Emerging Talent Business Partner

Lanes Group; Rainham; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Lanes Group in Rainham is seeking an Emerging Talent Business Partner to lead engagement and outreach initiatives for schools, colleges, universities and community events, and to shape SLNT commitments across TfL contracts.

You will work with group leaders and TfL partners to attract, develop and retain emerging talent, delivering DEI-aligned programmes, apprenticeships and graduate schemes, with 37.5 hours per week on a permanent basis.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering emerging talent programmes (graduate and apprenticeship).
• Strong stakeholder management with ability to influence at senior levels.
• Commercial mindset linking talent strategies to business priorities.
• Knowledge of apprenticeships, graduate programmes and emerging talent best practice.
• Experience delivering outreach and engagement strategies.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with managers and stakeholders to understand emerging talent needs across Group and TfL.
• Support delivery of emerging talent initiatives aligned to workforce plans and DEI priorities.
• Advise stakeholders on emerging talent processes, programmes, and best practices.
• Ensure programmes support performance and retention outcomes.
• Programme Design & Delivery for apprenticeships, graduate schemes and placements.
• Support governance activities, maintaining standards and documentation.
• Develop and implement SLNT Plans for each TfL contract.
• Lead attraction campaigns and assessment activities.
• Ensure recruitment processes are fair, inclusive and competency-based.
• Contribute to employer branding for emerging talent audiences.
• Use data to improve attraction and conversion rates.
• Maintain programme data and support reporting for Group & TfL.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Project management

DEI

Apprenticeships

Talent outreach

Education

CIPD L3/5 or equivalent

Job description

Emerging Talent Business Partner Lanes Group is a leading nationwide utility services provider with over 4,500 dedicated employees. Our diverse subsidiaries drive our success across various sectors, contributing to a remarkable turnover of over £500 million. We are committed to excellence and innovation, ensuring we provide industry leading services to our clients and stakeholders. Department Human Resources (HR) partners with operational and support teams across the UK to provide expert people advice, insight and solutions that enable the Group to attract, develop, engage and retain talented people. The team supports the full employee lifecycle, delivering and enabling key people processes including employee relations, performance and talent management, learning and development, reward and recognition, wellbeing, organisational development and change. Working collaboratively with leaders, managers and employees, HR provides trusted advice and challenge to help build effective teams, strengthen leadership capability and create a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture. Through a proactive, commercially focused approach, HR helps ensure our people strategy and practices support business performance, organisational growth and the long-term success of the Group.

Purpose of the role

The Emerging Talent Business Partner, will be the lead in the South for engagement & outreach activities (schools, colleges, universities and wider community events), Strategic Labour Needs and Training (SLNT) commitments across Lanes Group and the Transport for London (TfL) contracts. Working closely with group business leaders, operational teams, Transport for London (TfL), supply chain partners, and other key stakeholders, you will attract, develop, and retain emerging talent while ensuring all skills, employment, social value, diversity, and training commitments are delivered in line with organisational objectives and contractual requirements.

Hours: Monday to Friday - 37.5 Hours per week

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Rainham

Key Responsibilities

• Build effective working relationships with managers and stakeholders to understand emerging talent needs across Group and TfL
• Support the delivery of emerging talent initiatives aligned to workforce plans and DEI priorities
• Expertly advise stakeholders on emerging talent processes, programmes, and best practice
• Ensuring our emerging talent programmes support and deliver strong performance and retention outcomes
• Programme Design & Delivery
• Support the end-to-end delivery of emerging talent programmes (apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and placements)
• Support programme governance activities, including maintaining standards, frameworks, and documentation
• Develop, implement, and maintain the Agreed SLNT Plan and associated Implementation Plan for each TfL contract
• Attraction & Assessment
• Lead the delivery of attraction campaigns and assessment activities
• Ensure recruitment processes are fair, inclusive, and competency-based
• Contribute to employer branding initiatives targeting emerging talent audiences
• Use data and insight to continuously improve attraction and conversion rates
• Performance, Data & Compliance
• Maintain accurate programme data and support reporting on key metrics and outcomes for both Group & TfL.
• Support compliance with apprenticeship standards, funding rules, and employment legislation
• Contribute to data-led decision making by gathering insight and identifying trends
• Assist and take ownership in continuous improvement of programmes based on feedback and performance
• Work with the Performance Manager to prepare and submit Quarterly SLNT Monitoring Reports
• Operational Delivery & Administration
• Maintain shared inbox and respond to queries in a timely manner
• Support the coordination of the Emerging Talent forum
• Deliver activity aligned to the Emerging Talent annual cycle (e.g. onboarding, enrolment, reviews)
• Manage enrolment processes and associated documentation
• Support event planning and delivery (e.g. careers events, internal showcases)
• Coordinate training schedules for emerging talent programmes
• Support monitoring and tracking of apprenticeship levy utilisation

Requirements

• Essential Proven experience in delivering emerging talent programmes (graduate and apprenticeship)
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at senior levels
• Commercial mindset with the ability to link talent strategies to business priorities
• Knowledge of apprenticeships, graduate programmes and emerging talent best practice
• Experience in delivering outreach and engagement strategies
• Strong project management and organisational skills
• Experience in managing and maintaining ET data
• Knowledge of UK apprenticeship funding and provider management
• Desirable CIPD L3/5 or equivalent
• Recruitment experience in emerging talent
• Experience embedding DEI principles into talent programmes
• Experience working with Transport for London or similar public sector clients
• Living the Co