The Growth Company
Business Advisor - Skills Development Specialist
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Business Advisor - Skills Development Specialist
Skills Development Specialist
Location: Manchester Salary: Up to £41,200 per annum Contract: Permanent/Full-time
About the Role
Shape the future of upskilling across Greater Manchester.
The GM Business Growth Hub is seeking a Skills Development Specialist to support business owners with demonstrable experience, knowledge, and credibility within all areas of skills development practice. You will drive business growth and promote good employment practice.
Core purpose:
The role focuses on delivering high-quality skills development assessments for a portfolio of business owners and leaders. This involves:
- Diagnosing and addressing skills-focused improvements across organisations
- Collaborating with businesses, partners, and specialists to develop tailored action plans that align workforce and business strategies
- Enhancing productivity, enabling growth, and supporting clients to access services and expertise within the wider business ecosystem
Place-based requirement:
- Positioned within XX Local Authority
- Requires in-depth expertise of local businesses, their sector needs, opportunities, and challenges
- Minimum 3 days per week on-site engagement across locations
Initial Application Process
- In-person Assessment Centre: 16th July (AM/PM session), Manchester City Centre
- Interviews (if shortlisted): 21nd, 23rd, or 24th July, Manchester City Centre
Why This Role Matters
Greater Manchester’s ambitious growth agenda focuses on productivity, innovation, skills, and inclusive development. To succeed, you must demonstrate expertise in:
- Greater Manchester Strategy (GMS), including missions for productivity, innovation, skills, and inclusive growth
- GM Good Growth Fund, its sector priorities, and how skills development enhances business performance
- Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), highlighting how leadership, skills, and culture impact GM’s priority sectors
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Your work will directly contribute to achieving these regional ambitions.
Key Responsibilities
To fulfil this role, you will:
- Build and nurture strong relationships with business leaders and stakeholders, driving skills referrals
- Offer impartial training brokerage using the GM Skills Map and a network of providers
- Handle client enquiries across channels and assess skills needs effectively
- Maintain accurate client data and progress records in the Business Growth Hub CRM
- Conduct skills diagnostics and develop clear, data-driven action plans
- Advise on workforce and training challenges, leading interventions to completion
- Deliver customised skills development sessions (in-person or virtual)
- Facilitate access to apprenticeships, technical education, and work placements
- Act as the frontline Skills Specialist, aligned with GMCA strategies
- Provide insights on labour market trends and skills shortages
- Support inclusive employment practices while ensuring Health & Safety standards
What We’re Looking For
You’ll bring a blend of technical expertise, interpersonal skills, and resilience. Essential attributes include:
- Extensive understanding of skills development, including funded/non-funded provision and strategies in Greater Manchester
- Proven experience in:
- Conducting skills needs assessments
- Creating development plans
- Managing sensitive and confidential information
- Strong communicator, capable of influencing and negotiating with senior stakeholders
- Analytical and creative, able to solve workforce-specific challenges
- Excellent planning and project management, with robotical skills in data, CRM, and MIS tools
- Experience with AI tools used ethically to augment client support
- Solid track record in delivering skills interventions, advice, and development
- Qualification (Degree/CIPD/L&D/IAG) or equivalent experience
- Senior-level expertise in work-based learning, HR, and voluntary casework
- Knowledge of local business challenges and GM policies (GMS, LSIP)
- Ability to work precisely, collaboratively, and under tight deadlines
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Why Join Us?
This is a high-impact role that will:
- Help businesses thrive through people-driven growth
- Contribute to regional investment and strategy programmes
- Work with a diverse range of partners and organisations
- Join a values-driven, positive-change-focused organisation
Key Notes
- Ineligibility: Cannot sponsor work permits/visas. Only candidates legally permitted to work in the UK may apply.
- Respectful Application: Honorable use of AI. Self-plagiarism or misleading information may disqualify your application.
- Safeguarding: Commitment to protecting vulnerable adults and young people. DBS check required for all offers (cost covered).
- Prison Ban: Cannot apply if on the UK’s Barred List for regulated activities.
- Diversity Commitment: Guaranteed interview scheme for applicants from diverse ethnic backgrounds within criteria or those with disabilities.
Need Adjustments?
- Accessible assessments, benefits, and accommodations available upon request.
- Ask for support via careers@growthco.uk or call 0161 237 4447.
A carbon-neutral organisation, fully committed to the Ban the Box initiative (conviction questions removed during application).
Agile working supported. Any requests for permanent flexibility discussed during interview.
Conditions of employment aligned with UK Health & Safety policies.
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