Fair Work in Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships: Final Report

This research was commissioned by The Scottish Government to explore opportunities to embed Fair Work First principles in the Modern and Graduate Apprenticeship offer in Scotland. Following the adoption of the Fair Work Framework, The Scottish Government has developed the Fair Work First approach that asks employers who deliver procured public services in Scotland, or who receive Scottish Government grant funding, to adopt fair working practices, specifically: appropriate channels for effective voice, such as trade union recognition; investment in workforce development; no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts; action to tackle the gender pay gap and create a more diverse and inclusive workplace; and payment of the real Living Wage.

The aim of this research was to explore the opportunities to embed Fair Work First in the offer of the modern and graduate apprenticeship programmes (MAs and GAs). The research objectives were to consider whether the Fair Work First criteria require adaptation in order to be applied to MAs and GAs; to formulate initial recommendations to support the implementation of the Fair Work First criteria; and to identify potential approaches to ensuring that apprenticeships remain an attractive offer following implementation of the Fair Work First criteria. The research objectives were revised in July 2020 to include the collection of data on the impact of the pandemic on the progress of apprenticeships.