Participant Engagement Officer

Location: Hybrid/Aylesford, Kent Salary/package: £27,642 per annum Contract type: Permanent Hours: Full-Time, 37 hours per week Join The Education People as a Participant Engagement Officer and play a key role in connecting individuals to life-changing employment opportunities. This is an exciting chance to make a real difference by promoting innovative programmes, building strong partnerships, and supporting communities across Kent, Medway, and East Sussex. Due to the nature of work being carried out, an Enhanced DBS check (provided by the Company) will be carried out and this role requires a full UK driving licence and use of a personal vehicle, with business mileage reimbursed in line with company policy. Who we are The Education People (TEP), part of Commercial Services Group (CSG) excels in delivering essential services that significantly impact the lives of children. With a team of specialists in various educational fields, they take pride in offering expert-driven services including early years and childcare, equality and inclusion, school improvement and professional development, ensuring comprehensive support for educational institutions. Why this role matters The Participant Engagement Officer plays a vital role in promoting the Supported Employment Service, ensuring stakeholders and individuals are aware of available programmes and referral processes. By attending events, building partnerships, and maintaining clear communications, the role strengthens referral pathways and participant engagement. What you’ll be doing Promote and present the service at in-person and online events/meetings. Log engagement data accurately into the database. Monitor referral and enquiry mailboxes, ensuring timely communication with stakeholders and participants. Confidently manage incoming phone calls, advising stakeholders on services and referral processes. Liaise with colleagues and respond to enquiries to support the identification of new referral partners. Proactively identify and build relationships with new referral partners across Kent and Medway. Handle confidential information responsibly, ensuring GDPR compliance. Communicate effectively with stakeholders, participants, families, and organisations. Ensure referrals are processed efficiently through clear and professional communication. What we’re looking for Proven experience of customer-facing roles, engaging with service users or participants. Experience of working at pace to meet targets and deadlines. Confidence in public speaking and presenting. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written. Proficient IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office packages. Ability to work in partnership with others but also on own initiative. What you’ll get in return 25 days annual leave. Life assurance cover (4x salary). Pension scheme with up to 8% employer contribution. Additional benefits including retail and gym discounts, health cash plan and cycle to work scheme. Volunteer days and access to a comprehensive well-being programme. Tailored learning and development support with real opportunities to progress. Why CSG? Commercial Services Group (CSG) is the UK’s largest local authority-owned trading company (LATCO), generating over £800 million in revenue and supporting 16,000 education and public sector customers worldwide. With more than 1,800 employees across the UK, France, Dubai and Bangkok, we are working towards becoming the global leader in education and public sector solutions. We are expanding rapidly, with annual growth of around 25 percent, supported by a blend of organic development, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Our 33 trading businesses deliver a wide range of services including education management, IT, HR, legal, energy, procurement and supplies. CSG is wholly owned by local authorities, and a significant proportion of our profits is reinvested into frontline public services. Over £77 million has already been returned, reflecting our commitment to combining commercial performance with meaningful social impact. Inclusion & Accessibility We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage applications from suitably qualified people of all backgrounds. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our application and interview process; please let us know if you require any