Business Development Manager for Apprenticeship and FE

About the Role

We are looking for a visionary leader who thrives on innovation and is passionate about contributing to both the professional development of individuals and the overall success of our organisation growth. If this sounds like you. Join us in driving positive change with employers, also shaping the future of our regions workforce, and expanding our employer and stakeholder base.

The right individual for the post will be tasked with spearheading the expansion of Apprenticeships and the Further/Higher offer through strategic engagement and relationship-building with prominent levy-paying employers, overseeing Full-cost, Project and Employer-led provisions.

You will play a pivotal role in formulating and executing robust business development strategies while nurturing high-quality connections with local, regional, and national employers. You will have a dual focus on both the educational aspects related to apprenticeships and the business-oriented goal of expanding the organisation's commercial reach. Effectively guiding and overseeing a team of Business Development Advisors to interact with employers, fostering innovation and encouraging investment to drive business expansion.

What You Will Do

Lead a proficient Business Development Team to drive economic growth in alignment with regional, national, and local skills priorities, ensuring adherence to curriculum objectives, by positioning the college as a responsive contributor to the employers and communities it serves.

• Drive revenue growth by meticulously planning, developing, delivering, and monitoring apprenticeships and full-cost programs.
• Provide leadership, to ensure effective budget control, and cultivate an insightful overview of college targets for learner outcomes.
• Conduct effective horizon scanning to develop responsive plans for future reforms and changes in employment/skills priorities. Lead the production of LMI reports to proactively support Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Heads in maintaining business growth and development.
• Monitor and record activity on accounts to facilitate negotiations closure and achievement of targets.
• Work with the Director of Apprenticeships and departments to set and meet financial and budget targets.
• Identify and maintain links with relevant academic bodies/industry/commerce to sustain the range and relevance of provision within the departments.

About You

• You will need to be resilient, driven, and strategic sales professional who can build relationships, identify opportunities, and close deals.
• You will need strong leadership skills to develop and manage a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills and business acumen are essential.
• Be able to Relationship build - able to establish rapport and build strong relationships with clients and prospects. 
• It is essential that you can work well with people.
• Strong communication skills - ability to communicate clearly and effectively with prospects, clients, and colleagues.
• You will need to be highly organised and focused driven.
• It is essential that you are competent in using software such as spreadsheets and Management information systems.

Benefits

There are plenty of benefits available to our staff members, here are just a few:

• Annual leave entitlement - If you work full time, you'll get at least 27 days holiday plus bank holidays and up to 5 discretionary closure days at Christmas (pro rata for part time staff).
• Support Staff 27 days (increasing to 32 days after 5 years service)
• Academic 37 days
• Senior Management 37 days
• Generous Pension schemes
• Teachers’ Pension Scheme 
• Local Government Pension Scheme 
• Memberships and discounts - employees can sign up to various membership cards and discount schemes such as TOTUM card (formerly NUS card). 
• Travel and commuting - discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.
• Learning and development opportunities - including staff development days
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities - this will vary depending on role requirements

About Us

Luminate Education Group is a collective of education providers based in Yorkshire with one clear purpose: to make a positive difference to people’s lives through genuinely transformative education and training.

We offer a wide range of job vacancies across our business support functions - Finance, Human Resources, ITSS, Marketing, Communications, Executive Support, Estates and Food Services. Our large size and diverse range of member organisations means there are always exciting opportunities to progress.

As an education provider, we are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our workforce, and you’ll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow.

Join us on the journey to being the best that we can collectively be for our students, apprentices, staff and our stakeholders.

SAFEGUARDING

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students including children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow the Safer Recruitment requirements and best practice as set out within Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references. Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We recognise, value and champion diversity & Inclusion. As we engage with a diverse student population we want to ensure we reflect that in our staff population too. For us diversity is about building happy teams, full of people that want to learn and be inspired by each other, by our different experiences and backgrounds. It is important to us that both staff and students achieve their full potential. Diversity is important to us, but inclusion is equally, if not more important. It’s not just about having the representation but also providing the people we recruit with opportunities and valuing everyone’s contributions and perspectives. Click here to learn more about our EDI objectives.