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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