Job Title: Functional Skills & Learning Support Manager

Based: Hybrid – Must be within commutable distance of our Staffordshire head office

Reports To: Operations Director

Salary: £35,000-£40,000 DOE with company car

About the company

Busy Bees Education and Training is a national Ofsted Good training provider based in Burntwood and is an established provider of apprenticeships across predominantly the Early Years sector.

We are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of childcare professionals through driving quality apprenticeship schemes.

Our mission is to deliver excellence in training and support, ensuring our apprentices are well-equipped to provide exceptional childcare services.

About the role

As Functional Skills & Learning Support Manager, you will play a leading role providing high-quality support for learners with additional learning needs, whilst ensuring that all learners develop their English and Maths skills. You will lead the development of innovative delivery models for Functional Skills delivery and manage a specialist team to deliver strong learner outcomes and pass rates.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a high-performing national remote team to achieve business objectives.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements, overseeing payroll, pay alignment, and safer recruitment practices.
• Oversee recruitment activities to attract and retain top-tier talent in education and training.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive work environment, implementing fair policies and responding promptly to feedback.
• Promote employee well-being through engagement initiatives to enhance team performance and retention.
• Oversee training programs, working with external partners to meet professional development goals.
• Provide mentoring, coaching, and leadership development opportunities to empower team members.
• Drive the development and continuous improvement of functional skills within a blended learning framework.
• Ensure functional skills curriculum aligns with regulatory, compliance, and funding requirements.
• Oversee the learning support function, ensuring learners with SEND receive tailored support for equitable learning opportunities.
• Promote digital learning innovations to enhance functional skills teaching and assessment.
• Work with internal teams to provide pastoral, academic, and study support for learners.
• Design and implement interventions such as one-to-one tutoring and assistive technologies to support learner success.
• Oversee internal and external quality audits, ensuring full compliance with industry standards.
• Collaborate with external agencies to maximize learner resources and support.
• Develop and implement new curriculums to stay aligned with industry advancements.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with learners, employers, and stakeholders to ensure high-quality program delivery.
• Manage key external relationships, leading regulatory accreditations, inspections, and audits.
• Ensure functional skills programs meet employer expectations and learner needs.
• Monitor customer feedback, refining programs to enhance Net Promoter Scores and customer satisfaction.
• Use data-driven insights from learner feedback and performance metrics to improve strategic planning.
• Develop and implement innovative training models, leveraging new technologies and delivery methods.
• Continuously enhance the Functional Skills curriculum to maintain industry relevance and competitiveness.
• Monitor team performance, driving operational improvements and national best practices.
• Represent the organisation at industry events and conferences, strengthening the brand and expanding partnerships.
• Stay ahead of national trends in functional skills education, learner support strategies, and blended learning.

Key Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience leading national teams delivering strong Functional Skills outcomes.
• Prior specialist expertise in Additional Learning Support provision, particularly for learners with SEND or other barriers to learning.
• Ability to inspire, motivate, and direct diverse teams towards achieving operational excellence.
• Skilled in maximising operational and commercial performance outcomes in the short, medium, and long term.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Confident coaching, training, and mentoring team members. Sets stretching goals to drive improvements and performance.
• Expert level working knowledge of: UK further education, apprenticeships and training market, Curriculum best practices, apprenticeship Standards, and blended learning delivery models, SEND legislation, Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, Prevent Duty and current Safeguarding legislation, and Apprenticeship funding rules and funding body audits.
• Must be flexible in working hours, including ability to travel nationally and work early mornings and evenings if required.

Qualifications

• Relevant teaching qualification such as Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS), Multi-professional support of learning and assessment in practice or an equivalent. We will consider and value equivalent experience.
• Other Qualifications: TAQA, Level 2 English and Maths, Level 4 IQA award, Level 5 Management desired.