Outreach & Engagement Lead

Reporting To: Head of Programmes & Delivery

Salary: £35,000 per annum

Location: Tooting, London SW17 9SH

Contract: Full-time/Permanent

About Us

At Business Launchpad (BLP), we empower young adults aged 18–30 from low-income backgrounds across London to pursue enterprising careers and achieve financial progress. We do this through tailored enterprise programmes, one-to-one coaching, and real-world employability experiences that build both business and life skills. Our social enterprise, Tooting Works, powers this vision and offers inclusive workspaces, vital infrastructure, and a thriving community hub. Profits from its affordable office and co-working spaces are reinvested directly into our charitable work, meaning every space rented helps fund opportunities for the young people we support.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and manage an annual outreach and referral plan aligned to target-population and cohort requirements.
• Build and steward referral relationships with Jobcentre/DWP, colleges, local authorities, community organisations, youth services and other relevant partners.
• Run outreach activity, information sessions, tasters and readiness activity in priority communities/channels, including attending events or jobs fairs as required.
• Own initial eligibility screening and one structured readiness conversation before acceptance, using agreed criteria and escalation routes.
• Nurture prospective participants from first interest to application/decision, reducing avoidable drop-off.
• Ensure referral source, eligibility, demographic and readiness data are captured accurately in approved systems.
• Coordinate with Marketing on campaign content and lead-generation activity while retaining ownership of relationship-led outreach and conversion.
• Provide clear handover to participant operations and coaching after acceptance so no accepted participant is left without a next action.
• Monitor conversion performance by channel, target-population fit, reasons for non-conversion and unmet need; use insight to improve outreach.
• Maintain a current referral/signposting network for young adults who are not yet ready or are not eligible for Pathways.
• Operate within safeguarding, consent, data-protection and equality requirements when engaging prospective participants.

Success measures

• Stable referral flow from an agreed mix of channels.
• Improved proportion of eligible applications and target-population fit.
• Prospective participants receive timely contact and clear next steps.
• Accepted participants are handed over without gaps.
• Outreach data supports quarterly decisions about channel quality and investment.

Safeguarding, Data and Organisational Responsibilities

• Act in accordance with BLP safeguarding policies, professional boundaries and escalation procedures, reporting concerns promptly to a BLP safeguarding officer.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential records on approved systems, including Salesforce.
• Comply with data protection, information security, equality, health and safety and other organisational policies.
• Contribute to a culture of inclusion, learning, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the level and purpose of the role.

Person specification

• Experience in outreach, engagement, youth work, employability, recruitment, community development or referral partnerships.
• Ability to build trust with young adults facing barriers and with referral professionals.
• Strong pipeline/case-management discipline and data accuracy.
• Confidence delivering briefings, tasters and group engagement activity.
• Understanding of safeguarding, eligibility and inclusive engagement.
• Strong relationship-building, persistence and conversion focus.

The postholder will be required to attend evening sessions and milestone events, and travel within London as needed.

Personal Qualities (Aligned to BLP Values)

• Growth Mindset: reflective, adaptable and committed to continuous improvement.
• Community Focused: values the needs and strengths of young adults and local communities.
• Collaborative and Enterprising: proactive and thrives on taking initiative.
• One Mission, One Team: highly conscientious and reliable, committed to shared success.

The duties and responsibilities described are not exhaustive. Other reasonable duties may be required, consistent with the level and purpose of the role. This job description is not contractual and may be reviewed and updated to reflect the Organisation’s evolving strategic priorities and operational needs. Changes will be discussed with the employee, with consultation and agreement sought where required.

About Rewards

• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time roles).
• £500, personal annual training budget following probation.
• Employee assistance programme, including counselling.
• Regular team socials throughout the year.
• Generous organisation sick pay allowance following probation.
• General eye test.
• Well-being day (one day per year).
• Volunteer day (one day per year).

Pre-employment Checks

Any employment with Business Launchpad will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Receipt of two satisfactory references
• Proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from everyone. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience of the communities we serve.