Emerging Talent Specialist

About our opportunity

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, organised, and proactiveEmerging Talent Specialist to join our People team and play a key role in attracting, developing and retaining the next generation of talent across our business.

Working closely with our Emerging Talent Lead, you’ll support the delivery of a range of Early Careers programmes, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate, placement and fast-track junior management opportunities. You’ll help us build a sustainable talent pipeline, ensuring we have the right people with the right skills to meet both our current and future business needs.

This is a varied, hands-on role that combines programme coordination, recruitment, learning and development, and relationship management. You’ll work with colleagues at all levels of the business, as well as external training providers, schools, colleges, and other partners, to create meaningful opportunities and positive experiences for emerging talent.

We’re looking for someone who can bring structure, attention to detail and a collaborative approach to the role, while confidently managing multiple priorities and building strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

The role will involve travel across the UK, so flexibility and a willingness to travel are essential.

What you will be doing

• Delivering Early Careers programmes: Support the ongoing delivery and continuous improvement of our apprenticeship, graduate, placement and work experience programmes, ensuring they meet business needs and provide a positive experience for participants.
• Managing apprenticeship activity: Support the administration and coordination of apprenticeship programmes, including maintaining compliance with funding and legislative requirements, managing provider relationships and overseeing Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) activity.
• Attracting emerging talent: Work alongside our internal Resourcing team and external partners to support Early Careers recruitment, raise brand awareness, attract applicants and coordinate selection processes, including planning and facilitating assessment centres.
• Building future talent pipelines: Work with the Emerging Talent Lead and wider business to identify future skills requirements and develop programmes that support talent and succession planning.
• Developing relationships: Build effective working relationships with colleagues across the business, including senior leaders, line managers and the wider People team, as well as external training providers, schools and colleges.
• Supporting learning and development: Contribute to the design and delivery of structured inductions, training sessions and development opportunities that help emerging talent build the skills and confidence to succeed.
• Providing ongoing support: Act as a key point of contact for emerging talent colleagues, providing pastoral support, guidance and mentoring to encourage engagement, retention and progression.
• Coordinating outreach initiatives: Support our school and college engagement activities, helping to raise awareness of career opportunities and strengthen our presence within local communities.
• Managing projects and priorities: Coordinate multiple activities and projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met, processes are followed and all aspects of programme delivery are managed with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Supporting progression and retention: Work closely with line managers and the wider business to identify development opportunities and support emerging talent as they progress into permanent roles.
• Contributing to the People strategy: Work collaboratively with the Emerging Talent Lead to deliver the Emerging Talent strategy, identifying opportunities to improve our programmes and strengthen our long-term talent pipeline.

About you

You’re an organised, engaging and relationship-focused individual who enjoys working with people and is motivated by helping others develop and succeed. You’ll be comfortable balancing the detail of programme administration with the bigger picture of building a strong emerging talent pipeline.

You’ll also bring:

• Early Careers experience: At least two years’ experience in an Early Careers, Emerging Talent or Apprenticeships role, with a good understanding of apprenticeship programmes, graduate schemes and placement processes. A strong working knowledge of the apprenticeship landscape, including funding and compliance requirements, would be particularly beneficial.
• Stakeholder management: Proven experience of building and maintaining effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including senior leaders. You’ll be confident engaging with senior stakeholders, influencing where appropriate and adapting your approach to different audiences.
• Communication and interpersonal skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the confidence to facilitate meetings, deliver presentations and engage with groups of varying sizes. You’ll be able to adapt your communication style to suit different individuals and situations, demonstrating professionalism and sound business etiquette at all times.
• Organisation and attention to detail: Strong organisational skills and a meticulous approach to your work. You’ll be comfortable managing competing priorities, maintaining accurate records and ensuring that important details and deadlines aren’t missed.
• Project management: Experience of coordinating projects or programmes from planning through to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple activities, monitor progress and keep stakeholders informed. Formal project management experience or qualifications would be advantageous.
• Recruitment experience: Experience supporting recruitment activities, from attraction and candidate engagement through to assessment and selection, would be beneficial but isn't essential.
• Learning and development: Experience in a Learning and Development environment, particularly in supporting the design, coordination or delivery of training and development programmes, would be a valuable addition.
• Relationship building and support: The ability to build trust, provide guidance and support individuals at different stages of their development, while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Adaptability and flexibility: A proactive and flexible approach, with the ability to respond positively to changing business priorities. A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly across the UK are essential.

Above all, you’ll be someone who takes pride in delivering well-organised programmes, building strong relationships, and creating positive experiences for emerging talent. You’ll enjoy working in a varied role where no two days are quite the same and where your contribution helps shape the future skills and capabilities of our business.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities or skills, and reasonable changes to the role may be made in line with business requirements