Business Development Manager (Apprenticeships and Employer Partnerships)

Introduction

Channel Training has been at the forefront of Apprenticeship development in the outdoor learning sector since 2012. We believe that Apprenticeships are a powerful tool to attract and develop diverse talent in outdoor learning and to provide cost-effective solutions for employers. Our staff have decades of experience in the delivery of Apprenticeships that meet the needs of outdoor centres, schools, adventurous activity and recreation providers and outdoor learning charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations. Channel Training specializes in the Outdoor Activity Instructor, Specialist Teaching Assistant, Early Years Educator and Community Activator Coach Apprenticeship Standards.

The Business Development Manager will build our apprenticeship provision nationally. Working with our management team, tutor team and reporting to the Managing Director and board, you will drive the continued development of our services to employers in our sector and in related areas. You will be accountable for the growth of high quality, sustainable provision and excellent employer relationships.

To grow high-quality, inclusive apprenticeship and training opportunities by developing strong, long-term employer partnerships across Channel Training’s target sectors. The postholder will identify employer workforce needs, promote apprenticeships and related training as practical workforce-development solutions, convert suitable opportunities into apprenticeship starts, and ensure employers are well informed before handover to onboarding, curriculum and tutor teams.

The role balances commercial growth with quality, compliance and employer suitability . The BDM will not simply chase starts; they will help ensure the right employer, the right apprentice, the right job role and the right programme fit.

Reports to: Managing Director and Advisory Board.

Works closely with: Apprenticeship Programmes Manager, MIS and Compliance Manager, Tutor Team, Recruitment and Administration Team.

Main responsibilities

1. Employer engagement and new business development

Identify, approach and build relationships with new employers who could benefit from apprenticeship and workforce-development programmes. This would include outdoor centres, schools, adventurous activity providers, early years settings, outdoor learning organisations, charities, social enterprises and employers with relevant leadership, coaching, education or activity roles.

Typical duties would include:

• Developing a pipeline of new employer prospects.
• Making proactive contact by phone, email, LinkedIn, sector networks, referrals and events.
• Attending employer meetings online and face to face.
• Representing Channel Training at conferences, sector events, webinars and networking opportunities.
• Building trusted relationships with decision-makers such as centre managers, heads of outdoor learning, HR leads, operations managers, school leaders and charity managers.

2. Consultative advice on apprenticeships and workforce development

Work with employers to understand their staffing, training, recruitment and retention challenges, then recommend appropriate apprenticeship or training solutions.

Typical activity includes:

• Carrying out employer needs analysis.
• Matching employer roles to suitable apprenticeship standards.
• Explaining apprenticeship benefits, funding routes, employer responsibilities and practical delivery expectations.
• Advising on cohort planning, likely timescales, suitability of job roles and the difference between apprenticeships, short courses and NGB qualifications.
• Helping employers understand the value of structured workforce development rather than simply collecting National Governing Body awards.

3. Creating and converting suitable apprenticeship opportunities

Qualify opportunities carefully before moving them into recruitment or onboarding.

Typical activity includes:

• Assessing whether the employer can offer a genuine job role with sufficient breadth, supervision and progression.
• Checking whether the employer understands apprentice employment responsibilities.
• Ensuring there is likely to be enough workplace opportunity to develop the required knowledge, skills and behaviours.
• Agreeing next steps, expected start dates, numbers, locations and key contacts.
• Supporting employers to create appropriate vacancies where needed.
• Handing over accurately to the onboarding/recruitment team once the opportunity is ready.

4. Account management and employer retention

Maintain relationships with existing employers to support repeat business, future cohorts and wider training needs.

Typical activity includes:

• Keeping in regular contact with key employers.
• Identifying opportunities for additional apprentices, progression routes or wider training.
• Supporting renewal conversations and future intake planning.
• Gathering feedback from employers and sharing it with curriculum, quality and leadership teams.
• Helping resolve early-stage employer concerns by connecting them with the right internal staff.
• Promoting Channel Training’s wider training offer where appropriate.

5. Pipeline, CRM and reporting

Maintain accurate business development records and provide clear reporting to senior leaders.

Typical activity includes:

• Keeping CRM records up to date – use of Copper and Google Workspace.
• Recording employer contacts, lead source, stage, forecasted starts, risks and next actions.
• Producing regular pipeline reports.
• Forecasting likely starts by programme, employer, region and date.
• Providing market intelligence on employer demand, competitor activity, pricing, funding barriers and sector trends.

6. Marketing and market development

Work with colleagues to improve employer-facing campaigns, messaging and lead generation.

Typical activity includes:

• Developing ideas for employer campaigns.
• Supporting webinars, employer briefings and sector updates.
• Produce employer-facing content such as case studies, brochures, email campaigns and social media posts.
• Feeding back common employer issues and questions.
• Developing sector-specific messages for outdoor centres, schools, early years settings, charities and activity providers.

7. Compliance awareness and ethical growth

Maintain sufficient working knowledge of apprenticeship funding, employer responsibilities, eligibility and quality expectations to avoid unsuitable starts or misleading advice.

Typical activity includes:

• Keeping up to date with relevant apprenticeship funding rules and policy changes.
• Avoiding over-promising on eligibility, funding, delivery model or start dates.
• Ensuring employers understand the need for a training plan, apprentice employment, workplace learning and off-the-job training.
• Checking that proposed roles are suitable before commercial commitment.
• Working within GDPR, safeguarding, equality, diversity and safer recruitment expectations.
• Supporting growth that would withstand Ofsted scrutiny and aligns with the Channel’s quality standards.

Person specification

• Experience working in apprenticeships, education, training, outdoor learning or a related sector.
• Ability to generate new leads and convert opportunities into agreed business.
• Experience managing a pipeline and using a CRM or similar tracking system.
• Strong communication, presentation and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence speaking with employers, senior leaders and operational managers.
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, travel to employers and represent the organisation professionally.
• Knowledge of apprenticeship funding, apprenticeship standards and employer responsibilities.
• Understanding of the outdoor learning, adventurous activity, education, early years or charity sectors.
• Experience working with SMEs, schools, outdoor centres or social enterprises.
• Experience supporting employer recruitment campaigns or apprentice vacancy creation.
• Understanding of Ofsted, quality assurance, safeguarding and compliance expectations in apprenticeship delivery.

Personal Qualities

• Commercially confident but ethical.
• Relationship-led rather than hard-sell.
• Credible with employers in the outdoor/education sector.
• Able to understand practical workforce challenges.
• Organised, persistent and good at follow-up.
• Collaborative with delivery, quality, recruitment and compliance teams.
• Resilient enough to manage a long sales cycle.

Occupational Requirements

• High level of literacy and highly numerate.
• Degree level education or equivalent.
• Appropriate professional home office for remote work and glitch-free communication.
• A full, clean UK driving licence and own vehicle appropriate for business use.

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