Celebrate National Apprenticeship Week with NCC

This year Apprenticeships Norfolk are holding the first in-person Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards for six years on the evening of 8 February. These awards showcase the talent which apprenticeships inspire amongst Norfolk residents and businesses.

The awards, sponsored by the East of England Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, celebrate the very best apprentices, managers, mentors, and businesses from across Norfolk, and include a number of exciting categories such as the Achievement in Exceptional Circumstances award and the Impact Award for an apprentice who has made a significant impact on the team they work in, the role that they do, or the people they support.

Alongside the award ceremony the team from Apprenticeships Norfolk will be visiting many events across the county, including business breakfasts and Job Centre career events, to share information about the benefits of becoming an apprentice, or hiring one into your business.

Cllr Fabian Eagle, cabinet member for growing the economy, said:

"Apprenticeships provide a valuable route to gaining the essential knowledge and skills which enables people of all ages to reach their potential through professional development for exciting future careers.

"For businesses, apprentices can be a really valuable member of any team, as they bring a fresh new insight in to how things could be done. Apprenticeships offer organisations the opportunity to recruit new talent, to bring in new skills - enabling their businesses to thrive, grow and diversify."

Norfolk County Council have been conducting their own apprenticeships since 2017. We offer a range of apprenticeships, from data analysts, surveyors, and finance assistants to social workers, town planners, and content producers.

Three senior managers from the County Council recently took some time out to meet apprentices in their departments and spend time getting to know why apprenticeships are so important. These managers were:

• Tom McCabe, Head of Paid Services, who met recently qualified degree level social worker apprentices Laura Thompson-Williams and Heather Hart
• Grahame Bygrave, Director of Highways and Waste, who met Leo Gossland and Connor Harrison who are Level 3 civil engineering apprentices
• Paul Cracknell, Executive Director of Strategy and Transformation, who met Harry Giles and Jonathan Eagle who are both apprentice data analysts, studying towards a level 4 qualification

Tom McCabe, Head of Paid Service at Norfolk County Council, spent an afternoon speaking with two recently qualified Social Worker apprentices. He said:

"We've been doing apprenticeships since 2017 and it's important that we push ourselves as individuals, and as an organisation, to stay ahead of developments and remain relevant to today's employment market. Apprentices aren't just 18-year-olds who have left school. Apprenticeships offer our people the opportunities to spend most of their time doing the job but also getting the corresponding qualifications to advance their careers. We do need more employers to realise that this is a great way that they can look after their business interests."

The Apprenticeships Norfolk team offer free and impartial information, advice and guidance to businesses and individuals considering apprenticeships. Contact them via email at apprenticeships@norfolk.gov.uk or by visiting the Apprenticeships Norfolk website.