Senior Apprenticeship Adviser

This role is all about creating and running an amazing apprenticeship program here at the council with a focus on building career pathways that not only help us to fulfil our vacancies, but also to offer opportunities for those starting out in their career.

As the face of apprenticeships, you'll build strong relationships with hiring managers, training providers and candidates to make sure early careers can grow and succeed at Staffordshire County Council. It's your chance to build a new program that supports fresh talent and importantly gives extra support and opportunity to those who need it most such as our care leavers and those starting a career journey.

You'll be part of our wider People Services team. In People Services we lead the way in making Staffordshire a great place to work by handling everything from helping staff grow their skills, creating a safe and positive workplace, and supporting employees. 

Our People Strategy focuses on four key pillars:

• Keeping and attracting talented people;
• Promoting a positive working environment;
• Developing skills for now and the future, and 
• Developing leaders for now and the future.  

It's all about shaping the right culture, support and skills to make a real difference for Staffordshire’s communities.

In this role you'll have overall responsibility for the management and delivery of our Apprenticeship program with support from the Talent and Resourcing Manager and the wider team plus, support from our Learning and Development/Organisational Development team. 

You're main responsibilities will include:

• Lead and manage the Council's apprenticeship program to meet strategic goals.

• Create and improve apprenticeship pathways, working with training providers and industry experts.

• Keep everything on track with apprenticeship rules and standards.

• Make the most of the national financial levy within deadlines.

• Guide, coach and support a team of two, helping them learn and grow.

• Work with hiring managers to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process so we can find and choose great candidates, promoting fairness and diversity.

• Build connections with schools, career advisors, and recruitment agencies to find talent and opportunities.

• Support apprentices with training and advice to help them succeed.

• Work with leaders and partners to make sure the apprenticeship program runs smoothly.

• Check the quality of programs, measure success, and report results.

• Use data and feedback to improve the program.

• Share updates with senior managers, including key achievements and areas to improve.

• Represent the Council at events and industry meet-ups.

• Deputise for the Talent and Resourcing Manager when needed.

To be successful in this role you'll need to be:

• Educated to degree level or have equivalent experience and be working at the Associate CIPD level (you do not need to be CIPD qualified) 
• Have substantial experience in managing and adapting apprenticeship or training programs.
• Have a detailed understanding of and applying UK apprenticeship standards and regulations.
• Be able to take our apprenticeship strategy and translate this into actions to achieve our overall objectives
• Good communication skills to effectively work with training providers, managers and candidates 
• Flexible to travel locally and regionally to meet training providers/partners and to attend events

“We’re happy to talk flexible working” 

For more information please review the job description and person specification attached to this advert or to ask any questions please contact Laura Chetta, Talent and Resourcing Manager at laura.chetta@staffordshire.gov.uk  

Stages for this recruitment: Application with supporting statement | Automated video interview (if high volume of applications received) | Interview to include a 10 minute presentation during week beginning 2 June 2025.

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too. 

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. 

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.