Business Development Lead (Internal job title: Employer Engagement Partner - Apprenticeships)
Salary: £35,000
Location: Hybrid - applicants should be within commuting distance of Manchester
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 Early Years apprenticeship offer and we are looking for an ambitious Employer Engagement Partner to help build relationships with nurseries, childcare providers, early years settings and wider education partners. This is an Employer Engagement and Sales role focused on creating high-quality apprenticeship opportunities within the Early Years sector.
This is an exciting opportunity to join at an early stage as we expand our Early Years apprenticeship provision nationally. The role will focus on developing employer relationships across the childcare and early education sector, including:
Nurseries and private, voluntary and independent childcare providers
Early Years employers, schools with nursery provision and wider childcare networks
Additional Early Years and education-related pathways may be developed as the service grows.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building trusted relationships with Early Years employers, opening new opportunities and helping providers use apprenticeships to attract, develop and retain skilled childcare professionals.
This is primarily a new business and growth role focused on generating Early Years apprenticeship starts and building a national employer pipeline across the childcare sector.
The Role
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You will take ownership of developing new relationships with Early Years employers, identifying workforce development opportunities and converting interest into apprenticeship starts.
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Working alongside recruitment, delivery and apprenticeship colleagues, you will help Early Years employers understand staffing, skills and development needs and match apprenticeship solutions that support both setting performance and learner success.
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You will retain ownership of employer relationships beyond initial onboarding to support repeat opportunities, future cohorts and longer-term Early Years apprenticeship growth.
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This is a national role. Most engagement activity is expected to take place remotely.
Key Responsibilities
Employer Growth & Business Development
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Identify, engage and develop new Early Years employer relationships nationally
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Generate Early Years apprenticeship opportunities and convert employer interest into apprenticeship starts
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Build and maintain an active pipeline of nurseries, childcare providers and Early Years employer networks
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Carry out consultative workforce discussions and training needs analysis with Early Years employers
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Develop repeat opportunities within Early Years employer accounts, including future cohorts and progression routes
Relationship Management
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Become a trusted advisor to Early Years employers exploring apprenticeship solutions
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Build referral routes and partnership opportunities through childcare networks, local authority contacts, sector groups and employer communities
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Provide a positive experience from first enquiry through to onboarding
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Retain ownership of employer relationships to support continued growth activity
Performance & Delivery
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Work towards agreed targets focused on apprenticeship starts, employer engagement activity and pipeline growth
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Maintain accurate CRM records and forecasting information
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Track opportunities, progression and conversion activity
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Share Early Years employer insight to support service development, curriculum relevance and future pathway planning
Collaboration
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Work closely with Candidate Engagement colleagues to align Early Years vacancies, candidate supply and employer demand
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Work collaboratively with apprenticeship delivery teams to ensure smooth onboarding and successful starts for Early Years learners and employers
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Support cohort planning and growth discussions
What Success Looks Like in Year One
In your first year you will:
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Build a strong employer network within the Early Years and childcare sector
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Create sustainable Early Years apprenticeship opportunities with employers who have clear workforce needs
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Develop repeat Early Years employer relationships and future cohort opportunities
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Achieve personal Early Years apprenticeship growth targets and contribute toward team objectives
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Support the launch and growth of future Early Years and education-related apprenticeship pathways
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Help shape employer engagement processes as the service expands
About You
We are interested in people who enjoy creating opportunities, building partnerships and understanding the workforce challenges faced by Early Years employers.
You may currently work within:
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Early Years employer engagement or partnership development
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Apprenticeship business development, particularly within childcare, education or funded learning
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Recruitment within Early Years, childcare, education or social care
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Workforce development for childcare, education or people-focused sectors
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Training sales or employer partnerships within Early Years, education or funded learning
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Education, childcare or employability services
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Employer partnerships
Skills you will require:
Essential
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Experience generating new business opportunities, employer relationships or recruitment activity
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Proven ability to work towards targets and convert employer opportunities into starts, placements or recruitment outcomes
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Good commercial awareness and an understanding of the pressures facing Early Years employers
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Ability to work independently in a developing environment and build credibility with sector employers
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Strong communication and relationship-building skills
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Confidence managing pipelines and CRM systems
Desirable
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Experience of Early Years apprenticeships or childcare workforce development
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Experience within Early Years, childcare, education or workforce development sectors
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Understanding of Early Years employer training needs, staffing challenges and workforce planning
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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’ll work alongside teams across apprenticeship delivery, recruitment and learning while contributing directly to the future direction of the apprenticeship service.
Our guiding principles are simple:
Be agile
Be better
Be ambitious
Be impactful
How to Apply
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 6 July 2026 at 5pm
Interview week commencing: 13 July 2026
Please note vacancies may close earlier depending on application volumes.
