Business Advisor - Skills Development Pathways Specialist

The Growth Company's (GC) Business Growth Hub (BGH) team is looking for a Business Advisor – Skills Development Pathways Specialist.

Working with businesses across Greater Manchester, you will help employers identify skills needs, strengthen workforce capability, and develop tailored people development pathways.

Using your expertise in apprenticeships, T Levels, work placements, and wider skills initiatives, you’ll provide practical advice that drives business growth and long-term success.

BGH supports businesses across Greater Manchester with expert advice on funding, innovation, people, sales and sustainability.

We provide tailored support to meet the needs of each business at every stage of its growth journey.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver tailored skills development and workforce planning support to businesses of all sizes, helping leaders and employees reach their full potential.
• Conduct skills assessments, analyse organisational needs, and develop strategic action plans aligned to business growth objectives.
• Provide expert guidance on apprenticeships, T Levels, work placements, the Apprenticeship Levy, and other skills initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with employers, stakeholders, and partners to promote engagement and create high-quality placement opportunities.
• Accurately manage client activity through CRM systems, ensuring all records, outcomes, and reporting requirements are completed on time.

About You

• You have experience supporting businesses with skills development, workforce planning, learning and development, or organisational growth.
• You are confident communicating with senior leaders and can build credibility with a wide range of stakeholders.
• You are a proactive self-starter with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt your approach to different business needs.
• You are passionate about supporting inclusive employment practices and helping organisations invest in their people.

Skills Required

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess organisational needs and provide practical, strategic recommendations.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience developing and implementing workforce, learning, or organisational development plans.
• Good knowledge of apprenticeships, work placements, T Levels, and the wider skills development landscape.
• Strong organisational and IT skills, including experience using CRM systems, Microsoft Office applications, and digital tools to manage workloads effectively.

We are currently unable to provide sponsorship for work permits or visas. Therefore, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the UK.

Artificial intelligence can assist you during the application process, but every example and statement you include must be honest, accurate, and based on your own real experiences.

If plagiarism is detected, meaning you present someone else's ideas or experiences, or AI-generated content, as your own, your application may be withdrawn, and internal applicants could face disciplinary action.

At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard.

All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.

Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.

We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.

If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process.

Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.

We also aim to make our recruitment process inclusive and accessible.

If you need reasonable adjustments or have any general enquiries at any stage or the recruitment process, please contact careers@growthco. uk or call us on 0161 237 4447.

• Examples include
• Meeting the hiring manager or touring the venue in advance.
• Extra time for tasks.
• Interview questions shared beforehand.
• Accessibility software or equipment for assessments.

We’re proud to support the Ban the Box campaign, which helps people with convictions access job opportunities.

As part of this, we’ve removed questions about convictions from the initial application stage.

GC is committed to fostering a culture of flexibility and agile working.

Many roles will increasingly support full agile arrangements.

If you require more permanent flexibility, we encourage you to discuss this during your interview so your request can be considered early in the process.

All GC colleagues will work in line with the Health and Safety at work act and the GC Health and Safety Policy.

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