Apprenticeship Partnerships Manager

Welcome to Ada!

We are the National College for Digital Skills and our mission is to educate and empower the next generation of diverse digital talent. We are the first new Further Education College in England since 1993 and the only one that is solely focused on widening the tech talent pool in the UK.

We work with a fantastic roster of partners such as Deloitte, Bank of America, PwC and Booking.com and offer an innovative, supportive apprenticeship experience for our 350+ learners that prepares them to be digital pioneers achieving both academic success and, more importantly, setting them up for successful careers in tech.

We are passionate about harnessing tech as a tool for social mobility and improving diversity of opportunity and therefore, with the support of our partners, place a major focus on diversity recruitment. Currently, over 50% of our students come from lower socio-economic backgrounds, more than 51% identify as belonging to minoritised ethnic groups, and over 38% of our learners are young women or individuals from minority gender groups.

Our apprenticeship outcomes massively outperform national averages and this is testament to the quality of teaching and learning provided and the joint support offered throughout the apprenticeship journey. We’re passionate about building a supportive, values driven environment for both our students and staff and this is where you come in!

What’s your mission?

The focus of this role is to attract and secure new employer partners to recruit and train diverse tech apprentices with Ada. You will be at the forefront of expanding Ada’s reach, leveraging events, industry networks, membership associations and social media to build a robust pipeline of potential partners. Your role is pivotal in positioning Ada as the go-to provider for higher level digital degree apprenticeship training and in fostering relationships that drive long-term success.

Key responsibilities of this role include:

• Develop New Employer Partnerships: Proactively identify and secure new employer partners by leveraging events, professional networks, membership associations and targeted outreach.
• Expand Networks and Presence: Represent Ada at industry events and professional forums, actively engaging with key stakeholders to build relationships and generate opportunities.
• Support T-Level Placements: Play a key role in helping the college identify employers to host T-Level student placements, ensuring these opportunities align with Ada’s mission and the needs of our learners.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with the existing Apprenticeship Partnerships team and internal functions—such as marketing, academic and operational teams—to align efforts, refine messaging, and enhance overall partner engagement.
• Showcase Ada’s Expertise: Clearly communicate Ada’s unique offering, tailoring messaging to meet the specific needs and goals of potential partners.
• Become a Sector Expert: Develop in-depth knowledge of Ada’s offerings, the apprenticeship landscape, and industry trends to deliver tailored pitches and position Ada as the partner of choice for employers.
• Drive Lead Conversion: Use both warm and cold leads, alongside innovative strategies, to build and convert a strong pipeline of prospective employer partners.
• Leverage Digital Channels: Actively engage on platforms like LinkedIn to build visibility, share Ada’s achievements and connect with decision-makers.
• Monitor Progress and Outcomes: Use Ada’s CRM system to manage the partner pipeline, track progress and report on key performance metrics to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.

We’d really like to hear from you, if you are…

• Mission-Aligned: Excited by Ada’s mission and values.
• Driven by Growth: Energised to elevate Ada’s business development efforts and expand its portfolio of employer partners to new levels.
• A Networking Powerhouse: Skilled at building relationships and confident in engaging with stakeholders at events, through associations and via social media.
• Strategically Minded: Able to assess industry trends and craft outreach strategies that align with Ada’s mission and employer needs.
• Results-Driven: Experienced in working toward targets and using creative approaches to achieve measurable outcomes.
• Proactive and Self-Starting: A go-getter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can take initiative to source new opportunities.
• An Exceptional Communicator: Able to clearly and persuasively convey Ada’s value proposition, with the ability to influence and build trust.
• Organised and Detail-Oriented: Highly adept at managing pipelines, tracking relationships, and ensuring consistent follow-through with prospective partners.
• Tech-Savvy: Confident using CRM tools, G-Suite etc. to manage workflows and report progress.

We encourage consideration of flexible ways of working, both formal and informal arrangements that allow for the best outcomes for our people and our employers. If this opportunity is of interest to you with some flexibility, please do discuss this with us.

Safeguarding

Ada, National College for Digital Skills is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and references will be sought from previous employers prior to commencing employment. Other related pre-employment checks appropriate to the post will also be carried out.

We care about equity, diversity and inclusion

Ada. National College for Digital Skills recognises that equality of opportunity and the recognition and promotion of diversity are integral to its strengths.

Applicants with disabilities

Ada is keen to increase the number of disabled people it employs. We, therefore, encourage applications from individuals with a disability who are able to carry out the duties of the post. If you have special needs in relation to your application please contact us.

Sponsorship

Sadly, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role so can only accept applications from candidates who have the legal right to work and remain in the United Kingdom.

How to apply for the role

Please submit your CV and answer the question: ‘What excites you most about becoming Ada’s new Apprenticeship Partnerships Manager?’ in your email.                    

The closing date is: Friday, 17 January, 2025 .

Next Steps

Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis based on receipt of applications and we reserve the right to remove the advert before the above closing date. Thank you for your interest in the role and good luck with your application!

Please note, previous applicants need not reapply.