Non-Executive Director – Employability & Skills

Non-Executive Director – Employability & Skills / Independent Training Provider (ITP)

Location: Birmingham

Salary: £350 – £400 per day

Contract: Part-time | Freelance | Board Position

Are you an experienced Non-Executive Director, Managing Director, Operations Director, Quality Director, or senior leader within the Employability & Skills, Apprenticeships, Adult Education, or Independent Training Provider (ITP) sector?

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Board of an ambitious and growing organisation, where your strategic expertise, sector knowledge, and leadership experience will help influence organisational direction, strengthen governance, and support sustainable growth across education, skills, and workforce development.

About the Organisation

Our client is an established and growing organisation operating within the Employability and Skills sector, delivering high-quality education, training, apprenticeship, and workforce development programmes that support learners, employers, and local communities.

Committed to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement, the organisation works closely with employers and stakeholders to deliver impactful skills solutions that improve learner outcomes and meet workforce demands. As they continue their growth journey, they are seeking an experienced Non-Executive Director to provide independent oversight, strategic guidance, and sector expertise at Board level.

The Role

As a Non-Executive Director, you will provide independent strategic oversight, constructive challenge, and governance support to the executive leadership team.

Drawing on your experience within the Independent Training Provider (ITP), Further Education, Employability, or Skills sector, you will contribute to strategic decision-making, organisational development, quality improvement, funding strategy, and long-term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice and independent challenge to the Board and Executive Leadership Team, supporting informed decision-making and organisational growth.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of the organisation's long-term strategy across Employability, Apprenticeships, Adult Skills, and Workforce Development.
• Provide expert insight into Independent Training Provider (ITP) operations, funding models, commercial opportunities, and sector developments.
• Support effective governance, organisational performance, compliance, and risk management while promoting best practice across the organisation.
• Advise on quality improvement strategies, learner outcomes, Ofsted readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Share knowledge of Apprenticeships, Adult Education Budget (AEB), Adult Skills Fund (ASF), DWP programmes, and government-funded training provision.
• Support strategic partnerships with employers, commissioners, awarding organisations, and wider sector stakeholders.
• Provide guidance on organisational growth, innovation, business transformation, and sustainable commercial development.
• Challenge executive decisions constructively while acting as a trusted advisor and critical friend to the leadership team.
• Attend Board meetings and contribute to strategic discussions, ensuring decisions align with organisational objectives and regulatory expectations.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for an experienced Board member or senior executive with a strong track record within the Employability & Skills, Further Education, Apprenticeships, or Independent Training Provider (ITP) sector.

You'll Have

• Previous experience operating at Board, Director, Managing Director, Executive, or Senior Leadership level within an Independent Training Provider or education and skills organisation.
• Strong knowledge of the UK Employability & Skills sector, including Apprenticeships, Adult Skills, Employability, and government-funded training provision.
• Experience with funding streams including Apprenticeships, Adult Education Budget (AEB), Adult Skills Fund (ASF), DWP, or other publicly funded programmes.
• Sound understanding of Ofsted, ESFA funding rules, quality assurance, compliance, governance, and organisational risk management.
• Experience supporting organisational growth, strategic planning, business transformation, or operational improvement.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance strategic oversight and organisational sustainability.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to provide constructive challenge, independent judgement, and strategic leadership within a collaborative Board environment.

Desirable

• Previous experience serving as a Non-Executive Director, Trustee, Governor, or Board Advisor.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, organisational growth, or business diversification within the education and skills sector.
• Existing networks across Employability, Skills, Apprenticeships, Further Education, Local Government, or Workforce Development.

Why Join?

• Opportunity to influence the strategic direction of a growing organisation within the Employability & Skills sector.
• Use your leadership experience to shape organisational growth, quality, governance, and commercial success.
• Work alongside an ambitious Executive Leadership Team committed to improving learner and employer outcomes.
• Flexible part-time Board opportunity with competitive day-rate remuneration.
• Make a meaningful contribution to the future of skills, apprenticeships, employability, and workforce development across the UK.

Apply Now

If you're an experienced Non-Executive Director, Managing Director, Operations Director, Quality Director, or senior leader within the Employability & Skills, Apprenticeships, Further Education, or Independent Training Provider (ITP) sector, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today to play a key role in shaping strategy, strengthening governance, and supporting the continued growth of an ambitious organisation dedicated to delivering outstanding employability, skills, and workforce development programmes.