Economy
£90Bn Procurement System to Prioritise Job Creation
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced changes to the £90bn public procurement system, doubling the weighting for community benefits from 10% to 20%, with extra credit for local jobs paying above minimum wage, training to address skills gaps, and 45-day work experience placements for young people.
The changes require companies bidding for contracts worth £5m or more to demonstrate how they will create jobs and support communities. The move aims to tackle the youth unemployment crisis, as ONS figures show over a million 16- to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment, or training. First Secretary of State Louise Haigh called the current process a "tick-box exercise, while Cabinet Office Minister Mark Ferguson said businesses benefiting from taxpayer pounds must "give back.
Greenpeace UK's Ami McCarthy criticised the plans, arguing environmental targets and youth employment are "mutually beneficial" and should not come at each other's expense. The new rules apply to both British and international firms.
Source: BBC Politics
