Employers who win public sector contracts should be contractually obliged to support local employment programmes and initiatives, according to a local government account director of public services provider Amey.

Gordon Wilson told Recruiter: “It’s a good idea because it levels the playing field for the more ethical employers, and it would force the hands of those employers who don’t [act in this way].

“There is a cost to doing this [supporting local employment initiatives] in both time and money, but if you want to work in the public sector, you have got to show your commitment for community regeneration and support for that community.”

Wilson says this is a feature of a new £120m contract Amey has just won to provide services to North Lanarkshire County Council. Wilson said Amey has set a target of 174 jobs and 20 apprenticeships for local people over the life of the 10-year contract. There will also be hundreds of training opportunities, he said.

Amey is working with the council to design a programme for local people, including the long-term unemployed, that includes pre-employment screening and customised training, for example, in health & safety. “There is a big issue of youth unemployment in this area, and I think it is right that it should be handled this way, and maybe in other areas too.”

Wilson added that it is vital that employers have a real vacancy before anyone is taken on for training. “This makes a huge difference to trainees’ motivation. If they know it is really genuine and they know there is a job at the end, they really knuckle down,” he said.