Job Title: Head of Apprenticeship – Business Development

Contract: NSG Business Support, Full-Time, Permanent

Reporting to: Associate Director – Employer Responsiveness

Salary: £44,362 per annum

Annual Leave: 30 per annum plus statutory Bank Holidays

Contractual Hours: 37 hrs per week

Pension: NEST Pension Scheme

Location: Middlesbrough College Main Campus, TS2 1AD

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and driven Head of Apprenticeship, Business Development to provide operational leadership for apprenticeship business development, driving high‑quality employer engagement and sustainable growth aligned to College strategy, funding requirements, and regional skills priorities.

Key Responsibilities 

• To line manage, motivate and develop the Apprenticeship Business Development team, setting clear expectations to drive sustained growth
• To maintain oversight of the apprenticeship employer pipeline, including personal account management of a portfolio of employers, ensuring effective lead generation, conversion and sustained recruitment outcomes
• To deliver against forecast individual recruitment targets, contributing directly to team and College growth objectives through proactive employer engagement and effective pipeline management
• To set, monitor and review individual employer engagement targets and recruitment targets, implementing timely interventions to address underperformance ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, responsive service promoting continuous improvement and strong employer satisfaction
• To ensure employers receive accurate, compliant and up to date advice on apprenticeship levy usage, funding rules and employer responsibilities

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification, or substantial senior experience in a relevant field.
• GCSE Mathematics & English (or equivalent)

Experience

• Proven experience of leading, managing and developing staff teams.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering against challenging targets and performance measures
• Experience of developing and maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders internally and externally.
• Experience in business development, account management & professional networking.

Please see the person specification for full details – Job Description

Why Join Us?

• Substantial annual leave entitlement plus holiday purchase scheme.

• Health & Wellbeing; free gym membership, 24/7 counselling for you and your family

• Family-friendly policies: flexible hours and a supportive work environment

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): confidential support including counselling, legal and financial advice.

• Professional development: extensive training, mentoring, and career progression opportunities

• Funded CPD opportunities, regular staff development training, and paid volunteering days

• Access to discounted hair and beauty treatments at our onsite salon.

• College benefit scheme – College Extras:

• Up to 15% cashback at top retailers & restaurants

• Discounted gift cards for big brands

• Home & tech upgrades via salary sacrifice

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Discounted onsite car parking.

To learn more about working at Middlesbrough College, please visit our Work For Us page.

For further details and to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Katharine Hawking, Associate Director Employer Responsiveness on KL.Hawking@mbro.ac.uk

Are you ready to make your mark?

If  you’re looking to join a team that cares about their staff wellbeing, values their personal development and works with them to have a positive impact on student experience, come to Middlesbrough College!

About Middlesbrough College

Middlesbrough College is a leading provider of education and training in the North East, offering A-levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, and degree-level qualifications. With state-of-the-art facilities and a commitment to staff development, we’re proud to create opportunities for learners and colleagues alike, fostering an environment where everyone can grow, thrive, and make a real difference.

Our Vision, Mission and Values

Across our campus and community, Middlesbrough College is driven by a clear vision, mission, and values that not only shape what we do for students, but also make us a great place to work, grow, and thrive.

Safeguarding Our Students

Middlesbrough College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students. All staff are expected to share this commitment. If you’re successful, you’ll be required to complete thorough pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. All roles within the College carry safeguarding responsibilities, including promoting student welfare, reporting any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and modelling safe and appropriate conduct in line with College policies.

All posts at Middlesbrough College involve regulated activity and are therefore exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020)) mean that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications, related exceptions and further information.

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.

As part of our shortlisting process, we will conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates to identify any safeguarding or reputation related concerns (as required by KCSIE).

Right to work

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Recruitment Process

Applications are shortlisted for interview as they are received, and so early application is encouraged. We reserve the right to commence the interview process and close the vacancy prior to this date.

Equality & Diversity

Middlesbrough College is an equal opportunities employer, committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is valued. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and make recruitment decisions based on skills and experience. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively support applicants with disabilities.