apprenticeship team can support you through your procurement. Contact us at [email protected].