Question reference: S6W-04646
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 25 November 2021
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Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 December 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Skills Development Scotland has extended contracts issued during the commissioning process for 2021-22; if so, for what reason, and what its advice is to others seeking to bid for contracts.
Answer
Skills Development Scotland wrote to contracted training providers and employers in October 2021, setting out their intention to extend Modern Apprenticeships (MA) contracts. This extension was for a period of 12 months from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. SDS can extend these contracts for a further 12 months from 2023 to 2024. Any extensions are subject to budget allocation for that financial year.
SDS have made clear that any organisation seeking to bid for MA contracts out with the commissioning period can do this as a sub-contractor, working with an existing contracted provider.
SDS may also extend other contracts such as for IT services or facilities, in line with normal practice for these type of contracts.