At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive apprenticeship growth by building relationships with employers and understanding their workforce needs.
- Company: Join a dynamic group of Ofsted Good independent training providers making a real impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strong commission, remote work, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Work in a supportive environment that values ambition, kindness, and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of workforce development and help shape careers through apprenticeships.
- Qualifications: Experience in apprenticeship business development and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 35000 £ per year.
- Location: Remote / field-based, with travel to employers and companies sites as required
- About Our Client
Our client is a growing group of Ofsted Good independent training providers.
The group supports learners, employers, public bodies and communities across England through apprenticeships, employability programmes, skills training, commercial courses, green skills, Skills Bootcamps and supported learning.
The organisation combines regional expertise with national scale, working with employers and partners to help people build skills, progress into work and develop long-term careers.
The Opportunity
Our client is looking for a commercially strong Business Development Manager to drive apprenticeship growth across employers of all sizes.
This role is focused on opening doors, building strategic employer relationships and positioning the organisation's apprenticeship offer as a practical workforce development solution for organisations looking to attract, retain and develop talent.
The Business Development Manager role would suit an experienced apprenticeship sales professional who is comfortable engaging stakeholders, managing consultative sales cycles and building relationships across HR, L&D, Talent, Early Careers, Operations and senior leadership teams.
Role Overview
The Business Development Manager will be responsible for identifying, developing and winning new apprenticeship business from non-levy and levy-paying organisations.
The focus will be on building meaningful employer partnerships, understanding workforce challenges and aligning our client's apprenticeship provision to business needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive new apprenticeship business with employers across our client's target sectors and regions.
- Identify, approach and develop relationships with senior employer stakeholders including HR Directors, L&D leaders, Talent teams, Early Careers leads, Operations Directors and Finance/Procurement contacts.
- Position our client's apprenticeship offer as a strategic workforce development solution, not simply a training product.
- Build and manage a high-quality pipeline of employer opportunities, from prospecting and discovery through to proposal, negotiation and close.
- Lead consultative conversations around skills needs, workforce planning, levy utilisation, recruitment, retention and progression.
- Work closely with internal delivery, curriculum, marketing and operational teams to ensure employer proposals are realistic, compelling and deliverable.
- Represent our client professionally at employer meetings, networking events, sector events and conferences.
- Maintain accurate CRM records, sales forecasts, activity tracking and clear next-step discipline.
- Ideal Candidate
- Proven track record in apprenticeship business development.
- Strong understanding of the apprenticeship levy, funded training, employer engagement and workforce development.
- Confident engaging senior decision makers across HR, L&D, Talent, Early Careers, Operations and Finance.
- Commercially sharp, credible and able to translate training provision into clear business value.
- Strong new business focus with the ability to open doors, build trust and close opportunities.
- Strong CRM discipline, pipeline management and forecasting skills.
- Positive, resilient, professional and aligned to our client's values of ambition, kindness, reliability, authenticity and continuous learning.
- Knowledge / Experience That Would Be Advantageous
- Experience working for an independent training provider, college, university, apprenticeship provider or skills organisation.
- Existing relationships with levy-paying employers.
- Understanding of apprenticeship standards across areas such as business, digital, finance, leadership, HR, operations or professional services.
- Experience selling across multiple regions or into national employers.
- Knowledge of employability, Skills Bootcamps, commercial training or wider funded skills programmes.
Paul Feldman is the National Skills Agency Data Protection Officer.
Your data will be stored until notice is given by you for it to be removed.
Our Data Protection Policy will be forwarded to you on request.
As we get a high number of applications we may be unable to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates.
We will retain your details to keep you informed of other opportunities.
National Skills Agency Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy and is an Equal Opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all backgrounds
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager - Apprenticeships in Ipswich
✨Dive into Data Analytics Communities
Get involved in online forums and local meetups focused on business intelligence. Platforms like Reddit, LinkedIn Groups, or even local events can be goldmines for connecting with industry professionals who might have insider info about opportunities at companies like National Skills Agency.
✨Showcase Your Work with Personal Projects
Consider creating a small portfolio demonstrating your skills in data analysis or visualisation. This could be anything from a project analysing public datasets to creating dashboards—having something tangible to show can really make us stand out during your apprenticeship search.
✨Get Familiar with Apprenticeship Platforms
Utilise platforms specifically tailored for apprenticeships. Websites like Apprenticeships.gov.uk or local job boards can help us find the latest openings, and many companies even post directly about their apprenticeship opportunities. Don't forget to check National Skills Agency’s own careers page too!
✨Engage with Business Intelligence Tools
Familiarise yourself with popular BI tools like Tableau or Power BI. Showing that you can navigate these tools will not only impress recruiters but also give you a practical edge in interviews. Plus, we can find free online resources or courses to boost our skills before approaching companies like National Skills Agency.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager - Apprenticeships in Ipswich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence world, we love a good number-cruncher! When crafting your CV, highlight any experience you have with data analysis, reporting, or relevant software. If you’ve done any projects that involved extracting insights from data, make sure to include those!
Craft a Motivational Cover Letter:Since this is an apprenticeship, we want to see your enthusiasm for learning and growing in the business intelligence field. Share why you're interested in business intelligence and what excites you about the role at National Skills Agency. Let your passion shine through!
Keep It Relevant:Tailor your application documents to align with the skills we're looking for in an apprentice. Mention any coursework or certifications you've completed related to business intelligence, data analytics, or even general business acumen. Specific examples will help you stand out!
Show Your Team Spirit:Business intelligence isn't just about data; it's also about collaboration. Highlight any experience working in teams—whether that's through school projects, extracurricular activities, or volunteering. We want to know you can communicate well and work alongside others to drive results.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Skills Agency
✨Dive into Data!
As this is a business intelligence apprenticeship, show off your enthusiasm for data! Be ready to discuss your experience with data analysis tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even Excel. Have some examples at hand that demonstrate how you've transformed raw data into actionable insights — it’ll show the interviewers your practical skills!
✨Know Your BI Basics
Brush up on fundamental BI concepts and methodologies. You're likely to face technical questions that test your knowledge of data warehousing, ETL processes, or SQL. Having a few key definitions and real-world scenarios prepared will help you stand out and show you're not just repeating phrases from a textbook.
✨Show Your Eagerness to Learn
Since this is an apprenticeship, employers are looking for potential over experience. Be sure to communicate your eagerness to learn and grow in the field. Talk about any relevant projects or coursework you’ve completed, showing them you’re proactive and ready to hit the ground running at National Skills Agency.
✨Bring Along a Portfolio
Even for an apprenticeship, having a portfolio can be a big plus! Include any relevant projects you've worked on, such as data visualisations, reports, or case studies. This hands-on evidence of your skills will complement your verbal explanations, giving the interviewers a solid picture of what you can bring to the table.
