Search is on as Norse Group creates more than 80 new apprenticeships
March 2012

A major scheme has been launched which will see the creation of more than 80 new apprenticeships in Norfolk.

In February Norfolk County Council announced a significant investment in apprenticeships with £891,000 of funding creating 81 apprenticeship positions within the Norse Group over the coming year. The deal will also see Norse providing nearly £800,000 of additional investment towards the young peoples’ training and development.

Ian Mackie, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance, said: "The Council's budget in February allocated an additional £10.1million* to support and invest in Norfolk's young people. Half of this sum is being designed to enable access to employment and training opportunities. One of our projects is the creation of 81 apprentices within the Norse Group. I am very pleased that recruitment begins this week. This is great news for Norfolk and meets my desire to move swiftly with these initiatives.

"Our investment of nearly £900,000 in this joint project will be matched by a similar sum invested by Norse in training and development. I am delighted that the Norse Group will be looking to permanently recruit successful apprentices. To quote The Apprentice 'the search is on'. However, unlike The Apprentice we are not just searching for just one, but 81.”

Mike Britch, Managing Director of the Norse Group, said: "People are at the heart of the Norse Group and we believe apprenticeships are a proven way for young people to get a vital step on the career ladder and will present them with the chance to learn and develop lifelong skills. We have successfully seen many apprentices take up positions with the company and this investment will give us the chance to give 81 young people the chance."

The funding allocated by the council to the Norse Group will provide each apprentice with a salary of £11,000 and training, with opportunities in the following areas:

• Care work
• Health & Safety
• Recruitment
• General Admin
• Grounds
• Building Maintenance
• Catering
• Environmental Services
• Security
• Facilities management
• Vehicle workshop
• Building Surveying
• ICT
• Finance
• Property Services

In addition to formal training, all apprentices will receive varying degrees of coaching and mentoring in accordance with their associated profession, with these costs being funded by the Norse Group at a cost of nearly £800,000. The aim is not just to provide one year apprenticeships but to convert as many of these as possible into full time employment.

If you are under 24 and would like to apply for a Norse Group apprenticeship or find out more, please click here, or you can ring the recruitment line on 01603 894111.

Notes
The Norse Group has progressively expanded its customer base and areas of operation and now has 36 locally based offices across the UK. Now regarded as one of the country’s leading providers, the Norse Group has grown to become one of the country’s foremost providers employing over 8,000 staff with an annual turnover in excess of £200 million.

*At its Budget in February, the County Council allocated £4.5m to support apprenticeships, £5.4m to provide additional in-county care for looked after children and £219,000 to fully fund the Norfolk Citizenship Initiative, developed by City College Norwich.