apprenticeship clause

An apprenticeship clause is a requirement in public procurement that obliges suppliers to employ apprentices when performing public contracts. In Norway, the clause has been mandatory since 1 January 2017 and, since 1 July 2026, is set out in Section 5h of the Public Procurement Act (previously Section 7 and a separate apprenticeship regulation). The purpose is to secure enough apprenticeship places for vocational students and to counteract work-related crime.

How does the apprenticeship clause work?

In Norway, the contracting authority must require that suppliers are affiliated with an apprenticeship scheme and that one or more apprentices participate in performing the contract. The requirement applies to contracts covered by the public procurement regulation, but not to utilities or concession contracts.

Several conditions must be met for the obligation to apply:

• The contract value must be at or above the national threshold for mandatory advertisement, NOK 1.3 million excl. VAT
• The contract must last more than three months
• There must be a demonstrated need for apprenticeship places in the industry, defined as more than 10% of applicants lacking a placement
• The main element of the contract must involve work where a skilled worker's or journeyman's certificate is relevant
• The requirement must not be disproportionate in relation to the specific contract

Thresholds and requirements

Since 1 July 2026, the same threshold applies to all Norwegian contracting authorities: the national threshold of NOK 1.3 million (approx. EUR 115,000) excl. VAT. This is the threshold for mandatory advertisement of supply and service contracts (FOA § 5-1(2)), and it also applies to works contracts.

In addition to requiring at least one apprentice, at least 10% of the relevant work must be performed by apprentices. Foreign suppliers can fulfil the requirement with an apprentice or vocational trainee from their home country, and the main contractor may also meet it through subcontractors. The contracting authority must monitor compliance and include sanctions in the contract for non-compliance (§ 5p). The requirement is part of the Act's wider rules on societal considerations.

At the EU level, Directive 2014/24/EU enables similar social clauses through Article 70, which allows contracting authorities to include training and apprenticeship requirements as contract performance conditions. Tools like Cobrief can help suppliers identify public tenders that include apprenticeship requirements, enabling early workforce planning.

The apprenticeship clause has contributed to more apprenticeship places in the private sector, though monitoring and enforcement remain challenges. The tightened requirements, now written into the Act itself, aim to strengthen the clause's impact and reward businesses that invest in vocational training.