Managing Director - Apprenticeships

FIND | Creating Futures; Remote; GBP 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK skills and training organisation is seeking a Managing Director to take full P&L ownership and lead the next phase of development. The role includes resetting the operating model, improving learner outcomes, and ensuring compliance with funding regulations. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in UK education and a strong track record of managing change in challenging environments. This position offers genuine autonomy and the chance to reshape the national provider for sustainable growth.

Benefits

Executive package

Genuine autonomy

High-impact role visibility

Qualifications

• Proven Managing Director / Business Unit Director experience with full P&L ownership.
• Strong background in UK education, skills or training.
• Experience across government-funded provision (e.g. apprenticeships, adult skills).

Responsibilities

• Lead the next phase of the organisation’s development.
• Drive change and ensure robust funding compliance.
• Improve learner outcomes and achievement rates.

Skills

Proven Managing Director experience

Strong background in UK education

Experience with government-funded provision

Demonstrable success in turnaround

Deep understanding of quality frameworks

Strong commercial acumen

Job description

Managing Director

Sector : Apprenticeships (Experience in the apprenticeship market is essential)

Salary : £120,000 – £130,000 + executive package

Location : Home-based (UK)

Travel : Quarterly business reviews in London, plus ad hoc stakeholder meetings

The Opportunity

We are working with a well‑established, privately owned UK skills and training organisation to appoint a Managing Director with full P&L ownership.

The business delivers a portfolio of government‑funded training programmes, operates nationally, and employs c.160 people. It has strong foundations, a “Good” quality rating, but is now entering a critical phase of change, stabilisation and performance improvement.

This role offers genuine autonomy, clear accountability, and the mandate to reset and reposition the organisation for sustainable growth.

Organisation profile :

• c.160 employees
• National delivery
• Multi‑programme provision (Apprenticeships, Bootcamps, ASF)
• Revenue c£6.5m
• Established leadership team (6 direct reports into the MD, with c150 indirect)
• Quality rated “Good”

Role Purpose

This is a hands‑on, P&L‑owning Managing Director role , responsible for leading the next phase of the organisation’s development.

We need an MD who can :

• Reset the operating model
• Improve performance and outcomes
• Strengthen delivery quality
• Build momentum and culture
• Balance commercial ambition with regulatory and quality excellence

You will have full accountability and authority to drive change

Scope & Accountability

The Managing Director will have end‑to‑end responsibility for :

• Delivery & Operations
• Performance, outcomes and success rates
• Quality, compliance and regulatory assurance
• Product, curriculum and programme development
• Commercial strategy, sales and marketing
• Financial performance and full P&L ownership

Key Challenges & Priorities

• Improve learner outcomes and achievement rates
• Lead a people and performance reset across the organisation
• Strengthen leadership capability, accountability and culture
• Ensure robust funding compliance and regulatory assurance
• Define and deliver a clear growth and commercial strategy
• Operate effectively within a group‑owned structure while retaining entrepreneurial leadership

Ideal Candidate Profile

Essential experience :

• Proven Managing Director / Business Unit Director experience with full P&L ownership
• Strong background in UK education, skills or training
• Experience across government‑funded provision (e.g. apprenticeships, adult skills, bootcamps or similar)
• Demonstrable success in turnaround, stabilisation or performance improvement
• Deep understanding of quality frameworks, funding compliance and inspection
• Experience leading multi‑disciplinary leadership teams
• Strong commercial acumen with a track record of balancing quality and profitability

Leadership style :

• Hands‑on, decisive and resilient
• Credible with delivery teams and senior stakeholders
• Comfortable leading change in stretched environments
• Able to operate with high autonomy and accountability

Why Apply?

• True end‑to‑end MD remit
• Clear mandate for change and improvement
• Opportunity to reshape and future‑proof a national provider
• High‑impact role with visibility at group level