Senior Client Engagement Consultant - Early Years & Education

Primary Objective: Drive and exceed sales revenue targets for apprenticeships, advanced learner loans and commercial funding by building strong, long-term relationships with large levy-paying employers and relevant SMEs. Through a consultative approach, work collaboratively with internal teams to design and deliver tailored training solutions that meet client needs and support ongoing growth. The role holder will develop new business, alongside managing accounts to encourage repeat business, contribute to service excellence, support team performance, and work closely with Operations to resolve any issues, while promoting a passion for people development and delivering meaningful, value-driven outcomes beyond apprenticeships/qualifications.

Key Relationships/Interactions:

• Internal: Head of Operations, Operations Managers and Tutors, AKG Employment Employer Engagement team, Enrolment team members, AKG UK Quality & Compliance teams, Director of Employer Engagement and Operations Director
• External: Employer; prospective and new clients, existing clients, Lead referral organisations such as SoProNetworks

Key Responsibilities:

• New Business Development: Identify procurement opportunities aligned to our sectors and strategic priorities. Work collaboratively with the central growth/bids team, supporting them to progress such opportunities. Make effective use of a range of sales channels to develop new client relationships and new business. Adopt an outward facing approach, identifying potential partnerships that could yield new business in your sector. Maximise networks to identify subcontracting opportunities that AKG Learning might be interested in exploring. Work closely with the marketing team to plan and deliver a joined up approach to marketing and sales campaigns. Maximise the impact of our USP – the ‘Wrap Around Support Service’. Attend relevant conferences and careers fairs to generate new business.
• Apprenticeships: Levy and Non-levy: Meet or exceed new business sales targets. Target larger levy paying employers to develop long-term sustainable relationships. Adopt a consultative approach, looking beyond just apprenticeships, but at the wider business training and development needs; carry out a Training Needs Analysis (TNA). Promote our apprenticeship matching service. Produce engaging business proposals and presentations, with the objective of securing new business. Work with the client to develop programmes and plan cohorts of new apprenticeship starts. Work with the marketing and design team to develop branded marketing resources. Work with Quality and Operations to make agreed adaptations to the core curriculum. Refer high quality learner starts that support the business to minimise early leavers and maximise timely achievements. Work closely with employers and the Learner Engagement team to ensure that the Levy transfer process runs smoothly and delays are avoided.
• Commercial and Advanced Learner Loans: Ensure that all commercial opportunities are fully explored and included for further discussion as part of the business proposal. Identity common requests for commercial training in your sector. Promote AKG Learning’s ESOL for Work programmes. Ensure that when appropriate Advanced Learner Loans opportunities are explored and included for further discussion as part of the business proposal. Work with the marketing and design team to develop branded marketing resources. Work with Quality and Operations to make agreed adaptations to the core curriculum.
• Account Management: Proactively manage your accounts to ensure high satisfaction levels are maintained and to maximise sales opportunities. Review progress towards the objectives agreed from the TNA and business proposal. Hold account management meetings at agreed intervals, working closely with the relevant Operations Manager to collaboratively review account performance and meet with clients. Encourage clients to hold certificate presentations and celebrate success internally and externally. Adopt a proactive approach to the development of case studies.
• Quality and Compliance: Ensure clients are engaged and have a full understanding of their commitments, through effective and robust information, advice and guidance. Ensure learner referrals are high quality, result in high conversion rates, low levels of early leaver and high levels of achievement. Ensure all data entry meets internal and external requirements. Keep up to date with relevant funding rules, including, but not exclusively eligibility and suitability. Ensure employer contracts are in place and current for all your employer clients. Support the Learner Engagement team with Training Plans as and when required. Ensure that each employer has a completed and current health and safety assessment.

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience of developing high-level external partnerships and relationships
• Consultative sales ideally in the skills and apprenticeship sector
• Completing organisational TNAs with clients
• Developing business proposals
• A proven track record of positive outcomes from business proposals
• Effective account management to generate a continuous flow of new starts
• Problem solving
• Meeting or exceeding targets
• Highly effective communication skills
• Results and solutions driven
• A team player
• A basic knowledge and understanding of DfE/ESFA funding rules
• Proficient Microsoft Office user
• English and maths as a minimum GCSE grade C or equivalent

Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Project management skills
• A proven track record of successful bid/tender writing; self-writing or managing the function
• Experience of marketing and design
• Expert Microsoft user with advanced Excel skills

Compliance: It is the responsibility of all staff to abide by organisational policies to ensure compliance with relevant standards e.g. ISO 27001 (Information Security), ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) as well as adhering to statutory duties in relation to safeguarding, Prevent and health and safety.