Cognition Evolve
Business Development Lead (Apprenticeships)
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Business Development Lead (Apprenticeships)
Business Development Lead (Internal Job Title: Employer Engagement Partner – Apprenticeships)
Salary: £35,000 Location: Hybrid (commuting distance to Manchester) Contract: Permanent Benefits: 25 days annual leave + Birthday Leave + additional company benefits
Help Shape the Next Stage of Apprenticeship Growth
Cognition Evolve is expanding its apprenticeship offering and seeks ambitious Employer Engagement Partners to build employer relationships, generate apprenticeship opportunities, and support new apprenticeship pathway development. This is a growth-focused role combining employer engagement and sales for apprenticeships.
Initially specialising in key sectors such as:
- Early Years Apprenticeships
- Professional Skills Apprenticeships
- Future pathways (planned as the service grows)
Ideal for someone who thrives on relationship-building, identifying opportunities, and helping employers solve workforce challenges through apprenticeships.
The Role
- A new business and growth role focused on apprenticeship starts and employer pipeline development.
- Ownership of employer relationship development, opportunity identification, and conversion into apprenticeship starts.
- Collaborate with recruitment, delivery, and apprenticeship teams to align employer needs with apprenticeship solutions.
- Ongoing relationship management post-onboarding, ensuring sustainable growth.
- National role, with remote engagement as the primary mode of interaction.
Key Responsibilities
Employer Growth & Business Development
- Identify, engage, and develop new employer relationships across key sectors.
- Convert employer interest into apprenticeship starts.
- Maintain an active pipeline of employers per specified pathways/sectors.
- Conduct consultative discussions on workforce needs and training requirements.
- Generate repeat opportunities from existing accounts.
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Relationship Management
- Act as a trusted advisor to employers exploring apprenticeships.
- Ensure a positive experience, from first inquiry through onboarding.
- Own relationships long-term to facilitate ongoing growth.
- Develop referral routes and partnerships to support expansion.
Performance & Delivery
- Work toward agreed targets for apprenticeship starts, engagement activity, and pipeline growth.
- Maintain accurate CRM records and forecasting.
- Track opportunity progression and conversion rates.
- Share employer insights to enhance service development.
Collaboration
- Work with Candidate Engagement to align jobs and candidate supply.
- Support cohort planning and growth discussions.
- Collaborate with apprenticeship delivery teams for smooth onboarding and starts.
What Success Looks Like in Year One
- Build a strong employer network in specialist areas.
- Create sustainable apprenticeship opportunities.
- Develop repeat employer relationships.
- Meet personal apprenticeship growth targets while contributing to team goals.
- Help shape employer engagement processes as the service grows.
- Support launch and expansion of new apprenticeship pathways.
About You
We seek ambitious individuals skilled in opportunity creation and partnership-building, ideally with experience in:
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Industries & Roles (current or previous):
- Apprenticeship employer engagement
- Apprenticeship business development
- Recruitment (private or public sector)
- Training sales
- Employer partnerships
- Workforce development
- Education/employability services
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven ability in new business development, employer relationships, or recruitment.
- Track record of converting opportunities into outcomes (e.g., agreements, starts).
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Strong commercial awareness and organisational ability.
- Confidence in managing pipelines and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce).
- Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment.
Desirable Skills & Knowledge
- Direct experience with apprenticeships.
- Deep understanding of funded learning schemes.
- Familiarity with Early Years, Professional Skills, or workforce training sectors.
- Insight into employer training needs and workforce planning.
Why Join Cognition Evolve?
- Join at a critical growth stage before the service matures.
- Contribute directly to creating something new.
- Collaborate across apprenticeship delivery, recruitment, and learning—impacting the service’s future.
- Core values drive our culture: agility, ambition, excellence, and impact.
How to Apply
Submit a CV and cover letter (no more than two pages), clearly addressing how you meet the criteria in this specification.
Deadline: Monday, 6 July 2026 at 9am Interviews: Week commencing 6 July 2026
Note: Vacancies may close early based on application volume.
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