Early Careers Partner

Location: London and South East – 3–4 days per week across the South East Region with occasional travel UK wide. Permanent position.

Summary: We’re seeking an Early Careers Partner to join our team based in the London office. This role will have a real impact by helping us deliver exceptional Early Careers programmes. You’ll play a key part in driving the success of the NG Bailey Apprenticeship programme, while also supporting our Graduates and Year in Industry activities across all divisions of the business. From designing experiences to ensuring compliance and quality, you’ll collaborate with our Early Careers Compliance colleagues and Learning & Development Partners to deliver programmes that are truly best in class.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage apprenticeship programmes, providing advice, guidance and support to the wider business in selecting appropriate apprenticeship standards and pathways for their development.
• Ensure programmes are in line with company and industry standards, with consistent and up‑to‑date practices.
• Business partner with senior teams, finance and HR to ascertain and agree numbers and locations of incoming apprentices, aligning with workforce planning and future skills gaps.
• Hold regular progress meetings with operational teams to discuss progress, requirements and issues, ensuring the required work placements to support the collection of authorisation evidence in a timely fashion.
• Maintain partnerships with selected local and national colleges and relevant training schools, ensuring a continuous high standard of training and assessment is delivered as agreed in SLAs.
• Carry out apprenticeship progress audits to ensure all targets are delivered within agreed quality levels and time scales, and support scheduled performance reviews.
• Represent NG Bailey on college committees and steering groups to influence change and progression.
• Carry out nationwide recruitment via assessment centres supporting the wider business.
• Organise and carry out the full range of activities associated with the apprenticeship, including attending open evenings and career events.
• Provide mentoring support following established guidelines for both apprentices and their managers/mentors throughout the programme and after, in line with the apprentice retention strategy.
• Actively promote apprenticeships and outstanding achievers through regional and national L&D and apprenticeship awards.
• Support other Early Careers activities, including Graduate and Year in Industry.

What We’re Looking For

• Previous experience working with Further Education / Training Providers.
• Proven experience working directly with apprentices (any discipline).
• Demonstrable experience providing advice and guidance to business managers.
• Full understanding of apprenticeship programmes, guidelines and levy funding.
• Solid experience in Learning & Development delivery / facilitation.
• Previously coached individuals and line managers.
• Excellent communication and planning skills.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays with an option to buy/sell additional days.
• Pension with a leading provider and up to 8% employer contribution.
• Personal wellbeing and volunteer days.
• Private medical insurance.
• Life assurance free 24/7 365 employee assistance programme to support mental health and well‑being (including counselling sessions and legal advice).
• Flexible benefits to choose from including dental insurance, gym membership, give-as-you‑earn, travel insurance and tax‑free bikes.