Business Development Manager

Role Overview

The Business Development Officer plays a key role in driving apprenticeship growth across the College’s priority sectors, generating new employer partnerships, and ensuring consistent learner cohort recruitment. This is a sales‑driven, target‑focused position requiring proactive engagement, strong relationship management, and a deep understanding of apprenticeship funding and workforce development needs.

Contract Details

• Hours: 36 hours per week

• Contract: Temp to Perm

• Location: Stratford Campus

• Working Pattern: Monday–Friday, 100% onsite (no remote working)

• Rate: £22.60 – £24.37 per hour (excluding charge rate)

Key Responsibilities

• Apprenticeship Growth — Drive monthly recruitment targets by securing 3–4 learner cohorts per month and expanding employer engagement across priority sectors.

• New Business Development — Identify, target, and secure new employer partnerships within digital, health & life sciences, professional services, and construction & engineering.

• Sales Pipeline Management — Build, maintain, and report on a robust sales pipeline aligned with monthly apprenticeship start targets.

• Targeted Campaign Delivery — Produce and deliver sector‑aligned campaigns to generate leads, working collaboratively with internal college teams.

• Employer Advisory Support — Promote apprenticeships, levy utilisation, upskilling/reskilling pathways, and workforce development solutions.

• Compliance & Funding Guidance — Ensure employers understand and comply with ESFA funding rules and their responsibilities within apprenticeship programmes.

• Sector Engagement — Build relationships with sector bodies to enhance brand visibility and support business development activity.

• Proposal Development — Produce tailored business proposals with input from curriculum and delivery teams.

• Organisational Needs Analysis — Conduct training needs assessments and design employer‑specific training plans.

• Market & Competitor Analysis — Use LMI tools to identify growth areas, competitor activity, and new revenue opportunities.

• Curriculum Alignment — Feed employer insights into curriculum planning to ensure programmes meet industry skill requirements.

• Tender & Bid Awareness — Monitor sector developments to identify new tenders, bids, and partnership opportunities.

• Health & Safety Checks — Conduct employer premises H&S assessments and manage action plans.

• Apprenticeship Service Support — Assist employers with setting up and managing their Apprenticeship Service accounts.

• Cross‑College Opportunity Maximisation — Promote wider college offers including SWAPs, T‑Level placements, work experience, pre‑employment programmes, and commercial training.

• Ofsted Evidence Contribution — Provide employer data and insights to support Ofsted inspections and demonstrate impact.

Person Specification

• Proven experience in sales, employer engagement, or apprenticeship business development.

• Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship‑building skills.

• Ability to work to monthly targets and manage a dynamic sales pipeline.

• Knowledge of apprenticeship funding, levy, and workforce development.

• Confident presenting to employers and representing the College at events.

• Highly organised, proactive, and able to work independently in a fast‑paced environment.