Latest News (April)
Employers and opportunities added in April
Every month, we add more to icanbea... more employers, opportunities, information or experiences for students and job seekers in Norfolk & Suffolk.
Take a look at some highlights below.
Wates Construction have a huge range of challenging and rewarding careers on offer. Their profile has been added to our Employers Index!
A J Rawling is offering the opportunity of working at their Independent Opticians Practice in Ipswich town centre. Initially starting as an optical assistant, the position would progress to incorporating 3 year degree-level apprenticeship with them in September 2026. The candidate should have three A-levels, ideally including Biology.
February - March
Every month, we highlight opportunities, information or experiences to students and job seekers in Norfolk & Suffolk!
Employers and other organisations added in January
Every month, we add more companies to icanbea... that can offer opportunities, information or experiences to students and job seekers in Norfolk & Suffolk.
Take a look at the profiles we've added in January (below) or check out all our profiles here. If you'd like to become one of the hundreds of local employers or training services showcasing your opportunities young people here on icanbea... - just get in touch!
Site updates
Did you know that we have over 600 local organisations listed which contribute to over 1,250 content pages across the site?
We're currently doing a big audit of employers pages to ensure everything is up to date, but this is a lengthy process! If you spot anything that needs urgently updating, please do get in touch!
September-October
Did you know that we regularly feature apprenticeships?
Good luck and well done to everyone receiving exam results in August!
Remember that there are always plenty of options available to you, whether you got what you wanted or now need to look at a different route. Check out our quick guides to your options at 16 and options at 18.
Scheduled maintenance 26/07/2024
Planned maintenance may cause some downtime for icanbea... on Friday afternoon / evening - 26th July.
This should not last very long and we apologise for any inconvenience.
Employers and other organisations added in July
Every week, we add more companies to icanbea... that can offer opportunities, information or experiences to students and job seekers in Norfolk & Suffolk. In fact, nearly 70 profiles were published in 2023 alone - with lots more currently in draft.
Take a look at the profiles we've added in July (below) or check out all our profiles here. If you'd like to become one of the hundreds of local employers or training services showcasing your opportunities young people here on icanbea... - just get in touch!
Employers and other organisations added in May & June
Green Futures in May
This month we've been thinking about careers that address climate change, support net zero ambitions and embrace sustainability.
Green jobs contribute towards fighting climate change, embrace sustainability and help the environment - whether directly or indirectly. As the world strives for a more sustainable future, there is a growing need for individuals to contribute to the development of innovative solutions and technologies. This has led to a rise in green careers, with many new job opportunities emerging in fields that did not previously exist.
More info on this collaborative project with local colleges soon - but in the mealtime, have a look at our new green careers resource pages.
Employers and other organisations added in April
2024 apprenticeship opportunities at Warren in Thetford
Warren are already on the lookout for their September 2024 apprentices!
Interviewing students has already begun and they'll be coming onsite to do a work placement before an apprenticeship opportunity is offered.
Warren provides clients with customised machine engineering and Design for Manufacturing services.
They look for potential employees with the right attitude first, even if they don’t yet have the skills or experience, aiming to help those with a real interest in manufacturing and 
engineering to reach their potential. Last month HR Director Estee Ross, was honoured with the Apprenticeships Norfolk award for Mentor/Manager of the year.
Open Evening - 27th March
Warren are also inviting parents and students to their Apprenticeship Opportunities open evening event on Wednesday 27th March!
Visitors will be able to see what life at Warren is like, with the opportunity to ask any questions about their award-winning apprenticeship programmes.
If you'd like to go along or have any questions about our apprenticeships , please contact recruitment@warrenservices.co.uk
Did you know?
Apprenticeships Suffolk is an impartial and completely free service at Suffolk County Council as part of the strategic aim to increase the quality and quantity of apprenticeships within the county, thereby supporting business and economic growth. The team identifies apprenticeship opportunities, provides employer focused information, advice and guidance, and actively promotes apprenticeships to support employment in Suffolk.
Click the image above to access an introductory pdf document
Apprenticeships Suffolk supports employers in Suffolk who want to find out more and offer an apprenticeship opportunity. They also work with Education provisions to provide information on the apprenticeship pathway Post-16 and 18.
They work with aspiring apprentices (anyone 16+) who are ready to take their next step and explore the apprenticeship route whist supporting both the employer and apprentice throughout their journey.
To find out more, check out their digital information booklet (pdf) or visit the website: https://apprenticeshipssuffolk.org/
Employers and other organisations added in February
New offices
Exciting times as icanbea... and The Mason Trust have now moved to new offices in Diss.
Here we have more space to develop our evolving offerings to young people across the region:
The Mason Trust, St Michaels House, 40 Sawmills Road, Diss, IP22 4DA
Employers and other organisations added in January
Working for yourself
We've put together a new section with some starting information for people considering working for themselves.
4.31 million people in the UK were self-employed in April-June 2023 according to the ONS, enjoying the freedom to determine their own goals, working conditions, hours and salary.
Working for yourself broadly means running your own operation to earn money and largely being in charge of what you do - and how you do it. You could do this on your own or with others, from premises, your home or even a vehicle - and the products or services that you provide could be new, different or the same as those already on offer.
When considering what you could do, think about your passions, interests, skills and the resources you have available, as well as the gap or niche that your idea would fill. Learn more about the basics of working for yourself, including ideas for self employment.
Employers and other organisations added in December
Employers and other organisations added in November
Employers and other organisations added in October
Employers and other organisations added in September
Accessibility improvements (August)
We've added the the 'Userway' accessibility system to the main icanbea... website, which offers a lot of options for users to change the way our pages look.
The system is designed to allow users to adjust pages to suit various requirements or preferences they have in relation to the presentation of page content.
Options include, but are not limited to:
- Text size, alignment and spacing
- Dyslexia and ADHD friendly adjustments
- Contrast and colour adjustment
- A screen reader and dictionary
- Link highlighting
To access these, just look for the person icon which should be visible at the top of each page: Normally on the right for desktops and laptops and on the left for tablets and mobile screens.
Employers and other organisations added in August
Employers and other organisations added in July
Employers and other organisations added in June.
Employers and other organisations added in May
Sustainability in April...
We've been working with West Suffolk College to help students and job seekers explore sustainable careers.
Previously slow to act, governments and businesses around the world are finally beginning to wake up to the challenge. Taking responsibility for acute environmental issues, as well as recognising the need (and benefits) of transitioning to a more sustainable economy has led to a growing demand for sustainable jobs which can also offer long-term job security, better working conditions and more fulfilling careers, making them an attractive option for individuals seeking meaningful work.
We've identified 60+ job ideas on this site that contribute to sustainability - so take a look!
Employers and other organisations added in April
Homepage and search improvements (March)
We've made some changes to our homepage and search facility that will hopefully help you to find more of the icanbea... content that you want. If you've got any queries or feedback then please get in touch with us via team@icanbea.org.uk
Employers and other organisations added in March
Launched in March - "24/7 Careers Fair" (New Employer Videos)
There's a suite of employer videos available for young people and those who work with them, such as parents, teachers and careers leads! The YPfE project has already provided over 190 employer profiles and now we've added our 24/7 Careers Fair video content, too!"Through projects like Youth Pledge for Employers (part funded by ESF) we've been talking to employers finding out what it’s like to work in their worlds.
Though lots of these are local to Norfolk and Suffolk, helping young people in the region find out more about what’s on their doorstep, they are equally valuable for those from further afield, wanting to find out more about careers in different sectors.
You can use these videos to inspire you to find out more information or get advice about what would work best for you as an individual, or the young people that you work with.
You might see some previews of these videos across the site already, and we'll highlight the full suite as soon as they are available."
- Youth Pledge Team
Local Disability Confident organisations (Feb)
We aim to provide an up to date list of employers and other organisations that we work with who are signed up to Disability Confident. You can access this list by clicking on the logo below, or by using the Disability Confident tag, within the filter on our employer index. 
The government also offers guidance for young disabled people to find and stay in work. For more information on that, please see the advice from The Department of Work and pensions.
About the scheme
The Government's Disability Confident scheme supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to the workplace.
Disability Confident organisations play a leading role in changing attitudes for the better. They’re changing behaviour and cultures in their own businesses, networks and communities, and reaping the benefits of inclusive recruitment practices.
The scheme
The Disability Confident scheme helps employers recruit and retain great people, and to:
- challenge attitudes and increase understanding of disability
- draw from the widest possible pool of talent
- secure high-quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working
- improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating fair treatment
It also helps identify those employers who are committed to inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
For more information about the scheme, please visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/
