Commercial Programmes Coordinator

Contract: 6 months FTC with potential to extend if required

About the Business

The Fashion Retail Academy (FRA), founded in 2005, is the UK’s leading vocational FE College specialising in fashion and retail education. We have charity status and make it our mission to inspire and develop talent for a specialist career in fashion retail. The FRA is the only college in London, and third nationwide, to be awarded an Ofsted Outstanding.

Fashion Retail Academy Enterprises Ltd (FRA Enterprises) is the commercial arm of the FRA. Our primary objective is to generate an annual revenue surplus to invest back into the FRA charity. Commercial activities include Short Courses, Postgraduate Programme, Industry L&D Programmes, Strategic Diversification, Apprenticeships, and Venue Hire.

The Job

The successful candidate will join the FRA Enterprises team, and lead the development and delivery of key commercial activities, aligned with the overall department strategy. They will work across a number of areas although primary focus will be Apprenticeships. They will also play an active role in the FRA Enterprises marketing strategy, both the development and day-to-day implementation of activity.

The successful candidate must thrive in a small and busy team. This is an ideal role for someone with an entrepreneurial/ start-up spirit, who is not afraid to try new things and learn from experience. This is a great opportunity to join a growing department and play a key part in its development and success. 

The roles and responsibilities, and focus of the role, will evolve and shift as the department grows. Client management is likely to become more central to the role as we widen the reach of our programmes and our retail partners.

Key Responsibilities

APPRENTICESHIPS

New business development. Work with the BDM to develop a sustainable pipeline of new business contracts in line with the FRA’s growth plan. This will include developing proposals, tenders, pitching for new contracts, and ongoing meetings and relationship development.

Client Management. Manage the relationship with clients, and work closely with academic team, including Programme Managers, to ensure programmes are delivered on time and to the FRA’s quality standards. Play a central role in reputation management, coordinating the wider team to ensure we are working within our SLA and have an excellent level of client satisfaction.

Reporting. Collaborate with business departments to create monthly, quarterly and annual reports for clients in line with programme requirements. 

Programme innovation. Work with the wider team to develop new apprenticeship pathways in line with industry requirements and growth aspirations. 

Resource Management. Work with the BDM to plan and secure resource requirement including staffing, rooms, materials etc.

MARKETING

Strategy. Support the BDM with the development and delivery of the FRA Enterprises marketing strategy.

Marketing. Create B2C and B2C marketing plan to drive awareness, acquisition and retention across courses, with line of sight to revenue and profit. Collaborate with FRA marketing team to implement – not limited to social media, emails, PPC, SEO, content development, collateral, case studies, etc.

Website. Manage on and offsite digital activity to drive booking and enquiries. Ensure content is kept up-to-date and SEO optimised, and implement ideas to improve onsite conversion. 

Events. Represent the FRA at events, including open days, conferences and careers fairs.

PR. Build relationships with media influencers to increase the profile of FRA Enterprises in trade and consumer press, where required.

Analytics. Monitor and report against KPIs in a weekly/monthly basis to increase effectiveness of FRA Enterprises web pages.

SHORT COURSES & COMMERCIAL PROGRAMMES

Delivery. Managing the Commercial Programmes Assist, oversee the delivery of Short Courses and Postgrad Programme in line with revenue targets and bookings.

Innovation. Lead development of new short courses and industry programmes in line with industry requirements and innovative aspirations.

Proposals & Tenders. Development new business proposals and tenders including scoping, liaising with tutors, desk research, proposal development, budgeting, and other support.

Project Management. Coordinate the development and delivery of retailer training programmes. Provide client account management services.

CROSS CUTTING

Staffing. Engage, recruit and retain on-brand, qualified staff to teach on programmes, supporting the BDM with timetabling on a range of programmes, and creating Service Agreements

Budget tracker. Ensure budget tracker is kept up to date and accurate with team costs, supported by the Commercial Programmes Assistant

Line Management. Manage the work and performance of the Commercial Programme Assistant, in line with roles and responsibilities, and the evolving requirements of the team.