Apprenticeship Manager

Across the UK, businesses are facing real workforce challenges: skills shortages, ageing workforces, and increasing pressure to build capability in the right way. At the same time, thousands of young people are looking for a route into meaningful careers. At YTL, we believe apprenticeships have a critical role to play in both.  

We're focused on strengthening and improving how apprenticeships work across the Group; making sure they're high-quality, well-managed and genuinely valued as a route into the business. And we're looking for someone to lead that. Please note that this is a 12 month fixed term contract.

What you'll do

This isn't a traditional apprenticeship management role. This is about building a system that works at scale, across a complex organisation, genuinely changes how people think about talent and helps the business get the most out of apprenticeships.  

You'll:  

• lead end-to-end apprenticeship delivery across YTL UK — from attraction and recruitment through to completion and progression, ensuring strong outcomes and real business impact   
• turn strategy into reality, working with senior leaders to translate workforce needs into a clear, deliverable apprenticeship plan aligned to business priorities   
• champion apprenticeships as a new way to recruit, helping the business see them not as an alternative, but as a powerful solution to workforce shortages and future skills gaps   
• shape a high-quality apprentice experience, ensuring every learner is supported, engaged and set up to succeed   
• hold training providers and partners to account for quality, responsiveness and outcomes, building strong, effective partnerships   
• use data and insight to drive performance, improve outcomes and enable confident, scalable decision-making   
• sit at the heart of our Academy leadership team, connecting workforce strategy, operational delivery, and real-world impact.  

This isn't just about apprenticeships. It's about:  

• opening up opportunities for people who might not otherwise get them  
• building the skills we need for the future, in a way that's sustainable, inclusive and genuinely impactful  
• making apprenticeships a dependable route into the organisation   
• helping us respond to workforce pressures in a practical, sustainable way   
• creating opportunities for more people to access and succeed in meaningful careers   
• ensuring we deliver apprenticeships to a standard we can be proud of — for our people, our business and our regulators. 

You won't be starting from scratch, but you will be expected to make things better. 

There are three parts to the selection process:  

First, we'll ask you to deliver a 15-minute presentation on the challenges businesses face in making apprenticeships work well and delivering real impact.   

Then we'll move into the interview itself — expect a thoughtful conversation rather than standard set-piece questions.   

Finally, you'll have a chance to meet some of the team over coffee, so you can get a feel for who we are, how we work and what matters to us.  

Interviews will last approximately 2 hours, and will take place between 29th June and 3rd July.   

What you'll need

We're looking for someone who can balance big-picture thinking with operational grip and lead a small but dedicated team of experienced people who care deeply about getting this right.  

You'll bring:  

• experience leading apprenticeship delivery end-to-end, at scale  
• strong understanding of funding, compliance and quality requirements   
• the ability to work across boundaries — influencing senior leaders, building relationships, and bringing people with you as we develop  
• confidence using data to manage performance, risk and continuous improvement   
• a genuine belief in the power of apprenticeships to transform careers and organisations  
• most importantly, you'll be someone who sees the opportunity here — and wants to build something better. 

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%. 
• Career progression and professional development opportunities. 
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service. 
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year. 
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions). 
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs. 
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary. 
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions). 
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers. 
• One paid volunteering day each year. 
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements. 
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform. 
• Support from trained mental health first aiders. 
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us.   

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:  

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West 
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 350-acre former airfield into an award-winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community 
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors 
• YTL Arena – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space 
• plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses.  

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.  

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.  

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.