Region’s firms ‘struggling’ to hire apprentices due to shortage of funding and guidance
More than a third of mid-sized businesses in East Anglia (34 per cent) are struggling to hire apprentices due to a lack of funding, according to survey of the sector from BDO. It showed that businesses in the region would like to hire more apprentices but lack sufficient resources or the guidance to do so and a quarter of firms want to see greater support from a future government to resolve staff or skills shortages, including reform to the Apprenticeship Levy. Only one in five respondents regularly hire apprentices through the Apprenticeship Levy, with high costs and a lack of guidance cited as the main barriers. But nearly one-fifth of regional businesses said they would increase hiring if they could work more closely with local schools and colleges. The survey also showed variations between sectors; many real estate and tech and media firms say they would hire apprentices if they had more guidance on starting a programme. Peter Harrup, head of BDO in East Anglia, said:“As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, the importance of apprentices to the economic growth of the region and UK as a whole is not lost on anyone, least of all the businesses at the heart of our economy. These businesses are responsible for more than 8 million jobs, the equivalent of one in four across the UK and, with the right level of targeted support, together we can help them kick start their hiring – boosting the number of high quality opportunities on offer to younger generations and providing the skills East Anglia so desperately needs.” BDO is recruiting nine apprentices in East Anglia across the firm’s Cambridge and Ipswich offices. (See National Apprenticeship Week news stories below.)
Firms stay confident in their own prospects despite economic ‘headwinds’
Business confidence in the wider economy fell in January in the East of England although firms’ faith in their own prospects held steady and a balance of almost a third of companies plan to increase staff levels over the next year. A business barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking showed overall confidence fell by seven points in the region during January to 38 per cent due to a fall in optimism on the wider economy. Businesses’ confidence in their own trading prospects remained steady month-on-month at 46 per cent. Meanwhile, a net balance of 31 per cent of businesses in the East also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, down just two points month-on-month. The dip in confidence on the economy in the East was in contrast to the national picture; overall, UK business confidence rose nine points in January to 44 per cent – its strongest start to a year since 2016 – and reflecting an improving outlook for services along with manufacturing and construction. But retail confidence dipped with signs of weaker footfall and sales in December. Dene Jones, regional director for the East of England at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Despite a drop in economic confidence, it’s highly encouraging to see businesses in the East of England retain confidence in their own prospects – a reflection, to me, of the region’s inherent resourcefulness and resilience in the face of headwinds.”
Ipswich IT support firm moves to new offices with space to grow
Growing Ipswich-based IT support provider Lucid Systems has moved to new offices at the new Blue Sky Business Centre in Hintlesham. The firm has relocated from its previous base in Felaw Maltings after a period when it has significantly grown its client base and staff numbers. Craig Debenham, managing director of the company, which marks its 15th anniversary later this year, said: “…We’re hugely ambitious, and our new office location gives us the space we need for new staff members to join us and new services to evolve.” He added: “When Lucid Systems first opened, IT support was seen as predominantly helpdesk services. Since then, IT has become far more strategic and senior leadership teams have realised that investing in the right foundations from the very start is fundamental to long-term success. …Now, much of our time is spent providing consultancy services, advising local businesses on how they can maximise their IT investment by transitioning to cloud-based services to help them grow their business.”
Photo (l-r):Jamie Pope (helpdesk manager), Craig Debenham (managing director) and Karl Wilkinson (technical director) at Lucid Systems’ new office in Hintlesham.
New 60 plus bed care home planned in Norfolk
Family-owned business Castlemeadow Care is expanding in the region with a new 60 plus bed care home in Norfolk and refinancing existing sites in King’s Lynn and Long Stratton with an £18m funding package from Cynergy Bank. Castlemeadow Care provides specialist care, support, and care homes and assisted living residences. Sanjay Kaushal, director and founder, said: “Thanks to funding from Cynergy Bank, we are building a new care home as part of a large care village complex, which marks a new chapter in our commitment to providing exceptional care and support for our senior residents.”
Law firm appoints new partner in agriculture and estates team
Ashtons Legal has appointed Ayesha Brown as a new partner in the firm’s top tier agriculture and estates team and the firm’s second new partner this year. She will be based in Ashtons’ Bury St Edmunds office and will work with farmers, landed estates, rural property owners and agricultural businesses across the firm’s locations in Cambs, Norfolk and Suffolk. Ayesha Brown is ranked in the Legal 500 as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’, a member of the Agricultural Law Association, a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, a full member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers and a Dementia Friend. She acts for a wide range of rural clients and has an interest in advising on tax matters, focusing on succession and farm partnerships, capital tax planning, inheritance tax and trust advice and multi-jurisdictional estate planning. Jeanette Dennis, head of Ashtons’ agriculture and estates team, said: “We are seeing an increasing number of clients needing to navigate complex post-Brexit tax implications with many farmers having to move away from traditional farming into diversified income streams….Ayesha has been providing practical tax solutions to farmers, landowners and high-net-worth individuals for many years so her appointment enhances the services we already offer our clients in the farming and entrepreneurial community”.
Photo(l-r): Jeanette Dennis, Simon Cunningham and Ayesha Brown, partners in Ashtons’ agriculture and estates team.
New managing director appointed at regional communications agency
Suffolk-based award-winning PR and digital marketing agency PLMR Genesis has appointed Tim Miller as managing director. In his new role he will take the agency forward as the East of England flagship for PLMR, an independently-owned PR company ranked by PR Week in 2023 as a top 50 UK PR agency. PLMR acquired Genesis PR from founders Penny and Charles Arbuthnot in October 2021. Tim Miller, 33, has developed a successful decade-long career with the regional agency. Specialising in strategic PR, media relations and public affairs, he has risen through the ranks after moving back to the area in 2013 from London where he had worked in PR for a local authority while completing a master’s in public relations. He lives in Norfolk and has a degree in history and politics from the University of East Anglia. Kevin Craig, founder and CEO of PLMR, said: “…. it’s great that our operations in the East of England are now to be headed up by someone who has come up through the ranks after years of dedication and hard work.”
Tim Miller said: “I am incredibly excited to take PLMR Genesis forward as the flagship for PLMR in this region, while working with current and future clients to achieve their goals. Being part of PLMR enables us to offer additional breadth and depth of services and expertise from a wealth of strategic communications specialists, including former national journalists and former special advisors to senior cabinet ministers.” PLMR Genesis has a team of 16 and clients include Ingleton Wood, rural broadband provider County Broadband, healthcare companies Xyla Elective Care and Bramacare, the Suffolk Agricultural Association and Notcutts Garden Centres.
Photo (l-r): Penny Arbuthnot, founder and managing director of Genesis PR; Tim Miller, new managing director of PLMR Genesis; Kevin Craig, founder and CEO of PLMR.
Public perceptions changing on apprenticeships
Over half (60 per cent) of people think apprentices get paid a lower wage than those who have a degree, according to a survey of 2,000 people for communications agency PLMR ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (5-11 February). The Sutton Trust found higher apprentices (level 5 or above) have greater lifetime earnings than non-Russell Group university graduates and the advantage of not paying tuition fees. Public perceptions are changing with over half of those surveyed saying there is less of a stigma around apprenticeships than ten years ago. PLMR’s deputy group director of digital, Lucy Somers, completed her advanced apprenticeship in digital marketing seven years ago whilst working at the firm’s head office in London. Now providing strategic digital marketing advice and leading the East of England digital team, she was named the PRCA’s Digital Professional of the Year 2023. She said: “Our survey shows that there is still work to be done to challenge some long-held misconceptions about apprenticeships. In the East of England, for example, over half of those surveyed think apprenticeships are mainly for school leavers and 45 per cent of people in the East think apprenticeships are only for those interested in ‘hands-on’ type jobs. At PLMR, we truly understand the value of apprenticeships and encourage more organisations to tap into this incredible business opportunity to futureproof your workforce.”
Apprenticeship opportunities on offer at Cambridge company
Cambridge company Domino Printing is inviting applications for its award-winning apprenticeship scheme for 2024, launched to coincide with National Apprentice Week (5th-11th February). The company is offering four roles across its business: in formulation chemistry, in software, in supply chain and in continuous improvement. Entry levels for each vary from open entry through to A-level or HNC level 3 or 4. All of the apprentices will be given a structured programme which starts with foundation modules and progresses to six-monthly rotations to experience different areas of the business. On-the-job training is complemented by day release study at a local college or a distance learning course. Rosie Celentano, Domino HR adviser, said: “Since we started our scheme in 2016, 34 apprentices have benefitted from being able to earn whilst they learn. This year we are again offering four positions and looking forward to receiving applications from school-leavers at differing stages.” The closing date for applications is 28th February and for information and to apply online go to https://www.domino-printing.com/en-gb/careers/our-vacancies
Photo: Domino Apprentices Peter Mizuro and Cheta Nwandu.
