Internal Applicants Only*
Salary: £38,220 to £39,152 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Cumberland-Wide
Contract: Permanent
About This Opportunity
We are seeking a motivated and experienced Apprenticeship Officer to join our Workforce and Organisational Development service at Cumberland Council. This is a key role within the Early Careers and Apprenticeship Team, responsible for driving forward our early careers and apprenticeship agenda. You will play a central part in supporting workforce planning across the organisation, working in partnership with services, directorates and schools to develop high-quality apprenticeship pathways that meet both organisational priorities and the needs of our communities.
As an Apprenticeship Officer, you will play a key role in the development and delivery of the Council’s Early Careers Strategy, helping to create clear, inclusive pathways into employment. This includes supporting initiatives such as apprenticeships, supported internships, and wider employability programmes, ensuring a joined-up approach to talent attraction, development and progression. You will work closely with internal and external partners to strengthen the Council’s reputation as an employer of choice and to ensure opportunities are accessible to a diverse range of individuals, including those furthest from the labour market.
You will lead the end-to-end delivery of apprenticeship programmes, including recruitment, onboarding, development and progression. You will coach and support apprentices to successfully complete their programmes and transition into sustained employment or further learning, while also advising and supporting managers and mentors to create positive, high-quality learning environments. This role requires strong stakeholder engagement skills, working collaboratively with internal teams and a wide network of external partners.
A key element of the role is commissioning, procurement and contract management of apprenticeship provision. You will oversee the Apprenticeship Training and Assessment Framework, ensuring that training providers deliver high-quality programmes that meet performance and compliance standards. This includes monitoring provider performance, managing contracts, analysing outcomes, and driving continuous quality improvement across provision in line with organisational priorities and national requirements.
You will also contribute to strategic planning and deliver complex projects that support the Council’s workforce and skills ambitions, ensuring effective use of apprenticeship funding and resources. With responsibility for managing relationships with multiple stakeholders and overseeing significant investment in apprenticeship provision, this role offers an excellent opportunity to shape the future workforce and make a meaningful impact across Cumberland.
This role is available on a permanent basis.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.
We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.
Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.
Contact
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Laura Waraich by email at laura.waraich@cumbria.gov.uk
DBS Checks
This role requires a DBS check. The level of check for this role is:
Enhanced DBS Check - Children.
Guaranteed Interviews
We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicantsas long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.
Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and underThose who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).
If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.
Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.
If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailingResourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.
Application and Interview information
Easily apply by submitting your CV and answering a few short questions
Closing date: 02/06/2026Interview date:TBC
Please Read The Supporting Information
Post Specification
