Business Engagement Manager

The Bedford College Group; Corby; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Corby is seeking a Business Engagement Manager who will manage employer relationships and aid in student success through training and development. The ideal candidate should possess a Level 3 qualification in sales or marketing, strong CRM skills, and excellent communication abilities. This permanent full-time position offers a competitive salary and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus Bank holidays

People’s pension

Retail and Leisure Discounts

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Holds or is working towards relevant Level 3 qualification.
• Strong understanding of apprenticeships and the FE sector.
• Proven ability to design and manage sales campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the main point of contact for SME employers.
• Conduct training needs analyses and negotiate fees.
• Work closely with curriculum and marketing teams.

Skills

Employer Relationship Management

Sales & CRM Expertise

Communication & Relationship Building

Professionalism & Values

Flexibility & Commitment

Education

Level 3 qualification in sales, customer service, or marketing

Level 2 in Maths and English

Job description

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Location: Tresham College – Corby Campus

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £29,870 and £39,696 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 27 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, People’s pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

About the role:

We are currently seeking a Business Engagement Manager to join our Business Development department at The Bedford College Group.

As a Business Engagement Manager, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Employer Relationship Management – Serve as the main point of contact for SME employers, managing existing partnerships and securing new ones to support apprenticeships, T-Levels, commercial training, and student opportunities.
• Business Development – Conduct training needs analyses, present tailored proposals, negotiate fees, and use CRM systems to track leads, pipeline activity, and employer engagement.
• Cross-College Collaboration – Work closely with curriculum, work experience, and marketing teams to align employer needs with college offerings and ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Strategic Engagement – Represent the college at events and networks, lead employer forums, gather feedback, and use market intelligence to inform curriculum development and business growth.
• Professional Standards & Compliance – Uphold safeguarding, equality, and health & safety policies, contribute to quality assurance processes, and support college-wide activities such as open days and exams.

About you:

• Qualifications & Sector Knowledge – Holds or is working towards a Level 3 qualification in sales, customer service, or marketing, with Level 2 Maths and English, and a strong understanding of apprenticeships, commercial training, and the FE sector.
• Sales & CRM Expertise – Proven ability to design and manage sales campaigns, meet targets, and use CRM systems effectively to manage client relationships and analyse performance data.
• Communication & Relationship Building – Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to build strong partnerships, influence stakeholders, and promote the College’s services professionally.
• Professionalism & Values – Demonstrates commitment to the College’s values (Student Centred, Educational Excellence, Teamwork, Continuous Improvement, Caring, Inclusive) and upholds high standards of conduct and representation.
• Flexibility & Commitment – Self-motivated and adaptable, with a full UK driving licence, willingness to travel, and a strong commitment to safeguarding, continuous development, and health & safety.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: 13 – 15 August 2025

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisationalVISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire:Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College andTreshamCollegein the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough;ShuttleworthCollege,a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for MotorsportalongsideSilverstonerace circuit.To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.