Apprenticeship & Early-Careers Lead - 11 month FTC

Orbit Group; Coventry; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading housing association in Coventry seeks a Career Progression & Early-Talent Lead to develop and deliver innovative apprenticeship and training programmes. This role involves managing the Apprenticeship Levy, collaborating with training providers, and implementing mentoring opportunities. Ideal candidates will have extensive knowledge of apprenticeship standards and experience in developing learning initiatives. The position offers flexible working opportunities, a focus on career development, and is a fixed-term contract running from February 2026 to January 2027.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Training programmes

Professional qualifications

Qualifications

• Proven experience working with training providers.
• Experience managing high-quality assessment centres.
• Ability to address employment placement obligations.
• Strong capability in budgeting and financial analysis.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate development of training programmes.
• Design support materials for colleagues.
• Oversee Apprenticeship Levy management.
• Implement and manage a Mentoring Programme.
• Work with the Resourcing team to onboard new starters.

Skills

Coaching skills

Relationship building

Analytical skills

Knowledge of apprenticeship programs

Project management

Education

Relevant experience

Job description

Responsibilities and Qualifications

• Facilitate the development, delivery and monitoring of consistent and high-quality apprenticeship, T‑Level, graduate, intern and other work placement training programmes for Orbit.
• Design support materials to ensure an easy and simple way for colleagues to understand what development opportunities are for them.
• Managing Apprenticeship Levy c£185k, to provide targeted and considered development opportunities across the business. Provide forecasts and analysis on spend/ budget and escalates appropriate business decisions.
• Create and deliver a clear and aligned plan for apprenticeships, T‑Levels, graduate schemes and other work placement programmes that adds value and demonstrates opportunities to develop.
• Keeping up to date with industry best practice surrounding apprenticeships, T‑Levels, work placement and graduate schemes to ensure that we are at the forefront of innovation and the changing landscape of these types of programmes – make recommendations around those that fit our culture and aspirations for our colleagues.
• Monitor contracting partners to ensure that employment placement obligations are fulfilled and implemented using the agreed Orbit framework, escalating where necessary.
• Implement and facilitate a thriving Mentoring Programme, to support colleagues to develop and grow both internally and externally.
• Working in partnership with Resourcing team to hire and onboard new starters for T‑levels and other early careers programmes.
  Proven experience of working with training providers.
• Knowledge and experience of managing high‑quality assessment centres including training and leading a team of assessors through the process.
• Knowledge and experience of apprenticeship, traineeship and other work placement programmes, including eligibility criteria, legislation, standards and funding criteria.
• Ability to coach effectively, deliver feedback and advise on appropriate initiatives as a credible L&D expert.
• A track record of creating and maintaining strong working relationships and working collaboratively with colleagues, both on‑site and remotely.
• Driving licence and willingness to travel.

About Orbit

We’re building thriving communities as one of the UK’s largest housing groups and a leading developer of affordable housing. We believe everyone is entitled to a good home they can afford, in a place they are proud to live. More than 100,000 people live in our homes. If you want to experience work that’s truly rewarding, join us. Because when we achieve together, customers and communities thrive. Work for Orbit. Believe in people.

At Orbit, we are passionate about developing all our colleagues to ensure everyone can perform their job well and have an opportunity to develop to meet their aspirations. This is a fantastic opportunity to join the team, partnering with the business shaping and growing our Learning and Development offering. The Talent & Performance Team are in an exciting period of evolution as we enhance our learning offering. The key focus of this role is to develop and deliver learning programmes and initiatives that help colleagues understand how they can build a long‑term and fulfilling career here at Orbit. Leveraging early‑careers programmes to qualify internal talent and bring in new external talent, as well as identifying opportunities for colleagues to grow personally and professionally utilising internal and external resources – this role is all about helping colleagues to grow with us, gain skills and tools and maximising our apprenticeship levy spend along the way. This role is part of People and Strategy where you’ll help us to build a culture and brand that people want to be part of. This is a fixed‑term contract cover for an internal colleague that is ideally looking to start at the beginning of February 2026 – ending at the end of January 2027. This role is known internally as the Career Progression & Early‑Talent Lead.

We strive to create an inclusive experience with benefits and wellbeing programmes designed to help you, and your loved ones, to thrive. For a better work‑life balance, we offer flexible working opportunities for many roles. A place to progress – from training programmes to professional qualifications, we provide opportunities to learn and develop at every stage of your career. Whether you’re a student, graduate or experienced professional we’ll support you to grow. For leaders, our tailored development journeys are designed to stretch and strengthen your leadership skills. As well as practical training, we give you access to renowned business schools and experiential programmes for greater breadth and depth of learning.

A purpose to feel proud of – we’re proud to make a difference to people together. We’re values‑driven with a commercial focus on performance – because the more profit we make, the more we can achieve for people. What brings us together is a passionate belief in progress and people. Read more about the values and purpose that drive us on our careers website.

How we hire

We aim to make our hiring process simple and fair:

1. Online application
2. Interview(s)
3. Decision and offer

We put the safeguarding of our customers, colleagues and contractors at the heart of everything we do and as such, certain roles will be subject to a DBS check.