Business Development Lead (Apprenticeships) in Manchester

Location: Hybrid - applicants should be within commuting distance of Manchester

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 25 days annual leave + Birthday Leave + additional company benefits

Help shape the next stage of apprenticeship growth. Cognition Evolve is growing its apprenticeship offer and we are looking for ambitious Employer Engagement Partners to help build employer relationships, create apprenticeship opportunities and support the development of new apprenticeship pathways. This is an Employer Engagement and Sales role focused on apprenticeships. These are exciting opportunities to join at an early stage as we expand our apprenticeship provision nationally. We are recruiting initially into specialist growth areas including:

• Early Years Apprenticeships
• Professional Skills Apprenticeships

Additional pathways are planned as the service grows. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building relationships, opening new opportunities while helping employers use apprenticeships to solve workforce challenges. This is primarily a new business and growth role focused on generating apprenticeship starts and building a national employer pipeline.

The Role

You will take ownership of developing new employer relationships, identifying opportunities and converting interest into apprenticeship starts. Working alongside recruitment, delivery and apprenticeship colleagues, you will help employers understand workforce needs and match apprenticeship solutions that support both organisational growth and learner success. You will retain ownership of employer relationships beyond initial onboarding to support future growth opportunities, while maintaining a light-touch account management approach. This is a national role. Most engagement activity is expected to take place remotely.

Key Responsibilities

Employer Growth & Business Development

• Identify, engage and develop new employer relationships nationally
• Generate apprenticeship opportunities and convert employer interest into apprenticeship starts
• Build and maintain an active pipeline of employers across agreed sectors and pathways
• Carry out consultative workforce discussions and training needs analysis
• Develop repeat opportunities within employer accounts

Relationship Management

• Become a trusted advisor to employers exploring apprenticeship solutions
• Provide a positive experience from first enquiry through to onboarding
• Retain ownership of employer relationships to support continued growth activity
• Build referral routes and partnership opportunities to support expansion

Performance & Delivery

• Work towards agreed targets focused on apprenticeship starts, employer engagement activity and pipeline growth
• Maintain accurate CRM records and forecasting information
• Track opportunities, progression and conversion activity
• Share employer insight to support service development and future pathways
• Work closely with Candidate Engagement colleagues to align vacancies and candidate supply
• Support cohort planning and growth discussions
• Work collaboratively with apprenticeship delivery teams to ensure smooth onboarding and successful starts

What Success Looks Like in Year One

In your first year you will:

• Build a strong employer network within your specialist pathway area
• Develop repeat employer relationships
• Achieve personal apprenticeship growth targets and contribute toward team objectives
• Help shape employer engagement processes as the service expands
• Support the launch and growth of future apprenticeship pathways

About You

We are interested in people who enjoy creating opportunities and building partnerships. You may currently work within:

• Recruitment
• Employer partnerships
• Education or employability services

Skills you will require:

• Experience generating new business opportunities, employer relationships or recruitment activity
• Proven ability to work towards targets and convert opportunities
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Good commercial awareness and organisational skills
• Confidence managing pipelines and CRM systems
• Ability to work independently in a developing environment
• Funded learning knowledge
• Experience within Early Years, Professional Skills or workforce development sectors
• Understanding of employer training needs and workforce planning

Why Join Cognition Evolve?

This is an opportunity to join at an important stage of growth. You will help build something new rather than inherit an established market. You’ll work alongside teams across apprenticeship delivery, recruitment and learning while contributing directly to the future direction of the apprenticeship service. Our guiding principles are simple:

• Be agile
• Be better
• Be impactful