Skills and Support Researcher
The Growth Company is excited to offer an excellent opportunity for a Skills and Support Researcher. In this role, you'll play a crucial part in supporting Greater Manchester's skills and business landscape by conducting research, maintaining key databases, and liaising with training providers and business support organisations. You'll ensure that employers and partners across the region have access to accurate, up-to-date information on skills provision, funding opportunities, and support services.
This role sits at the heart of our efforts to connect employers with meaningful skills support by managing the onboarding of provision and working with providers to upload their services onto digital platforms, enabling business growth and workforce development through informed, evidence-based engagement.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Maintain a strong understanding of the Greater Manchester labour market and act as a central point of expertise on skills and business support provision.
2. Lead the accurate input, ongoing management, and quality assurance of data on the GM Skills Map and other digital platforms.
3. Conduct research to identify gaps in current training and skills provision, sourcing new providers to enhance the regional offer.
4. Collaborate with local, regional, and national support providers to ensure business support listings are complete, accurate, and appropriately categorised.
5. Regularly audit digital platforms to ensure the information remains current, relevant, and easy to access for users.
6. Produce and share monthly reports on new and updated provision, offering internal insights to help shape wider engagement strategies.
7. Engage directly with providers to discuss their training portfolios and skills strategies, identifying opportunities for improvement and alignment with employer needs.
8. Monitor programme performance and delivery to ensure it meets local business needs, working proactively with providers to refine and improve outcomes.
About You:
9. A proactive self-starter with excellent organisational and project management skills.
10. A confident communicator, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence and build strong stakeholder relationships.
11. Detail-oriented with a knack for analysing data and producing clear, insightful reports.
12. Comfortable working independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
13. Ability to assimilate new information quickly and conduct basic data and performance management.
Skills and Experience:
14. Comfortable using a range of digital tools and platforms, with strong IT skills to manage databases, analyse information, and support digital engagement.
15. Experience working across business and provider environments, especially in training, skills, or guidance services.
16. Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate records and produce regular performance reports.
17. Strong understanding of FE/HE and provider structures and practices.
18. Familiarity with the Greater Manchester economic landscape and local/national skills policy.
19. Ability to understand and address barriers to upskilling and workforce development.
At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard. All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.
Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.
We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.
If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process. Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.