Candidate Engagement Partner - Apprenticeships
Full time | Cognition Learning Group | United Kingdom
Posted On 23/06/2026
Job Information
Education Administration Programmes
City Manchester
Province Greater Manchester
Postal Code M1
Job Description
Candidate Engagement Partner - Apprenticeships
Location: Hybrid – applicants within commuting distance of Manchester
Salary: £30,000 – £32,000 dependent on experience
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: 25 days annual leave + Birthday Leave + additional company benefits
About the Role
We’re looking for a proactive and candidate‑focused Candidate Engagement Partner to support our Apprenticeship Division. In this role you will build strong candidate pipelines, engage individuals throughout their recruitment journey, and match them to suitable apprenticeship opportunities. You will play a key part in ensuring a high‑quality experience for both candidates and employers, helping to drive successful apprenticeship placements. Working closely with internal teams and employer partners, you will manage the full recruitment lifecycle from attraction and screening through to onboarding while ensuring processes are efficient, compliant, and results‑driven.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Proactively source and attract candidates through job boards, outreach, events and online channels
- Build and maintain a strong pipeline of candidates for current and future apprenticeship opportunities
- Respond to candidate enquiries quickly and provide clear guidance on roles and processes
- Screen candidates against role requirements, eligibility criteria and apprenticeship readiness
- Manage applications through each stage of the recruitment process, ensuring timely progression
- Produce high‑quality shortlists aligned to employer needs
- Prepare candidates for interviews and support them through to offer and onboarding
- Use CRM/ATS systems (including Zoho Recruit) to track candidate progress and maintain accurate records
- Monitor recruitment performance and work to meet application, interview and enrolment targets
- Identify and address pipeline bottlenecks to improve conversion rates
- Build strong relationships with candidates, employers and internal stakeholders
- Deliver a professional and engaging candidate experience to minimise drop‑off
- Ensure all activity aligns with compliance, safeguarding and apprenticeship funding requirements
- Continuously review and improve recruitment processes and ways of working
Requirements
What We are Looking For
- Experience in recruitment, candidate engagement or a similar role
- Proven ability to source, screen and manage candidates through a recruitment pipeline
- Strong understanding of candidate experience and pipeline management
- Experience working towards targets and managing performance metrics
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain processes and opportunities
- Strong relationship building skills and ability to quickly establish rapport
- Highly organised and able to manage high volumes of applications and enquiries
- Experience using CRM/ATS systems and reporting tools
- Proactive, results‑driven approach with strong attention to detail
- Experience within apprenticeships, education or funded training programmes
- Understanding of apprenticeship frameworks and eligibility requirements
