Skills Coach

The Growth Company's Business Growth Hub team are looking for six Skills Coaches who will deliver skills assessments and broker relationships with training providers. They will service a portfolio of employees / volunteers working in businesses located in Greater Manchester. The roles will focus on essential skills and wider vocational training with the purpose of positively driving improvements in productivity, job satisfaction and skill levels., Working closely with colleagues to understand the growth aspirations and skills requirements of business clients being supported.
Establishing strong working relationship with business clients in order to facilitate skills assessments across their workforce / employees.
Arranging and conducting work-based skills assessment with individual / employees identifying areas for development across essential and vocational skill areas developing clear and aligned action plans.
Supporting individuals / employees to broker relationships with providers who can deliver identified development opportunities, liaising with employer where appropriate to approve work-based training. Monitor the delivery of these services to support the client's strategy, ensure apprenticeship opportunities are taken up, and impact is captured.
Use understanding of the portfolio of apprenticeships and wider training opportunities available to ensure that employers/employees are fully aware and can make informed decisions for employees.
Work with a range of FE/HE/Apprenticeship/Training providers to design and run programmes to support business leaders to grow their businesses through the attraction, retention and development of their staff.
Ensure client enquiries and partner referrals are correctly recorded on GC's CRM and associated service-specific data capturing systems, updating progress against agreed actions as plans progress. Ensure all administration is completed in timely manner against deadlines and is checked for accuracy.
Work proactively in collaboration with the Marketing Team to carry out sales activity including cold calling, tele sales and structured e-marketing and digital campaigns to employees.
Attend networking events (which at times will involve working outside of standard business hours).
Continually update professional knowledge on GM Apprenticeship / Skills and Employment Strategies and central government policy, strategy and funding changes, including the Apprenticeship Levy. Develop relationships with a diverse range of Apprenticeship providers and other recruitment and training providers in GM, both commercial and publicly funded.

At least degree level business education, or degree level qualification with a management body or significant training, IAG, business support or employer engagement experience.
Producing proposals which are attractive and meet business / individual need.
Experience in working in a target/results-driven environment.
Proven negotiation/presentation and account management skills with businesses of all sizes.
In-depth understanding of the skills arena including funded/non funded provision, the Apprenticeship Levy and national and local priorities / policy / funding in relation to Apprenticeships and wider training and development.
Well-developed digital skills, including an understanding of computerised management information systems, spreadsheets, diary management, e-mail and CRM databases.
About you:

Sound knowledge of the work-based learning routes including wider training opportunities, apprenticeship frameworks, standards and their processes.
Knowledge of business support services across Greater Manchester.
Proven critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Highly organised, able to prioritse own work and activities to effectively meet client needs, operational and contractual requirements.
Ability to identify opportunities and to be innovative.
Ability to understand, demonstrate and apply GC values: Make a positive difference, stronger together, empower people, do the right thing, and build on success.

GM Business Growth Hub is a community of specialists with a passion to help businesses across Greater Manchester to realise their ambitions. Since 2011, the Hub has supported more than 15,000 businesses including start-ups, scale-ups and established businesses, providing finance guidance, creating international links, and paving the way for innovation and people development across the region. We work with the best of public and private partners, offering expert one-to-one and peer-to-peer business support, events, specialist programmes, funding and much more.