Employer Engagement - Early Career Pathways Specialist in Manchester

Employer Engagement - Early Career Pathways Specialist

The Growth Company’s (GC) Business Growth Hub (BGH) – People Development team have an exciting new opportunity for an Employer Engagement – Early Career Pathways Specialist to help employers open doors for young people while building the future workforce they need. In this employer engagement role, you will work with businesses across Greater Manchester to understand their workforce priorities and connect them with opportunities such as T Level industry placements, work experience, careers talks, apprenticeships, workplace visits, and Youth Guarantee initiatives. By making these pathways easy to understand and implement, you'll help employers create meaningful experiences that develop young people's confidence, skills, and awareness of career opportunities, while supporting organisations to strengthen talent pipelines, widen access to opportunity, and address future skills needs.

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, connecting them with the expertise, resources and opportunities needed to grow and succeed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Engage and build relationships with employers across Greater Manchester, promoting early careers and workplace opportunities through phone, email, online, and face-to-face engagement.
• Understand employers' workforce priorities, skills needs, and business objectives, creating tailored action plans to support their goals.
• Generate meaningful opportunities including T Level placements, work experience, job shadowing, careers talks, mock interviews, apprenticeships, and Youth and Jobs Guarantee initiatives.
• Guide employers through a range of pathways and programmes, providing clear advice on options such as T Levels, apprenticeships, MBacc, V Levels, and work placements.
• Develop trusted partnerships with employers, colleagues, and stakeholders to create positive outcomes for businesses and young people.
• Champion inclusion, encouraging employers to offer accessible and high-quality opportunities that widen participation and support social mobility.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, monitor outcomes, and provide evidence to support reporting and contractual requirements.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Modern Work Experience offer by sharing employer insight and best practice.

About You:

• An enthusiastic relationship builder who enjoys engaging with businesses and creating opportunities that make a positive difference.
• Experienced in employer engagement, business support, recruitment, skills, careers, learning and development, or a related field.
• Confident communicating with business owners, senior leaders, and stakeholders, with the ability to influence decisions and secure commitment.
• A proactive self-starter who can manage a varied workload while collaborating effectively as part of a wider team.
• Passionate about supporting young people and helping employers develop future talent pipelines.
• Curious, solution-focused, and able to identify opportunities that benefit both employers and local communities.
• Comfortable working to targets, managing employer caseloads, and achieving measurable outcomes.

Skills Required:

• Strong employer engagement and relationship management skills with the ability to build credibility and trust quickly.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex programmes and pathways in a clear and accessible way.
• Skilled in influencing, negotiation, and turning employer interest into meaningful workplace opportunities.
• Ability to assess employer needs, ask effective questions, and create practical action plans.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Confident using CRM systems, Microsoft Office applications, digital communication tools, and data management systems.
• Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and data accuracy.
• Knowledge of early careers pathways, apprenticeships, T Levels, work placements, and workforce development programmes would be advantageous.

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.

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