Business Development Manager

Leeds City College; Long Lee; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent education provider in Long Lee is seeking a Business Development Manager to lead initiatives within the Apprenticeship Directorate. The role involves fostering partnerships with local businesses, managing a team, and contributing to income generation through various funding streams. Ideal candidates should have experience in employer engagement within further education, strong communication, and leadership skills. This position offers flexible working opportunities and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Annual Leave: 44 days plus bank holidays for management

Pension Schemes with generous contributions

CPD Opportunities including leadership courses

Employee wellbeing initiatives

Discounted travel options

Flexible and hybrid working opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading teams in Employer Engagement, Business Development, or Sales within the Further Education sector.
• Solid understanding of the Further Education landscape, especially around apprenticeship programmes.
• Confidence in delivering presentations to diverse stakeholder groups.

Responsibilities

• Lead employer and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Proactively build new partnerships with organizations.
• Manage a team of Employer Support and Recruitment Coordinators.

Skills

Team leadership

Business Development

Stakeholder engagement

Presentation skills

Communication

Job description

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to advance your career? We are currently hiring for a Business Development Manager working within the Apprenticeship Directorate.

Luminate Education Group is one of the largest and most diverse further education providers in the UK, offering a wide range of high-quality vocational courses and apprenticeships to help individuals develop their skills and advance their careers.

The Apprenticeship Team is a dedicated group within the college, focused on supporting both employers and apprentices throughout the apprenticeship journey. They provide expert advice, guidance, and training opportunities across various sectors to ensure the development of a highly skilled workforce. Supporting campuses across Leeds and Keighley, you will be looking to build strong links to local businesses and industries.

What You Will Do

• Lead employer and stakeholder engagement activities, fostering strong collaborations that support the expansion of our apprenticeship offer across the Group and externally.
• Proactively build and develop new partnerships with both levy-paying organisations and SMEs through targeted business development strategies and regional outreach efforts.
• Represent the Group at external events and meetings, acting as an ambassador to promote our provision and build long-lasting relationships with industry partners.
• Manage and support a team of Employer Support and Recruitment Coordinators, as well as apprentices, ensuring excellent service for employers and applicants engaging with Luminate.
• Contribute to income generation through a variety of funding streams, including apprenticeships, adult skills funding, and commercial training opportunities.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the Group’s full offering, including Apprenticeships, T Levels, Commercial Training, and Work Placements, using this expertise to recommend the most appropriate solutions for employers.
• Prepare and present tailored proposals to employers, clearly outlining solution costs and benefits.

About You

• Proven experience in leading teams in Employer Engagement, Business Development, or Sales within the Further Education sector, with a strong track record of achieving performance targets.
• A background in account managing employer or stakeholder relationships, resulting in sustained partnership growth.
• Confidence and experience in delivering presentations to a variety of stakeholder groups, both in person and through online platforms.
• Solid understanding of the Further Education landscape, with particular insight into the delivery and development of apprenticeship programmes.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and present effectively to diverse audiences.
• A flexible and adaptable approach, able to thrive in a dynamic role where priorities may shift and no two days are the same.

Benefits

The group offers a range of excellent benefits, including:

• Annual Leave: Curriculum and Management - 44 days plus bank holidays, Curriculum support and business support - 39 days plus bank holidays
• Pension Schemes With Generous Employer Contributions: Teachers’ Pension Scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, People’s Pension Scheme
• CPD Opportunities: Annual staff conference plus 2 additional staff development days, Qualifications including PGCE, Apprenticeships, Leadership And Management Courses
• Employee wellbeing initiatives: Family Friendly Policies, discounted onsite spa and gym
• Travel and commuting: Discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities: Please speak to the recruiting manager regarding flexible opportunities as these differ between roles

About Us

Luminate Education Group is a collective of education providers based in Yorkshire with one clear purpose: to make a positive difference to people’s lives through genuinely transformative education and training.

We offer a wide range of job vacancies across our business support functions - Finance, Human Resources, ITSS, Marketing, Communications, Executive Support, Estates and Food Services. Our large size and diverse range of member organisations means there are always exciting opportunities to progress.

As an education provider, we are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our workforce, and you’ll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow.

Luminate Education Group consists of Harrogate College, Keighley College, Leeds City College, Leeds Sixth Form College, Pudsey Sixth Form College, Leeds Conservatoire and University Centre Leeds.

SAFEGUARDING

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recruitment is key to our Group’s values. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, where every candidate is treated with fairness, respect, and equity.