Building Futures
This webpage covers the two year period of Building Futures funded through UK Shared Prosperity (financial years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026).
To view the current iteration of the Building Futures offer, visit our main Building Futures project page.
The 'Building Futures' project aimed to increase the number of new apprenticeships in South Norfolk and Broadland through an incentive grant with training and wraparound apprenticeship support. The package of support was designed to minimise financial barriers to offering an apprenticeship, supporting employers to upskill through completing eLearning on apprentice onboarding. The project also focused on the green economy with an aim of increasing 'dark green' apprenticeships and upskilling employers with sustainable business knowledge.
'Building Futures' offered non-levy paying businesses (small to medium sized organisations with an annual payroll under £3m), in the two Norfolk districts of Broadland and South Norfolk, a £2,000 incentive to recruit a new apprentice - stimulating increased new apprenticeship opportunities. The incentive was enhanced to £5,000 if the apprenticeship was classed as 'dark green'.
The incentive grants were flexible and able to be used at the discretion of the business, however it was encouraged that the funds could be used towards the operational costs for recruiting and getting the apprentice up to speed; the cost involved in mentoring an apprentice (particularly in the first months); towards wages; and/or towards cost of equipment to be used by the apprentice or travel expenses.
Initially funded as a one year project for financial year 24/25, the project was extended to cover 25/56. For these two years, the project was funded through UK Shared Prosperity Funds from South Norfolk and Broadland Councils. An external evaluation of Building Futures was commissioned covering this period. Please see links to the full and summary interim evaluation documents.
Read the Building Futures - A Summative Assessment (April 2026) (PDF, 3 MB)
Read the Best Practice in Apprenticeship Brokerage (May 2026) (PDF, 2 MB)
Note: The evaluation reports may not be accessible to some users. To request the information in an alternative format, please email [email protected].
Building Futures was funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, see the UK Shared Prosperity Fund prospectus.
Email [email protected] if you would like more details about this project.
