Employer and Business Development Officer in Colchester

Join Colchester Institute - Where Your Career Makes a Difference. At Colchester Institute, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and communities. As one of the leading providers of education and training in the region, we are proud to offer a dynamic, supportive, and forward-thinking working environment.

We are seeking an Employer and Business Development Officer to join our team. In this role you will drive organisational growth by building and maintaining strong relationships with employers, partners and stakeholders. You will manage employer accounts, identify new business opportunities, and promote apprenticeship programmes to increase participation and employer engagement.

Working collaboratively across teams, you will provide tailored workforce development solutions, support employer retention, and secure new apprenticeship partnerships. The role also involves representing the organisation at networking events, careers fairs and industry forums, generating employer leads, strengthening strategic partnerships, and contributing to apprenticeship recruitment and business development targets.

About the role:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with employers, identifying and securing new apprenticeship partnerships while promoting workforce development solutions to increase employer engagement and organisational growth.
• Manage a portfolio of employer accounts, acting as the primary point of contact, conducting regular review meetings, delivering high-quality customer service, and identifying opportunities to expand apprenticeship provision.
• Represent the organisation at networking events, employer forums, careers fairs and industry events, generating new business leads, strengthening partnerships and raising the profile of the organisation's apprenticeship offer.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams, including Marketing, to promote apprenticeship programmes, develop promotional activities and deliver tailored solutions that meet employer workforce and skills needs.
• Maintain accurate employer records using the CRM system, manage account administration, prepare reports, monitor performance data and ensure compliance with organisational policies, funding requirements and data protection legislation.
• Plan and manage employer engagement activities effectively, responding to enquiries, resolving issues, supporting continuous improvement and contributing to employer satisfaction and business development targets.
• Maintain professional knowledge and uphold the College's policies and values, including Safeguarding, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Safety, while undertaking any other duties appropriate to the role.

Essential Experience:

• Proven experience in business development and employer engagement, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships, identify new business opportunities, and achieve recruitment or sales targets.
• Strong account management and customer service experience, with the ability to manage employer relationships, understand organisational needs, provide tailored solutions, and resolve queries in a professional and timely manner.

Essential Qualifications:

• Minimum of Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics GCSE 4+ or C and above / CSE Level 1 / O-Level C or above / Level 2 Adult Numeracy or Literacy or equivalent.

Why join us?

At Colchester Institute, we value our staff and invest in their growth. Joining us means becoming part of a vibrant community dedicated to excellence in education and training. If you are passionate about making a difference and inspiring the next generation, we would love to hear from you.

We do not engage with recruitment or search agencies unless they have been officially contracted in line with our PSL.