Business Board urged to promote projects that are plugging Norfolk's skills gaps

Members of Norfolk's Business Board have been asked to encourage employers to influence and shape the skills system and promote projects that are aligning with recruitment needs.

Jan Feeney, Head of Employment and Skills, highlighted the hugely successful impact of a range of interventions that seek to deliver the skills that Norfolk needs in a presentation to the board on 20 March.

Board members agreed to promote these programmes to their own networks and sector groups and help publicise them by sharing videos and other content via social media.

The following were among the programmes on offer in Norfolk that were highlighted at the meeting.

Skills Bootcamps - short employer led programmes of training for adults (aged 19 or over) - have resulted in hundreds of vacancies being filled, new contracts for the self-employed and employees gaining progression or new responsibilities. Wave 5 (2024-26) has led to 391 starts as of the end of December 2024.

The offer locally includes over 30 subject areas including construction, coding, digital, early years, engineering, welding, offshore wind technicians, HGV, land-based, education, green skills, logistics, care, leadership and management.

The Apprenticeship Levy Transfer scheme connects Norfolk businesses to share unspent apprenticeship levy funds through transfers, enabling local businesses to access local training funding and keep apprenticeship levy funds in the county.

So far, £2.5m of unspent levy has been utilised since April 2023 against an original target of £1m, leading to 272 apprenticeship starts in 184 businesses - from Level 2 to Level 7.

Working Well Norfolk provides intensive bespoke support to individuals who wish to work and have a health condition (either mental of physical) to overcome barriers to accessing or to remaining within the labour market.

As of 31 January 2025, a total of 1,934, individuals had been referred to the programme and of those, 1,250 had enrolled onto the programme, 988 individuals had started, and 449 individuals had been supported to access or to be retained within the labour market.

Employers that would like more information about these and other skills programmes should email jan.feeney@norfolk.gov.uk

Published: 21 March 2025