Managing Director
Sector : Apprenticeships (Experience in the apprenticeship market is essential)
Salary : £120,000 – £130,000 + executive package
Location : Home-based (UK)
Travel : Quarterly business reviews in London, plus ad hoc stakeholder meetings
The Opportunity
We are working with a well‑established, privately owned UK skills and training organisation to appoint a Managing Director with full P&L ownership.
The business delivers a portfolio of government‑funded training programmes, operates nationally, and employs c.160 people. It has strong foundations, a “Good” quality rating, but is now entering a critical phase of change, stabilisation and performance improvement.
This role offers genuine autonomy, clear accountability, and the mandate to reset and reposition the organisation for sustainable growth.
Organisation profile :
* c.160 employees
* National delivery
* Multi‑programme provision (Apprenticeships, Bootcamps, ASF)
* Revenue c£6.5m
* Established leadership team (6 direct reports into the MD, with c150 indirect)
* Quality rated “Good”
Role Purpose
This is a hands‑on, P&L‑owning Managing Director role, responsible for leading the next phase of the organisation’s development.
We need an MD who can :
* Reset the operating model
* Improve performance and outcomes
* Strengthen delivery quality
* Build momentum and culture
* Balance commercial ambition with regulatory and quality excellence
You will have full accountability and authority to drive change
Scope & Accountability
The Managing Director will have end‑to‑end responsibility for :
* Delivery & Operations
* Performance, outcomes and success rates
* Quality, compliance and regulatory assurance
* Product, curriculum and programme development
* Commercial strategy, sales and marketing
* Financial performance and full P&L ownership
Key Challenges & Priorities
* Improve learner outcomes and achievement rates
* Lead a people and performance reset across the organisation
* Strengthen leadership capability, accountability and culture
* Ensure robust funding compliance and regulatory assurance
* Define and deliver a clear growth and commercial strategy
* Operate effectively within a group‑owned structure while retaining entrepreneurial leadership
Ideal Candidate Profile
Essential experience :
* Proven Managing Director / Business Unit Director experience with full P&L ownership
* Strong background in UK education, skills or training
* Experience across government‑funded provision (e.g. apprenticeships, adult skills, bootcamps or similar)
* Demonstrable success in turnaround, stabilisation or performance improvement
* Deep understanding of quality frameworks, funding compliance and inspection
* Experience leading multi‑disciplinary leadership teams
* Strong commercial acumen with a track record of balancing quality and profitability
Leadership style :
* Hands‑on, decisive and resilient
* Credible with delivery teams and senior stakeholders
* Comfortable leading change in stretched environments
* Able to operate with high autonomy and accountability
Why Apply?
* True end‑to‑end MD remit
* Clear mandate for change and improvement
* Opportunity to reshape and future‑proof a national provider
* High‑impact role with visibility at group level
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