Business Development Lead- Apprenticeships
This position is no longer accepting applications(closed Aug 16, 2026).
This is a remote position.
Business Development Lead (Internal job title: Employer Engagement Partner - Apprenticeships)
Salary: £40,000
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: 25 days annual leave + Birthday Leave + additional company benefits
Help shape the next stage of apprenticeship growth.
Cognition Evolve is growing its apprenticeship offer and we are looking for an ambitious Employer Engagement Partner to help build relationships with employers across a range of sectors. This is an Employer Engagement and Sales role focused on creating high-quality apprenticeship opportunities and supporting employer workforce development needs.
This is an exciting opportunity to join at an early stage as we expand our apprenticeship provision nationally. The role will focus on developing employer relationships across a variety of industries and organisational types, including:
Employers of all sizes across the private, public and third sectors, education providers, local authorities, charities, SMEs and wider employer networks. New apprenticeship pathways and programmes will continue to be developed as the service grows.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building trusted relationships with employers, opening new opportunities and helping organisations use apprenticeships to attract, develop and retain skilled professionals.
This is primarily a new business and growth role focused on generating apprenticeship starts and building a national employer pipeline.
The Role
You will take ownership of developing new employer relationships, identifying workforce development opportunities and converting interest into apprenticeship starts.
Working alongside recruitment, delivery and apprenticeship colleagues, you will help employers understand staffing, skills and development needs and match apprenticeship solutions that support organisational performance and learner success.
You will retain ownership of employer relationships beyond initial onboarding to support repeat opportunities, future cohorts and longer-term apprenticeship growth.
This is a national role. Most engagement activity is expected to take place remotely.
Key Responsibilities
- Employer Growth & Business Development
- Identify, engage and develop new employer relationships nationally.
- Generate apprenticeship opportunities and convert employer interest into apprenticeship starts.
- Build and maintain an active pipeline of employers, strategic partners and employer networks.
- Carry out consultative workforce discussions and training needs analysis with employers.
- Develop repeat opportunities within employer accounts, including future cohorts and progression routes.
- Relationship Management
- Become a trusted advisor to employers exploring apprenticeship solutions.
- Build referral routes and partnership opportunities through employer networks, sector groups, local and regional stakeholders, and business communities.
- Provide a positive experience from first enquiry through to onboarding.
- Retain ownership of employer relationships to support continued growth activity.
Performance & Delivery
- Work towards agreed targets focused on apprenticeship starts, employer engagement activity and pipeline growth.
- Maintain accurate CRM records and forecasting information.
- Track opportunities, progression and conversion activity.
- Share employer insight to support service development, curriculum relevance and future pathway planning.
Collaboration
- Work closely with Candidate Engagement colleagues to align vacancies, candidate supply and employer demand.
- Work collaboratively with apprenticeship delivery teams to ensure smooth onboarding and successful starts for learners and employers.
- Support cohort planning and growth discussions.
- What Success Looks Like in Year One
In your first year you will:
- Build a strong employer network across relevant sectors and industries.
- Create sustainable apprenticeship opportunities with employers who have clear workforce development needs.
- Develop repeat employer relationships and future cohort opportunities.
- Achieve personal apprenticeship growth targets and contribute toward team objectives.
- Support the launch and growth of new apprenticeship pathways and programmes.
- Help shape employer engagement processes as the service expands.
Requirements
About You
We are interested in people who enjoy creating opportunities, building partnerships and understanding workforce development challenges faced by employers.
You may currently work within:
- Employer engagement or partnership development.
- Apprenticeship business development or funded learning.
- Recruitment, talent acquisition or workforce solutions.
- Workforce development, learning and development, or skills programmes.
- Training sales, account management or employer partnerships.
- Education, employability or training services.
- Business development and growth-focused roles.
Skills you will require:
Essential
- Experience generating new business opportunities, employer relationships or recruitment activity.
- Proven ability to work towards targets and convert employer opportunities into starts, placements or recruitment outcomes.
- Good commercial awareness and an understanding of workforce development challenges faced by employers.
- Ability to work independently in a developing environment and build credibility with employers and stakeholders.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- Confidence managing pipelines and CRM systems.
Desirable
- Experience of Early Years apprenticeships, Business Administration apprenticeships, or other apprenticeship standards.
- Experience within education, training, employability, workforce development or related sectors.
- Understanding of employer training needs, staffing challenges and workforce planning.
- Funded learning knowledge.
Why Join Cognition Evolve?
This is an opportunity to join at an important stage of growth.
You will help build something new rather than inherit an established market.
You will work alongside teams across apprenticeship delivery, recruitment and learning while contributing directly to the future direction of the apprenticeship service.
Please submit:
CV
Cover letter (maximum two pages) Your application should demonstrate how you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification.
Closing date: Monday 10th August 2026 at 9am.
Please note vacancies may close earlier depending on application volumes.