Business and Skills Support Coodinator (Post 2171) (provisional grade 7)

Service Area

Economic and Community Development

Manager/Team Leader

Economic Growth Manager

Direct reports N/A

Total Managed N/A

Purpose of the Role To help businesses maintain a skilled workforce and match future skills needs with supply amongst local school-leavers, by:  researching the emerging skills needs of the area  developing and delivering initiatives that will help bridge the skills gap  engaging with local businesses, schools and other skills providers to develop mutually supportive initiatives, systems and networks  working with relevant external agencies (e.g. the Department of Work and Pensions, the Careers and Enterprise Company, Norfolk County Council, Apprenticeships Norfolk Network and New Anglia LEP), encouraging engagement and delivery of relevant initiatives in North Norfolk  encouraging the take-up amongst schools and colleges of best practice in careers advice, business liaison, work experience etc.

Principle Activities / Objectives

1) To research the needs and opportunities for local skills development and formulate new approaches to addressing them, working closely with local business networks and taking referrals from the Business Development Officer, New Anglia Growth Hub and others, as appropriate.

2) Develop and maintain a close working relationship with the District’s education providers, businesses and delivery partner organisations such as the Local Enterprise Partnership, DWP, Careers and Enterprise Company and County Council.

3) Engage with partner organisations in the design, delivery and local implementation of new initiatives.

4) Provide a lead role in developing and promoting best practice amongst relevant education providers in the support given to young people with careers advice, work experience, business engagement and STEM awareness – ensuring local skills needs are highlighted.

5) Lead on the development and delivery of initiatives that will improve outcomes of programmes at a District level of schemes such as those operated by the Careers and Enterprise Company and / or equivalent organisations.

6) Facilitate lasting and effective links between businesses and education providers in the District (and outside if necessary) to create opportunities for direct routes into work/ careers (such as but not limited to work experience), development of high growth skills (particularly those in the STEM sectors) and apprenticeships for the young people of North Norfolk.

7) Act as the lead officer in interpreting national Government policies in relation to skills and apprenticeship programmes and ensure that businesses are aware of and maximise the opportunities from the roll out of any reforms. To include:

a. Developing and maintaining an appropriate method of disseminating information in relation to apprenticeships, careers guidance, work experience etc. to businesses and provide support to organisations wishing to act upon the information.

b. Take a lead on advising businesses of the opportunities for the recruitment and training of apprentices, ensuring that the apprenticeship levy is used most effectively.

8) Identify and work with other partners who will deliver training initiatives for young people to improve their skills in interview techniques, CV building, customer service skills and other skills that help make them ‘work ready’.

9) To represent the Council, and the needs of local businesses within the Apprenticeships Norfolk Network, and other similar partnerships / external bodies where this ‘adds value’ with the aim of co-designing and delivering strategic initiatives to ensure a greater take up of apprenticeships in the District.

10) Work with local businesses to help fill job opportunities, particularly those within the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and care sectors.

11) Represent the Council at relevant internal and external education, STEM and apprenticeship network meetings, partnerships and other fora, as appropriate.

12) Develop and maintain an evaluation framework so the Council can record, measure and report on the impact and outcome of interventions with enterprises and education providers.

13) To take responsibility for your own Health and Safety at work and that of others who may be affected by your actions.

14) Any other work required and as directed within the confines of the existing grading and post. Job Title: Business and Skills Support Coordinator (Post 2171) Essential Desirable How Identified Experience/ Experience and knowledge of Knowledge economic development, skills  App Form*/Int and enterprise initiatives Demonstrates knowledge and experience of the national and  App Form*/Int local growth policy context and its influences Experience of developing and building partnerships with a  App Form*/Int range of private and public sector stakeholders Demonstrates the ability to translate complex information  App Form*/Int into practical programmes of support. A good understanding of the education and apprenticeship  App Form*/Int systems Able to understand, interpret and present policy and  App Form*/Int regulatory information to multiple partners/ audiences Knowledge of regulatory and  App Form*/Int policy processes and initiatives Experience of working in Local  App Form*/Int Government

Qualifications Qualified to degree level or equivalent in an appropriate  App Form subject. PRINCE2 qualified (or  App equivalent) Form*/Interview Qualified to drive  App Form

Training Microsoft office (Including MS word, excel, access and App Form  PowerPoint) Essential Desirable How Identified Skills Excellent written and verbal App communication skills  Form*/Interv iew Project management skills App  Form*/Interv iew To be able to implement and App maintain effective evaluation Form*/Interv and reporting mechanisms  iew

Able to develop productive App working relationships at all Form*/Interv  levels iew Good analytical skills App  Form*/Interv iew

Can understand, interpret and App convey complex regulation and  Form*/Interv policy information iew Tact and diplomacy in dealing with the Public and App  Form*/Interv Stakeholders and a high degree iew of political acumen Good numeracy skills App  Form*/Interv iew Good IT skills  App Form Awareness of Political situations  in which problems arise.

Aptitude and Positive and proactive attitude  Interview Disposition Able to work with other App disciplines  Form*/Interv iew Able to work unsupervised. App  Form*/Interv iew Self-motivated  Interview Demonstrates good listening and negotiating skills  Interview

Personal Able to work outside normal  Application Circumstances office hours Form*

*In order to assess this from the application form we require you to provide an example Has the use of personal Application  transport Form*

*In order to assess this from the application form we require you to provide an example