Enterprise and Employability Lead

Amegreen Children’s Services; Theale; Remote; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Amegreen Education is developing an outdoor provision at Juniper Acres for pupils aged 5–18. The Enterprise & Employability Lead will help learners build practical skills, explore careers and grow in confidence through a learner-led Enterprise Hub.

You’ll work with the Forest Lead and Animal Care team to develop projects, manage budgeting and costings, and create opportunities for on-site selling channels while focusing on employability and personal development.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children or young people in learning, vocational or developmental settings
• Experience delivering practical activities and organizing projects
• Ability to spot opportunities and turn ideas into manageable projects
• Strong communication and collaboration with learners, colleagues and partners
• Willingness to undertake relevant training and adapt to learner needs

Responsibilities

• Set up and run practical enterprise projects, helping learners contribute ideas and take pride in their work
• Develop shared projects with Forest and Animal Care teams using available materials and facilities
• Teach budgeting, costing, pricing, stock control, record keeping and customer service
• Support product development, packaging, marketing and sales including on-site shop opportunities
• Plan activities to build communication, teamwork, reliability, problem-solving and numeracy/literacy

Job description

We’re developing a new outdoor alternative provision at Juniper Acres for pupils from Juniper House and other Amegreen Education settings. As Enterprise & Employability Lead, you’ll help young people aged 5–18 build practical skills, explore careers and grow in confidence.

You’ll set up a learner-led Enterprise Hub, where young people can try business ideas and workplace roles in a supported setting. Working with our Forest Lead, Animal Care Lead and education team, you’ll develop projects using the skills, resources and facilities across the site.

Projects could use natural or recycled materials, seasonal produce or eggs from our hens in suitable, supervised food activities. You’ll help learners take part from choosing an idea and planning the work to costing, making, promoting and selling a product.

The focus is on learning and helping young people take responsibility. You don’t need a catering or horticultural background. Food activities may feature in projects, but aren’t the main focus.

What you’ll be doing

• Set up and run practical enterprise projects, helping learners contribute ideas, make decisions and take pride in their work.
• Work with the Forest and Animal Care teams to develop shared projects and make good use of materials, produce and facilities.
• Help learners understand basic business skills, including budgeting, costing, pricing, stock control, record keeping and customer service.
• Support product development, quality checking, packaging, marketing and sales, including opportunities for an on-site shop or other agreed sales channels.
• Plan activities that build communication, teamwork, reliability, problem-solving and independence alongside practical literacy and numeracy.
• Introduce different workplace roles through tasks such as retail, administration, stock management, marketing and practical production.
• Review projects with learners and colleagues, looking at engagement, skills gained, costs and what could work better next time.

You’ll also develop links with local employers, colleges, training providers and community organisations. These relationships will help you arrange employer visits, guest speakers, practical demonstrations and work experience where suitable.

You’ll adapt careers learning to each young person’s age and readiness, from exploring different jobs to preparing CVs, practising interviews and understanding workplace expectations. Learners will explore sectors including retail, hospitality, food production and land-based industries.

With the Centre Manager and teaching staff, you’ll help learners prepare for further education, training, supported internships, apprenticeships or employment. You’ll also support relevant accreditation, including ASDAN and AQA Unit Awards, and record achievements.

Supporting our learners

You’ll adapt activities for learners with different needs and abilities, including SEND. Projects will reflect their interests and individual learning plans, with appropriate support and challenge.

You’ll need a calm, consistent approach, supporting emotional regulation and using agreed behaviour strategies. These may include PACE and THRIVE where appropriate and following relevant training.

Working with teaching staff, you’ll connect practical activities with curriculum learning and personal development. You’ll recognise small steps as well as completed projects, helping learners see their progress.

Keeping activities safe and organised

You’ll plan safe activities, complete risk assessments and supervise learners using tools and equipment. Food activities must have suitable hygiene, storage and preparation arrangements.

You’ll keep workspaces organised, encourage responsible use of resources and follow safeguarding and health and safety procedures, recording and reporting any concerns or incidents.

You’ll maintain learner progress records and relevant stock, cost and sales information, using agreed systems such as Tapestry where applicable. You’ll contribute to reports and share updates with colleagues, schools, Local Authorities, parents/carers and other partners.

What we’re looking for

You’ll need experience working with children or young people, or relevant transferable experience supporting young people in a learning, vocational or developmental setting. You should also have experience delivering practical activities and organising or developing projects, products or services.

Your background could be in education, youth work, business, retail, employability or community projects. You’ll need to spot opportunities, turn ideas into manageable projects and help young people get involved.

You’ll need:

• A warm, respectful and inclusive approach, with experience supporting additional needs or the ability to show how you would adapt your support.
• Good organisational skills, including planning activities, managing resources and balancing priorities.
• An understanding of basic business skills, or a willingness to develop your knowledge of budgeting, pricing, stock management and customer service.
• Clear communication skills and the confidence to work with learners, colleagues, employers and other partners.
• The ability to work independently within agreed priorities, while sharing ideas and working closely with the wider team.
• Practical literacy, numeracy and digital skills to support learning, maintain records and monitor progress, with a willingness to learn new systems.
• Sound judgement around safe working, confidentiality, professional boundaries and safeguarding.
• A willingness to undertake relevant training, reflect on your practice and adapt when learners’ needs or project plans change.
• Experience in alternative provision, SEND, enterprise, retail, careers work or employer engagement would be useful. We’d also welcome experience of setting up projects, coordinating colleagues or delivering accredited learning.
• Practical experience in crafts, growing, cooking, environmental or animal-related projects would be useful, as would first aid, food hygiene or outdoor learning training. These are desirable rather than essential.

Equality and Diversity

Amegreen is committed to being an organisation where people can be their authentic selves in a safe and inclusive environment. We are actively building diverse teams and welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you require any accessibility adjustments to support your application, please contact us.

Safeguarding

Amegreen Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Successful candidates will be required to go through a thorough safeguarding onboarding process which includes a full employment history review and an enhanced DBS check. Adherence to Safeguarding and GDPR requirements is mandatory for all employees.