• Bakkavor, a provider of freshly prepared food with 23 manufacturing sites across the UK, has launched its 2023 apprenticeship programme. The firm is recruiting at least 30 apprentices in engineering and 10 in manufacturing. There are also other roles available across finance, HR, food technology, business administration, SHE (safety health and environment), supply chain and continuous improvement. The Programme provides opportunities to gain higher or advanced apprenticeships.

The roles will be based at Bakkavor sites across the UK, including Scotland, Wigan, London, Lincolnshire, Newark, Somerset and Kent. The apprenticeships provide real responsibility from day one, contributing to key business activities and projects, while also allowing for time to study towards a nationally recognised qualification. There is also the opportunity to develop valuable life skills through involvement in local community and charity initiatives and visiting schools as apprentice ambassadors.

• Global executive boutique search firm Calibre One has opened a new office in Boston in the US. It will be led by Molly Robb, who has been appointed partner to head the North-East office. She will work closely with Christos Richards, who leads the practice from the West Coast San Francisco office. Robb has 20 years’ executive recruiting experience, who was previously managing director with BioQuest, part of The Diversified Search Group.

• Scottish recruitment agency Cammach Bryant has announced a brand refresh that will see the Aberdeen-based recruiter for the oil & gas, renewables and space industries renamed Cammach. The company says the rebrand, which took place last month, better reflects the capabilities and make-up of the team. Cammach is owned by investment group GEG Capital, which acquired it in 2017.

• Recruitment firm Capability Jane has rebranded to CJ Talent to reflect the changes seen in the workplace. CJ Talent specialises in bringing together candidates looking for senior roles with organisations that offer flexible or hybrid working.

• Deutsche Bank and Queen Mary University of London have launched a new Investment Banking degree apprenticeship programme, which they say is a job with training, combining work with study to gain skills for an investment banking career. The four-year programme, targeted at students completing their A-Levels in 2023 or who have completed their A-Levels in 2022, aims to attract talented students who have an interest in a career in banking. The entry requirements are AAA or UCAS points equivalent, which should include A in A-Level Maths.

As well as at-the-desk training, knowledge development and soft-skills building, the 10 apprentices’ fees will be covered for expert tuition in Queen Mary’s School of Economics and Finance, and they will also receive a competitive salary. Around 20% of their time will be dedicated to learning, with 80% spent ‘on the job’ where they can apply academic skills to their day-to-day work.

• With a combined industry experience spanning more than 40 years, entrepreneurs Lisa Payne and Hannah Sills have launched a specialist recruitment agency for the FMCG and CPG [consumer packaged goods] sectors. Professional Appointments, based in Wardour Street, London, will work with clients and candidates across the UK and Europe. The agency places individuals at all levels in food and drink, fashion, lifestyle, sporting goods, toys and nursery, consumer electronics, health and beauty, packaging and logistics.

• Training provider Realise has pledged to create at least 25,000 apprentices in the next five years in its apprenticeship programme. This will be across sectors including early years education, health and social care, and transport. The training schemes will be open to people of all ages either seeking to move out of unemployment or currently in a job and hoping to upskill. The apprenticeships will be predominantly delivered at levels two, three and five.

• Food services and facilities management company Sodexo has launched Explore at Sodexo on the Youth Employment UK website to create youth career pathways at the company. At Explore at Sodexo, young people can read and watch profiles of current Sodexo apprentices, as well as explore apprenticeship academies, T-Level opportunities and work experience programmes at Sodexo sites across the UK.

Youth Employment UK will help Sodexo to connect with those who are looking to work for a youth-friendly employer. Sodexo offers a wide variety of apprenticeships, with more than 70 available in areas such as IT and business administration, FM, hospitality and catering, healthcare and HR.

• Swift Temps has opened a new larger office located at Pure Offices, Oldbury, in Birmingham. The recruitment firm was founded in 2016 by Damian Lee and has nine existing offices across the Midlands and North-West England. The new Birmingham office is part of the company’s continued growth to support workers finding temporary and permanent employment positions.

• Domestic healthcare recruitment agency Tezlom has added new franchisees to its network. These include Tezlom Stratford and Romford, Tezlom Bromley, Tezlom Nottingham, Tezlom Birmingham, Tezlom Cheltenham and Tezlom Canterbury.

• UK Power Networks has launched a new digital academy with up to 400 spaces available over five years for employees – including new recruits – on 20 new apprenticeship courses focused on digital and technology skills.

An in-house training team, in partnership with two experienced training providers, will deliver programmes ranging from Apprenticeship Level 3 for business analysts, to Level 7 for cyber security, which is the equivalent of a Master’s degree. Staff are given time to study during the week, with individuals also committing to some home study.

• Zurich UK has announced it has 100 new apprenticeship places on offer across the UK, as the insurer continues its drive to attract young talent and futureproof its workforce. Open to applications from this month, the placements will be available across 12 different business areas including data science, operations and IT, finance and claims, and will range from those who are at the start of their insurance career all the way through to Master’s qualifications for those in later stage careers. Applications for the apprenticeship scheme open from 6 February until 19 March.