National Learning Group
Strategic Business Development & Partnerships Manager
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Strategic Business Development & Partnerships Manager
Strategic Business Development & Partnerships Manager
Competitive salary from £40,000 DOE + uncapped commission + car allowance
About NLG
National Learning Group (NLG) is one of the UK’s larger managed tutoring providers, delivering personalised 1-to-1 tuition to around 4,000 students annually through a network of 350+ tutors. We work with:
- Parents
- Schools
- Local authorities
Backed by external investment and tender-winning partnerships, NLG is focused on public sector contracts, funded delivery, and commercial growth. Our strategic priority Includes securing additional council supplier positions and expanding opportunities in education and workplace training.
The Role
You will own NLG’s strategic commercial growth—balancing private and public sector opportunities—with a primary focus on:
- Securing public sector contracts and funded opportunities
- Delivering measurable, sustainable revenue growth
- Identifying and owning high-value opportunities while building relationships that create them
Public sector growth is critical to this role, leveraging your expertise in:
- Procurement frameworks & commissioning
- Positioning NLG ahead of opportunities
- Maximising success in funded contract submissions
Beyond the public space, you will:
- Develop commercial partnerships with employers and organisations looking to enhance their teams’ education, tutoring, or English language services—especially where skills gaps exist.
- Lead additional business streams, including securing workforce-focused English language programmes in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, care, or food production.
Bid writing is supported externally—your task is not to draft submissions. Instead, you will:
- Shape the strategy for bids
- Direct relationships and decision-making
- Ensure the external bid writer produces high-impact, compliant submissions
This role carries direct representational authority for NLG, allowing you to engage at senior levels:
- Local authority commissioners
- Public funding bodies
- Employers
- Strategic stakeholders
Key Responsibilities
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Pipeline Ownership
- Identify, qualify, and prioritise local authority contracts, frameworks, tenders, and grant opportunities.
- Develop commercial opportunities that align with NLG’s services and strategic goals.
- Set clear internally owned bid and no-bid criteria, based on commercial and strategic fit.
- Maintain a transparent, robust pipeline for MD and Board reporting.
Relationships
- Build and sustain relationships with:
- Local authority commissioners
- Combined authorities & funding bodies
- Employers and social partners
- Position NLG as a trusted, high-performing provider ahead of public sector opportunities.
- Expand commercial partnerships with organisations investing in workforce development.
- Attend and represent NLG at:
- Procurement forums
- Education sector events
- Industry networking platforms
Bid Management
- Own the end-to-end bid process, including:
- Timelines
- Compliance checks
- Quality assurance
- Brief the external bid writer with content strategies and a high-level approach.
- Ensure no submission misses deadlines or compromises on quality.
Funding & Commercial Development
- Explore grant funding opportunities, public contracts, and private sponsorships.
- Monitor changes in education funding/procurement landscapes and emerging growth pathways.
- Structure winning bids and quotations, collaborating with Finance to maintain margins and feasibility.
- Hand-over secured contracts seamlessly to Operations for smooth execution.
What We Need from You
Essential
✅ Demonstrable success in winning—or significantly contributing—to:
- Public sector contracts
- Local authority procurements
- Funded education/training programmes
✅ Advanced knowledge of public sector procurement, including:
- Frameworks, tenders, PQQ, SQ, and ITT processes
- Social value considerations
- Compliance regulations
✅ Experience identifying and developing commercial opportunities, alongside public sector growth.
✅ Strong commercial judgement, including:
- Bid selection strategies
- Pricing and margin awareness
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✅ Ability to build credibility and influence with:
- Commissioners, funding bodies, and decision-makers
✅ Confidence to operate independently and manage end-to-end business development.
✅ Tech-savvy—proficient in using AI and digital tools to streamline processes.
✅ Excellent written & verbal communication skills for persuasion, clarity, and stakeholder engagement.
Desirable
👉 An established network of procurement contacts, commissioners, or sector stakeholders targeted towards UK growth regions.
👉 Direct experience in securing grant funding.
👉 Background in partnership development—specifically in:
- Education, vocational training, or language services
- Workforce development
👉 Deep knowledge of education funding, including:
- Alternative provision
- SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities)
- Tutoring market trends
👉 Hands-on experience working with employers in sectors with large non-native English-speaking workforces, such as:
- Manufacturing
- Logistics
- Hospitality
- Care
- Food production
Safer Recruitment Statement
We are committed to safeguarding and welfare for children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Our recruitment process includes:
- Online checks
- Employment history verification
- References
- Qualification and identity confirmation
- DBS checks (where applicable to working with vulnerable groups)
We are an equal opportunities employer —we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
What Success Looks Like
Measurement success by: ✔ Sustainable, profitable growth in both public and private sector revenue. ✔ Strategic pipeline leadership—ensuring NLG’s voice is heard early. ✔ Trust and influence with key partners, ensuring an unmatched ability to secure and retain contracts. ✔ Long-term commercial partnerships that align with NLG’s mission and mission-planning.
You will…
- Drive instructional development.
- Own every opportunity’s progression, from lead to contract signing.
- Position NLG as the preferred supplier in your market segments.
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