Head of Apprenticeships

***Candidate Spotlight***

Available from July 2025 –  Open to a new opportunity

Head of Apprenticeships, Sales, BDM, Head of Recruitment, Head of People (Skills and Employability sector)  Redundancy from July 2025 £50k – £65k

ITP, Public, Private, Education, Business Support and Employability Full Time Permanent, Hybrid Manchester, North West

What opportunities do you have on your team for my amazing candidate ?

• Facing redundancy after 11 years—seeking a leadership role where they can drive commercial and people-focused success.

An accomplished Head of Sales is seeking an opportunity to leverage their extensive experience in sales leadership, workforce development, and stakeholder engagement to drive business growth. With a proven track record of aligning sales and talent strategies to achieve significant organisational impact, this candidate offers over two years of experience leading sales operations within the education and skills sector.

The candidate has demonstrated exceptional skills in team development and strategic stakeholder engagement, resulting in noteworthy achievements such as facilitating £3 million in apprenticeship sales within two consecutive financial years and generating £400,320 from bootcamp employability initiatives. Their ability to nurture relationships with local authorities, SMEs, and industry leaders has enhanced the company’s market presence and referral opportunities.

In their recent role, the candidate effectively managed a team, implemented strategic business plans, and identified new opportunities for growth, contributing over £80,000 in income and securing significant clients within the logistics and pensions sectors. Their strong focus on business development and client acquisition has cemented the company’s standing as a preferred provider in the education and skills market.

Enthusiastic about continuing to drive commercial success, this candidate is well-equipped to enhance organisational outcomes and foster a high-performance culture in a leadership role. Their expertise in strategic business development, account management, and workforce development positions them as a valuable asset for any organisation looking to expand its market impact and talent acquisition capabilities.

Profile

Dynamic and results-driven senior leader with extensive experience in sales leadership, workforce development, stakeholder engagement, and business growth. Proven ability to develop high-performing teams, build strategic partnerships, and drive revenue and talent initiatives. Adept at aligning sales, talent, and business strategies to achieve organisational success and economic impact.

Key Highlights

• Finalist for MiMA Salesperson of the Year 2024

• Led and developed teams of 20+ staff across sales, recruitment, and employability

• Strategic stakeholder engagement, working with local authorities, SMEs, and industry leaders

• Financial Year 23/24 Apprenticeship Sales Team: £3Million in Apps Starts with 318 learner starts

• Financial Year 24/25 Q1 & Q2. £3Million in App Sales and 229 learner starts

• October 23/ Oct 24 £400,320 Of income from bootcamp employability.

Personal Summary

A results-driven Head of Sales with over two years of experience leading the Sales Department at One of the UK’s largest training providers – Education and Skills. Proven track record of driving apprenticeship starts, building strong business relationships, and identifying new opportunities for growth. Skilled at leading and developing sales and recruitment teams, managing budgets, and working towards business targets. Experienced in formulating strategic business plans and working closely with stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes in the education and skills sector.

Key Skills and Expertise

• Sales Leadership & Revenue Growth – Led teams to exceed targets in apprenticeships, employability, and business support

• Workforce Development & People Strategy – Designed and executed upskilling, training, and employee engagement programmes

• Stakeholder & Account Management – Built and nurtured partnerships with local authorities, businesses, and industry networks

• Strategic Business Development – Developed long-term commercial strategies that drove market expansion and talent acquisition

 Work Experience

Head of Sales, Employability & Recruitment

May 2023 – Present

Key Responsibilities:

• Led the Sales & Recruitment Team in generating Apprenticeship starts, ASF starts and Bootcamp milestones.

• Developed and implemented strategic business plans to align departmental goals with the broader business objectives.

• Designed and executed employer engagement strategies that increased in-work conversions, filled vacancies, and secured work placements, contributing to the business plan targets.

• Collaborated with internal stakeholders, including Sector Directors and Delivery Managers, to coordinate marketing strategies that attract candidates and engage employers effectively.

• Proactively identified new business opportunities and market developments, ensuring the company remained competitive and capitalised on growth areas.

• Managed team activity, ensuring cross-selling and up-selling across various services within the Education and Skills division.

• Managed, and developed a high-performing Sales Team, fostering a culture of quality, performance, and accountability.

Achievements:

• From October 2023 to October 2024, they led the management of bootcamp activity (Hospitality, Construction, Green Energy, Education) generating £400,320 in income through the employability and recruitment team. Before their team were assigned October 2022 to October 2023 income was £257,443 and this was with a team of 14, reduced to 5 under their management.

• Over £80,000 in income generated from Business Development with £80,000+ in pipeline for Sales team in 10 months.

• Established strong relationships with employers and local authorities, increasing referral opportunities and expanding the company’s market presence.

• Led key strategic initiatives that enhanced the company’s standing as a preferred provider in the education and skills market.

• Acquired one of the top ten logistic companies in the world as a client for ASF and Apprenticeship delivery.

• Acquired one of the UK’s largest pension providers as a client for apprenticeships.

Account Manager

October 2019 – May 2023

Supporting Wigan businesses, through the utilisation of specialist services and business support networks. Managing an account of 60+ small to medium-sized businesses.

• Led the relationship between the organisation and local authorities, ensuring business support was aligned with economic development priorities

• Developed partnerships with local businesses, stakeholders, and industry leaders, securing long-term engagement and economic growth initiatives

• Managed a portfolio of 60+ SMEs, supporting them with workforce planning, leadership development, and business strategy

• Delivered diagnostic assessments and action plans for directors and senior leaders, identifying growth opportunities and workforce needs

• Supported business transformation initiatives, including investment planning, leadership coaching, and recruitment strategies

• Worked in collaboration with specialist services and external partners to deliver high-impact business support solutions

• Provided market intelligence and business performance data to stakeholders, contributing to the development of local economic strategies

• Represented the at networking events, economic forums, and local authority meetings to increase business engagement

• Oversaw client referrals and CRM updates, ensuring seamless tracking of business interventions and impact measurement

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