Group Head of Apprenticeship Services

Leeds City College; Leeds; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Leeds is seeking a Group Head of Apprenticeship Services to manage and enhance apprenticeship offerings. The role involves overseeing operational functions, financial management, and ensuring compliance with funding rules. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and experience in apprenticeship delivery.

Benefits

Generous Annual leave entitlement

Excellent Pension schemes

Memberships and discounts

Discounted travel

Learning and development opportunities

Employee wellbeing initiatives

Flexible and hybrid working opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in engaging with employers and delivering effective apprenticeship programmes.
• Knowledge of apprenticeship funding and managing funding reports.

Responsibilities

• Manage operational functions of the apprenticeship directorate.
• Develop and implement a vision for exceptional outcomes.
• Oversee financial forecasting and management of apprenticeship funding.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Analytical Skills

Communication

Education

Level 3 qualification in leadership and management

Level 2 qualification in English

Level 2 qualification in Maths

Level 3 qualification in assessment, education, and training

Job description

About The Role

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to advance your career? We are currently hiring for Group Head of Apprenticeship Services.

Leeds City College 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 Leeds 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. Located in the heart of Leeds, the team’s convenient location at Eastgate Campus makes it easily accessible to students and employers alike, with strong links to local businesses and industries.

What You Will Do

1. Manage the operational function of the apprenticeship directorate, including apprenticeship provision, MIS, finance, funding, audit, compliance, and retention intervention teams.
2. Develop and implement a vision to drive exceptional outcomes, empowering staff to achieve success.
3. Oversee financial forecasting and management of apprenticeship funding and associated costs across the Group.
4. Lead a dynamic team, working closely with Business Development to advise employers on apprenticeship recruitment, enrolment, and financing, ensuring contract targets are met.
5. Develop your team to support employers with apprenticeship needs through effective management of the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS), ensuring compliance and funding requirements are met.
6. Ensure adherence to ESFA funding rules through audits, reporting, and maintaining data integrity, while resolving any rule violations.

About You

• Hold a Level 3 (or above) qualification in leadership and management, along with Level 2 (or above) in English and Maths, a Level 3 qualification in assessment, education, and training, with a commitment to further development in one or both of the latter disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging with employers, delivering effective apprenticeship programmes, and successfully tracking and monitoring apprentices to ensure timely completion, with a strong background in leadership and management within an apprenticeship environment.
• Experience in managing budgets, forecasting costs, ensuring financial compliance, and overseeing high-quality apprenticeship delivery in line with quality assurance frameworks.
• Knowledge of apprenticeship funding, including submitting and managing funding reports within a dedicated funding team or role.
• A motivational leader and coach, fostering a collaborative high-performing environment while effectively influencing, challenging, and supporting colleagues across the organisation.
• Skilled in analysing statistical data, drawing insights, and making actionable recommendations.
• Able to summarise complex, detailed, and technical information in a clear and accessible manner.

Benefits

There are plenty of benefits available to our staff members, here are just a few:

• Generous Annual leave entitlement - If you work full time, you'll get at least 39 days holiday plus bank holidays. This includes closure days at Christmas (pro rata for part time staff).
• Support Staff 39 days
• Academic 44 days
• Senior Management 44 days

• Excellent Pension schemes
• Teachers’ Pension Scheme
• Local Government Pension Scheme

• Memberships and discounts - employees can sign up to various membership cards and discount schemes such as TOTUM card (formerly NUS card).

• Travel and commuting - discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.

• Learning and development opportunities - including staff development days

• Employee wellbeing initiatives

• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities - this will vary depending on role requirements

About Us

Leeds City College is one of the largest further education institutions in the country and is one of the biggest providers of apprenticeships regionally.

We provide a vibrant and diverse learning environment, delivering excellent and innovative education which is supportive, inspiring and life changing. Leeds City College’s values put students first and are at the heart of everything the college does.

We are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our staff. You’ll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow. We offer a wide range of job vacancies, and our large size means there are always exciting opportunities to progress.

Join us on the journey to being the best that we can collectively be for our students, apprentices, staff and our stakeholders.

SAFEGUARDING

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students including children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow the Safer Recruitment requirements and best practice as set out within Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. 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. Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

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. Our recruitment processes are designed to ensure equal opportunities, remove bias, and promote a diverse talent pool. We continually assess and improve our practices to ensure that every individual, regardless of background, has an equal chance to succeed. By championing EDI, we aim to create a workforce that reflects the richness of our communities and drives innovation through diverse perspectives. To find out more about what our commitment to EDI means to us please click here to learn more about our EDI objectives.

RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not forward any unsolicited CVs in relation to any of our advertised roles or speculatively. If we require support with any of our vacancies we will get in touch with agencies directly.

• We do not recognise submissions of unsolicited or speculative CV applications from recruitment agencies.
• We shall not be liable for any fee / commission in the event we employ a candidate that may have been submitted as an unsolicited/speculative application from an uninstructed recruitment agency.