Growth Executive

Wiltshire College & University Centre; Trowbridge; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

30 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

Electric Vehicle Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Free On-Site Gyms

Lifestyle Discounts

Cycle-to-Work Scheme

Professional Development

Job summary

Wiltshire College & University Centre in Trowbridge seeks a Growth Executive to secure new apprenticeship business by identifying, engaging and converting employers into sustainable partners. You will manage end-to-end employer acquisition from market mapping to proposal and negotiation.

You will hand over implemented opportunities to delivery teams, while continuing to win new business and drive growth acrossWiltshire’s apprenticeship portfolio.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development, sales, employer engagement or a similar new-business role.
• Strong track record of identifying, developing and converting new opportunities.
• Experience managing a sales pipeline from prospecting through to conversion.
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills.
• A consultative approach, with the ability to understand customer needs and develop tailored solutions.

Responsibilities

• Identify and target new employer prospects with potential for sustainable apprenticeship business.
• Conduct market mapping and proactive prospecting across relevant sectors.
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of new business opportunities.
• Engage employers through meetings, networking, events, telephone and digital channels.
• Understand employer workforce needs and develop tailored apprenticeship solutions.
• Present proposals, negotiate effectively and convert qualified prospects into new partners.
• Develop opportunities for multiple and repeat apprenticeship starts.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline information and forecasts; collaborate with delivery teams for implementation.
• Complete structured handovers to onboarding and delivery teams after new business is confirmed.
• Represent the College at employer events and external engagements.

Skills

Business development

Employer engagement

Relationship building

Negotiation

CRM experience

Market mapping

Prospecting

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

The Vacancy

Growth Executive

Wiltshire College & University Centre - Cross College/Trowbridge Campus, with hybrid 1 day per week working

Are you a confident business development professional with a talent for identifying opportunities, building relationships and converting prospects into long-term partnerships? This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in growing the College's apprenticeship provision.

As a Growth Executive, you will secure new apprenticeship business by identifying, engaging and converting new employers into sustainable apprenticeship partners. This is a dedicated new-business role focused on generating new employers, apprenticeship starts and associated income for the College.

You will manage the full employer acquisition journey, from market mapping and prospecting through needs analysis, solution development, presentation, negotiation and conversion.

Once new business is secured and implementation requirements are clear, you will complete a structured handover to the appropriate relationship, onboarding and delivery teams, allowing you to stay focused on winning new business and creating sustainable growth.

What We Offer

Salary: £32,414 per year

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

Hybrid Working: Cross College/Trowbridge Campus, with hybrid 1 day per week working

Year-Round Employment: No unpaid breaks between contracts

Outstanding Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• 30 days paid annual leave plus 8 days paid bank holidays
• College closure and wellbeing days, including a 2-week paid Christmas closure
• Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free On-Site Gyms
• Lifestyle Discounts
• Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• Professional Development and career progression
• Additional staff perks and discounts

A rewarding opportunity where your commercial skills can deliver measurable growth while contributing to education and skills across Wiltshire.

What You'll Do

• Identify and target new employer prospects with potential for sustainable apprenticeship business
• Conduct market mapping and proactive prospecting across relevant sectors
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of new business opportunities
• Engage employers through meetings, networking, events, telephone and digital channels
• Understand employer workforce needs and develop tailored apprenticeship solutions
• Present proposals, negotiate effectively and convert qualified prospects into new partners
• Develop opportunities for multiple and repeat apprenticeship starts
• Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline information and forecastsWork with curriculum, relationship, onboarding and delivery teams to ensure successful implementation
• Complete structured handovers once new business is confirmed
• Represent the College professionally at employer events and external engagements

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience in business development, sales, employer engagement or a similar new-business role
• A strong track record of identifying, developing and converting new opportunities
• Experience managing a sales pipeline from prospecting through to conversion
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills
• A consultative approach, with the ability to understand customer needs and develop tailored solutions
• Commercial awareness and a focus on sustainable, repeat business
• Strong communication, presentation and organisational skills
• Confidence using CRM systems and managing pipeline information
• A proactive, resilient and target-focused approach
• Experience of apprenticeships, education, skills or workforce development would be advantageous but is not essential

Why Choose This Path?

Build a rewarding career in business development - without:

• Managing an inherited portfolio with limited scope to make your mark
• Spending your time maintaining established accounts instead of winning new business
• Working in a role where your impact is difficult to see or recognised

Instead, you'll have the opportunity to build something new - creating employer partnerships, opening up apprenticeship opportunities and generating sustainable growth for the College.

Your commercial drive could help grow apprenticeship opportunities and shape the future workforce across Wiltshire.

Closing Date

13/09/26

Interview Date

TBC

Please note:

Your Application Form will be shortlisted against how your skills, qualifications and experience match the Essential and Desirable points on the Person Specification for this role, located at the bottom of this page as a downloadable document.

Vacancies may close early if sufficient applications have been received; therefore, we would encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Safer Recruitment

Wiltshire College & University Centre follows Safer Recruitment Guidance outlined by the Department for Education in 'Keeping Children Safe in Education'. This involves conducting enhanced DBS checks, including checks against the children's barred list, and other employment verifications, including an online presence review for shortlisted candidates.

We embrace diversity, recognising the valuable perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and cultures individuals from different backgrounds bring. Committed to safeguarding, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we pledge to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a job vacancy and assess them based on their abilities.

The Company

Wiltshire College & University Centre stands as the largest provider of further and higher education in Wiltshire, significantly contributing to the local economy by equipping individuals with essential skills for success. Our diverse curriculum spans from Level 1 to Level 6, and we operate across four main campuses located in Trowbridge, Chippenham, Salisbury, and Lackham, which specialises in land-based education.

We offer a wide array of apprenticeships, along with full-time, part-time, and university-level courses. Notably, our Castle Combe circuit facility is the UK's first trackside motorsport engineering training centre, dedicated to our Motorsport Engineering programs.

Testimonials

• Lily Raynor-Blundell
• Executive Director of Lackham

Working at Wiltshire College and University Centre is a rewarding experience, offering opportunities for personal and professional growth, whilst making a positive and meaningful impact in post-16 education.

• Tiffany Maxwell
• Executive Assistant

As a new recruit at Wiltshire College & University Centre, I enjoy the supportive environment and dedicated team that make me feel valued and inspired.

• Arvil Pogson-Davis
• Health & Safety Manager

My job regularly takes me around all four of Wiltshire College & University Centre campuses and I meet staff from all diverse backgrounds which I really enjoy. I also work with a small but very dedicated and professional team.

The Benefits

Flexible Working

Pension Scheme

Training & Development

Shopping Discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Electric Vehicle Scheme