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Partnering with SME companies throughout East Anglia, Michelle Denny Recruitment is a recruitment agency which specialises in personalised recruitment consultancy services in Norfolk and Suffolk to help you discover that elusive new member of staff at a budget that suits you.

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With different campaign options to meet your requirements and innovative marketing strategies to captivate worthy candidates, we'll present you with a refreshing, no-fuss approach to recruitment. Whether you need a comprehensive recruitment drive with full support, or a simple campaign to find you candidates to review in-house, we'll work with you as an extension of your team, to understand your business and the people within it. 

Clients

THIS WAY TO HIRE

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We'll introduce you to companies with job opportunities across Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond that share your values and understand your career aspirations so you can feel confident in your job search. With guidance, support, constructive feedback and consistent communication as standard throughout our approach, Michelle Denny Recruitment Consultancy looks beyond your CV to discover what makes you, you!

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With a clear direction, straightforward application process and ongoing recommendations, we’ll provide you with the ultimate match-making service to help you find the right job, in the right company, with the right team. Learn more, view our current vacancies and upload your CV to register for upcoming roles too.

Candidates

THIS WAY TO A NEW JOB

Turning the Skills Gap into Opportunity: What Norfolk & Suffolk’s £4M Funding Boost Means for You.

  • Michelle Denny
  • Sep 7
  • 3 min read

In recruitment, we talk a lot about the skills gap. But here in Norfolk and Suffolk, there’s now something tangible to talk about when it comes to addressing it - and it’s good news.


From April 2025 to March 2026, £4 million has been secured to deliver Skills Bootcamps across the region. These flexible, employer-led programmes are designed to meet real business needs - and support local people into better roles, new careers, or further progression.


And whether you’re a candidate, employer or business leader, it’s worth paying attention.


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What are Skills Bootcamps?


Skills Bootcamps are free, short training programmes for adults over 19, offering practical, job-relevant learning in sectors where demand is growing. Most last between 60 hours and 16 weeks, with flexible delivery (a mix of online and in-person). Courses are tailored around industry demand and can support both new jobseekers and existing employees.


The latest funding will give over 1,300 people across Norfolk and Suffolk access to training in areas such as:


  • Digital and tech

  • Green energy and net-zero

  • Construction and engineering

  • Health and social care

  • Logistics and transport

  • Childcare and professional services


These bootcamps aren’t just training for training’s sake - they’re mapped against real gaps in the local economy, based on ongoing research from employers and sector bodies.



Why it matters - and what it connects to


The £4M investment forms part of a longer-term strategy shaped by the Norfolk & Suffolk Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). This plan, driven by the region’s Chambers of Commerce and endorsed by the Department for Education, focuses on aligning skills provision with business need.


The LSIP highlights themes such as:


  • Increasing local digital skills

  • Expanding workforce availability in agri-tech and engineering

  • Building resilience in logistics and adult social care

  • Growing leadership and communication capacity within businesses


The bootcamp funding is a practical step toward delivering on these priorities - and a genuine opportunity for businesses to upskill from within without high cost barriers.



For Employers: What to Do Next


If you're an employer in Norfolk or Suffolk, this is a chance to develop your people in a way that’s low-cost, high-impact, and shaped by your sector’s reality.


Here’s what to do:


  • Explore the courses currently available and consider if they fit any existing skills gaps in your team.

  • If you’re an SME, you’ll only contribute 10% of the training cost (30% for larger companies).

  • These programmes are a great option for upskilling loyal team members who are ready to grow but need structured support.


You don’t need to hire someone new to benefit. These are ready-made, subsidised ways to boost capability and retention inside your own walls.


For Candidates: What You Can Access


You don’t need to be unemployed to take part. You just need to be:

  • 19 or over

  • Based in England

  • Ready to learn a new skill that can improve your job prospects


Whether you’re looking to:

  • Progress in your current role

  • Pivot to a new sector

  • Build confidence in a growing field


…a Skills Bootcamp could be a fast, flexible way to move forward without the cost of a formal qualification or a career break.


If you’re not sure where to start, ask your employer if they’re aware of what’s available — or speak to us.


Final thought


This isn’t just another training scheme - it’s part of a bigger, long-term plan to make Norfolk and Suffolk more resilient, more skilled, and better prepared for future challenges.


It’s easy to talk about the skills gap. But here’s an opportunity to actually do something about it.


If you're planning to hire, develop, or support someone in your team - this is worth a look.

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