Helping businesses invest in their workforce and skill up for future growth

Date published: 12th November 2026

North Norfolk District Council has partnered with Norfolk County Council to deliver a new initiative called Future Skills North Norfolk. This initiative is designed to help businesses invest in their workforce and prepare for future growth.

Future Skills North Norfolk builds on the Future Skills Now programme, which NNDC delivered during 2024 and 2025.

Through a combination of skills development support, funded training opportunities and tailored advice, the project aims to help employers build a skilled, resilient and productive workforce.

Our Business Skills Coordinator will work directly with businesses across North Norfolk to understand their workforce development needs, identify skills gaps, and connect employers with training opportunities and support available through the project.

Future Skills North Norfolk supports established small and medium-sized businesses across the District that want to develop their workforce, address skills challenges, and plan for future growth.

Is your business eligible? To be considered for support, your business must:

• Be located and actively trading in North Norfolk
• Employ at least five full-time equivalent employees
• Have traded for at least 24 months
• Be an SME with fewer than 250 employees
• Have a clear workforce development or skills need
• Complete a workforce and skills review and develop a Workforce Development Action Plan
• Provide the required contribution if applying for grant funding

The programme is not normally available to: sole trader businesses with fewer than five employees, businesses trading for less than 24 months, public-sector organisations, or applicants seeking funding for general running costs or equipment.

Cllr John Toye, portfolio holder for Sustainable Growth, said:

“It is exciting to see the solid groundwork of the future skills now coming to fruition. We have worked with businesses, training providers, and other councils to grow an understanding of the needs and challenges.

We are now turning this into actions that through collaborative work with businesses will create real opportunities for growth.

This will in turn will enable individuals to grow in the workplace with long term gains to North Norfolk. ”

Businesses interested in finding out more about Future Skills North Norfolk or discussing their workforce development needs are encouraged to get in touch and discover how the project can support their future ambitions.

Contact the team for an initial conversation about your workforce needs and to find out whether your business is eligible for support: futureskillsnorthnorfolk@norfolk.gov.uk or visit Future Skills North Norfolk - Norfolk County Council