Job Summary
NIS Group is a specialist training and employability provider supporting individuals to gain the skills, qualifications and confidence needed to progress into sustainable employment. NIS delivers industry-focused training across construction, rail and infrastructure, working with local partners to ensure programmes are accessible to the people and communities they are designed to support.
NIS is looking for a South Yorkshire-based Learner Engagement Coordinator who will take a leading role in generating learner referrals, recruiting suitable participants and building strong, sustainable relationships with organisations that can connect local people to NIS programmes. The postholder will develop and manage referral pipelines through Jobcentre Plus, local authorities, colleges, housing providers, community organisations, charities, support services and other relevant partners.
The primary focus of the role is learner recruitment: ensuring NIS has a strong and consistent pipeline of eligible, engaged learners for planned delivery. The successful candidate will understand the South Yorkshire referral landscape, be confident developing new referral routes, and be proactive in converting interest and referrals into course starts while providing a positive learner experience.
Working closely with the Contracts, Delivery, Compliance and Employability teams, the postholder will ensure recruitment activity is aligned to programme requirements, eligibility criteria, delivery dates and contractual targets. The role will support learners from initial enquiry and information, advice and guidance through to enrolment and course commencement, maintaining engagement and reducing avoidable drop-off.
Key Responsibilities
Learner Referrals and Recruitment
- Develop and maintain a strong network of learner referral partners including Jobcentre Plus, local authorities, colleges, housing associations, community organisations, charities, support agencies and other organisations working with unemployed or economically inactive residents.
- Proactively generate learner referrals through regular partner contact, outreach activity, information sessions, community events, careers events and targeted recruitment campaigns.
- Promote NIS training programmes clearly and accurately, including course content, eligibility requirements, progression opportunities, start dates and learner expectations.
- Build positive relationships with prospective learners, providing clear information, advice and guidance and supporting individuals to make informed decisions about suitable training.
- Manage learner enquiries and referrals from initial contact through pre-enrolment, eligibility checks and confirmed course start, working closely with internal compliance and administration teams.
- Maintain a consistent and sufficient pipeline of eligible learners to meet planned cohort numbers, programme requirements and contractual recruitment targets.
- Track referrals through each stage of the recruitment journey, proactively following up prospective learners and partners to maximise conversion to starts and minimise non-attendance.
Learner Engagement and Pre-Course Support
- Provide responsive pre-course support to help learners understand programme expectations, attendance requirements, progression routes and the commitment required.
- Identify potential barriers that may prevent a learner starting or sustaining participation and, where appropriate, signpost or coordinate support with relevant internal teams and external agencies.
- Maintain regular communication with confirmed learners ahead of course commencement, including reminders and joining information, to support strong attendance on day one.
- Support information, advice and guidance activities and ensure learners are referred to programmes that are appropriate to their goals, circumstances and eligibility.
- Work with delivery teams to monitor early attendance and engagement, following up where recruitment-related issues or learner contact may help prevent early withdrawal.
- Support onward referral or alternative programme options where an individual is not eligible or the original programme is not appropriate.
Referral Partner and Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop effective working relationships with referral agencies, Jobcentre Plus teams, local authorities, colleges, community groups, housing providers and other strategic partners across South Yorkshire.
- Act as a key point of contact for referral partners, maintaining regular communication and ensuring partners have up-to-date information on NIS programmes, eligibility and upcoming course dates.
- Identify and develop new referral routes and partnerships that can increase the volume, suitability and diversity of learner referrals.
- Coordinate recruitment activity with internal teams so that referral partners receive accurate information and learner pipelines reflect live delivery plans and contractual priorities.
- Represent NIS at relevant stakeholder meetings, community forums, recruitment events, careers events and local partnership groups.
Travel across the South Yorkshire region to engage referral partners, attend recruitment and community events, support learner recruitment activity and visit other NIS sites as required.
- Build awareness of NIS provision across the region and communicate learner success and progression opportunities to strengthen referral relationships.
Data, Compliance and Performance
- Maintain accurate and timely records of learner enquiries, referrals, recruitment activity, conversion, starts and stakeholder engagement.
- Monitor referral volumes, conversion rates, confirmed starts, attendance and recruitment performance against agreed cohort and contractual targets.
- Provide regular pipeline reports and updates, highlighting recruitment performance, upcoming cohort numbers, risks, gaps and actions required.
- Ensure learner recruitment and engagement activity complies with funding eligibility requirements, safeguarding, Prevent, GDPR, equality and diversity, and relevant NIS policies and procedures.
- Work closely with Compliance and Contracts colleagues to ensure recruitment information and evidence are complete, accurate and collected at the appropriate stage.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Experience of learner recruitment, referrals, outreach or engagement within training, education, employability, welfare-to-work or a related environment.
- Experience building productive relationships with Jobcentre Plus, local authorities, community organisations, colleges, support agencies or other learner referral partners.
- Experience managing learner or customer pipelines and converting enquiries or referrals into confirmed starts, appointments or participation.
- Experience engaging individuals who may face barriers to training or employment and supporting them through an initial recruitment or onboarding journey.
- Proven ability to work to learner recruitment, referral, conversion or programme start targets.
Essential Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of South Yorkshire communities and the local learner referral landscape.
- Understanding of the barriers that can affect participation in training and employment and the support routes available locally.
- Understanding of learner recruitment, eligibility, information, advice and guidance, engagement and progression within funded skills or employability provision.
- Knowledge of safeguarding, Prevent, equality, diversity, inclusion and data protection principles.
The successful candidate must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle, due to the field-based nature of the role and regular travel requirements.
Appointment will be subject to appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks in line with NIS safer recruitment requirements.
Essential Skills
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, particularly with referral partners.
- Strong learner recruitment, outreach, networking and pipeline-development skills.
- Ability to engage, motivate and build trust with prospective learners from diverse backgrounds.
- Excellent communication, presentation and influencing skills.
- Ability to work independently, proactively and flexibly across community and partner settings.
- Strong organisation, follow-up and pipeline management skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to interpret programme requirements and translate them into focused recruitment activity that delivers suitable, eligible learners.
Success Measures
The successful postholder will contribute to:
- Consistent learner referral pipelines that support planned cohort numbers and contractual delivery.
- Strong and sustainable relationships with referral partners across South Yorkshire.
- Improved conversion of learner enquiries and referrals into eligible, confirmed course starts.
- Strong learner attendance at induction and course commencement, with reduced recruitment-related drop-off.
- Accurate and timely recruitment pipeline information that supports operational planning.
- Increased participation from priority groups and communities targeted through NIS-funded provision.
- Achievement of contractual learner recruitment, start and engagement targets.
This role is ideal for a proactive, target-focused professional who enjoys building local networks and connecting people with training opportunities. The successful candidate will have strong knowledge of South Yorkshire, a proven ability to generate and convert learner referrals, and the organisation and persistence needed to maintain healthy recruitment pipelines across multiple programmes.
Pay: Up to £40,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
