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Capita Group Plc has won a major £25m contract to recruit and train temporary fieldworkers for the 2011 census. The two-and-a-half-year contract, awarded by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), means the outsourcing company will be responsible for recruiting some 35,000 temporary staff. Capita will also take on responsibility as payroll provider for the temporary workers, although the recruits will work under the guidance of full-time ONS managers during the contract period. The next Census of population and housing in England and Wales is scheduled to take place on 27 March 2011, although in October this year, major rehearsals are due to take place in Newham, Lancaster and Isle of Anglesey. ONS census director, Glen Watson, said: ‘Information from the census helps inform many future decisions made by central and local governments, about policies, planning and providing services. ‘This contract award is a significant milestone in our planning. The census provides vital information which helps allocate funding for national and local services – and it's critical that we recruit the right people for this important, nationwide project. Paul Pindar, Capita's chief executive said: 'We are delighted to have this opportunity to support the census process and look forward to working with the ONS to ensure that the 2011 census meets its objectives.' Capita has also signed a £68m contract to manage the administration of a range of Learning and Skills Council allowances, including the education maintenance allowance and the adult learning grant. The four-year contract will run from 4 May until the end of August 2013, with an option to extend for a further two years. It follows an announcement in November last year that Capita was to take over the work after the LSC's contract with its previous provider came to an end.

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BUSINESS

ONS counts on Capita to deliver 2011 census

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