• Prepared food provider Bakkavor Group has announced it will recruit 86 individuals to join its apprenticeship programme for 2024. From Scotland to Kent, the Midlands to the South-West, the application process is open nationwide. Successful candidates will start their career journey with Bakkavor in September. The apprenticeship roles for 2024 span a wide range of specialist areas including: food technology, health & safety, supply chain management, operations, finance and business administration, with 26 roles specifically relating to engineering.

• Specialist recruiter Coleman James has opened a new office in Doncaster as it continues to accelerate its growth in the rail sector. The firm will be based at Wagon Works in the J3 Business Park – a historic former-rail premises.

• Stockport-based accountancy and contracting firm Sapphire is helping recruitment agencies source and manage contract workers overseas through its new division, Sapphire International. Sapphire International’s offering includes employed solutions for contractors and accountancy services for self-employed contractors in countries including Denmark, Spain, Norway, Sweden and Italy. Services include invoicing, multi-currency payment handling and local compliance advice.

The firm also takes full control of new contractor onboarding on behalf of recruiters and agencies, allowing them to get on with growing their businesses while all of the admin is taken care of. Clients using the service also benefit from added security through Sapphire’s employee liability insurance.