• Digital skills training provider QA has launched a new apprenticeship programme to train digital product managers. It joins QA’s programmes in areas including data, cyber, AI and software development, which have trained more than 30,000 apprentices. The Digital Product Manager Level 4 Programme is the equivalent of a first year undergraduate degree. The course concludes with a two-day hackathon where students will develop a product from start to finish.

• Paul Ridley and Dean Penn have joined forces to create technical and engineering retained recruitment specialist Scorpius Talent Acquisition. Ridley and Penn have engineering, manufacturing, legal and compliance experience in the recruitment sector and aim to deliver innovative candidate/client-led recruit-to-retain solutions via the Scorpius Insights platform.

• Chester-based invoice finance and back-office support provider Zodeq has launched its latest campaign. ‘Top of the class finance’ is aimed specifically at recruiters working in the education sector. According to the company, the offering highlights how Zodeq can help – not only teachers but also kitchen staff, handymen, gardeners, etc – to protect their cashflow through innovative invoice finance solutions.