Employment and Skills Broker

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Hempstalls; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Pension scheme

Professional development

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking an Employment and Skills Broker to join the Youth Hub team. You will support a caseload of young people, helping them identify goals, overcome barriers and progress into employment, apprenticeships, education or training.

You will collaborate with DWP Work Coaches and Youth Hub partners, build relationships with employers, and arrange vacancies, work experience and bespoke pathways to progression.

Qualifications

• Experience of supporting young people or jobseekers to progress into work, apprenticeships, education or training.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with young people and employers to achieve positive outcomes.
• Knowledge of recruitment processes, employment and skills provision, and trainee opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of young people, providing tailored employment and skills support.
• Build relationships with young people, identify goals, barriers and progression routes.
• Engage with local employers to identify vacancies, apprenticeships, work experience and opportunities.
• Support recruitment activities including candidate preparation and interview arrangements.
• Collaborate with Youth Hub colleagues and partners to provide joined-up support.
• Contribute to Youth Hub performance targets and maintain progress records.

Skills

Youth engagement

Relationship building

Communication

Networking

Time management

Job description

Directorate: Chief Executive's

Section: Economic Development Jobs Enterprise and Training

Location: Swann House

Grade: Level 8

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract type: Fixed Term for 12 months (3 roles available)

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and workin the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

Employment and Skills Broker Youth Hub An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Jobs, Enterprise and Training (JET) service as an Employment and Skills Broker, dedicated to supporting delivery of our new Youth Hub.

You will work directly with a caseload of young people, providing personalised employment and skills support to help them identify their goals, overcome barriers and progress into employment, apprenticeships, education or training. Working alongside DWP Work Coaches and a range of Youth Hub partners, you will build strong relationships with young people, develop individual pathways towards employment and connect them with the right opportunities and support. This could include job preparation, matching to vacancies, apprenticeships and training, work experience, employer introductions and ongoing support as they progress.

A key part of the role will also be engaging local employers to identify and develop opportunities that meet the needs and aspirations of young people. You will support recruitment activity, arrange interviews and work experience, and develop bespoke solutions with employers and training providers. This reflects the wider Broker roles focus on securing employment, apprenticeships, training and work experience opportunities.

We are looking for someone who can build trusted relationships with young people, including those facing significant barriers, while being confident engaging and influencing employers and partners. You will be proactive, organised and results-focused, with a genuine commitment to helping young people achieve sustainable progression.

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Chris Wakefield, [e-mail]

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of young people, providing tailored employment and skills support to help them progress into employment, apprenticeships, education or training
• Build effective relationships with young people, identifying individual goals, barriers and support needs, and developing clear progression routes towards positive outcomes
• Engage with local employers to identify vacancies, apprenticeships, work experience and other opportunities, matching these to the needs and aspirations of young people
• Support recruitment activity including candidate preparation, vacancy matching, interview arrangements and liaison with employers to maximise successful job outcomes
• Work closely with Youth Hub colleagues and partner organisations to ensure young people can access joined-up employment, skills and wider support where needed
• Contribute to the achievement of Youth Hub performance targets, maintaining accurate records and tracking participant progress, employer engagement and outcomes

About You:

• Experience of supporting young people or jobseekers, including those facing barriers to employment, to progress into work, apprenticeships, education or training
• Ability to build trusted and effective relationships with young people, providing encouragement, challenge and practical support to help them achieve positive outcomes
• Good knowledge of recruitment processes, employment and skills provision, training opportunities and the needs of employers
• Experience of engaging with employers and developing opportunities such as vacancies, work experience, apprenticeships and bespoke recruitment solutions
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, influencing and networking skills, with the ability to work effectively with a wide range of partners and professionals
• A proactive, organised and results-focused approach, with the ability to manage a varied caseload, meet targets and maintain accurate records of activity and outcomes

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professionalqualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.