Emerging Talent and Development Specialist

Emerging Talent and Development Specialist

** Interviews will take place on 13th & 14th October 2025**

Reporting to the People Development Business Partner, our Emerging Talent & Development Specialist is responsible for enabling Great Places to embed and enhance our talent development programmes.

Primarily focused on our apprenticeship & graduate scheme, Growing Greatness, you will ensure the successful end-to-end management and delivery of these programmes, with the aim to support future progression and succession planning. From initially working with senior leaders to identify and define the right roles and qualifications and ensuring the quality delivery of a value adding development programme, with a personalised learning offer, to empowering our Apprentices and Graduates to secure permanent roles with us.

You will also establish a range of wider development programmes designed to support internal succession planning and address priority areas identified through our People strategy, with the aim to increase under representation of diverse groups across the business

What you’ll be doing

• Developing and embedding our talent development offer across the business, supporting early and mid-career progression.
• Working proactively to ensure the successful end-to-end delivery of a comprehensive apprenticeship and graduate programme that fits the current and future needs of the business.
• Working with the senior leadership team to identify suitable and rewarding apprentice and graduate opportunities that will help develop candidates towards real roles; enabling the achievement of programme sign off and budget approval.
• Building relationships with schools, colleges, universities and community partners to proactively promote Great Places, our Growing Greatness Programme and careers within social housing
• Supporting the Housing industry’s new Competence and Conduct standard, launching in October 2026. An opportunity to help professionalise the housing industry with a range of qualifications and learning to strengthen the capability of our leaders, managers and colleagues to serve our customers and tenants
• Leading outreach and engagement activities including careers fairs, workshops, and open days and support in develop marketing materials and campaigns to attract diverse talent
• Working closely with our Community Investment Team and the wider People Team to attract, recruit and onboard apprentices and graduates in line with the scope of the pre-approved programme
• Designing and delivering high quality, impactful and engaging induction and learning initiatives tailored to colleagues joining Great Places through our emerging careers programme, or for existing colleagues on a wider development programme
• Providing careers advisory service to apprentices, graduates, and colleagues to support career planning and progression
• Supporting our apprentices and graduates, ensuring their wellbeing, confidence, and sense of belonging are nurtured throughout their development journey
• Ensuring that role specific learning plans that include the completion of relevant apprenticeship or professional qualifications are in place for all colleagues within Growing Greatness or a wider development programme
• Working with colleagues within the programme to support post-programme progression in to wider/permanent roles
• Reporting on Growing Greatness KPIs & data, monitoring successful completion, role conversion, and ongoing progression
• Developing positive relationships with internal stakeholders and external training providers to maximise standards
• Completing regular evaluation to support enhancement of our Growing Greatness development programme
• Monitoring, controlling and tracking actual and committed budget spend (including the Apprenticeship Levy) maximising value for money
• Ensuring the responsibilities of the post are carried out in a way that reflects the standards, vision and values of Great Places 

• Representing Great Places in a professional manner with integrity, inclusivity and respect for diversity 

• Reflecting on your learning and completing all apprenticeship/ qualification-related assignments and activities 

What we need from you

• Experience of working within emerging talent/ early careers programmes
• Experience in using the UK's apprenticeship levy system
• Experience of recruitment and selection methods – focused at early careers and education leavers
• Experience of engaging with, and monitoring quality delivery of apprenticeship providers
• Experience of delivering a range of training initiatives; ranging from bite sized sessions to  in-depth learning programmes
• Experience in providing pastoral support and coaching to early-career professionals, with a focus on wellbeing, personal development, and successful transition into the workplace
• Experience of navigating a learning platform or learning management system
• A commitment to understand the challenges and opportunities that exist in the communities in which we work. We particularly value lived experience in social housing
• A passion to advocate on behalf of people and communities
• A commitment to work in partnership with others for the benefit of Great Places
• A commitment to continuous learning and improvement
• Ability to work flexibly and when needed outside normal working hours to ensure service continuity
• An ability to work in uncertainty.

What you’ll need

• A clean UK driving licence and access to a car
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written
• Ability to prioritise and manage a large workload effectively
• Strong facilitation skills (virtually and in person) that engage and challenge the audience  in order to stretch and develop their capabilities
• Ability to work flexibly, including working outside or normal hours when required
• Strong organisation and planning skills
• Innovative thinker; comfortable horizon scanning and trying new things
• Professional and values led with integrity, inclusivity, and respect for diversity
• Keen interest in business performance and industry data trends
• The role requires a basic DBS Check

What we give you in return for your hard work and commitment

• Pension ¦ DC scheme (up to 10% contribution from both colleagues and Great Places)

• WPA ¦ Healthcare scheme starts at no contribution level with £1250 of savings available per year (option to increase & add family members)
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• Ways of Working¦ We offer some hybrid and flexible working

• Annual leave ¦Start at 26 days annual leave, increasing up to 30 days within 5 years + Bank Holidays

• Reward & Recognition ¦ You Count Rewards are individual reward’s for going ‘above & beyond’  

• Professional fees ¦ The business pays the cost of one professional role related membership fee for each colleague

• The Market Place ¦high street, restaurant & supermarket discounts, gym memberships, cycle to work, smart tech loans and much more

• Wage Stream ¦ You can access savings opportunities and early access to wages

• Health and Wellbeing Initiatives ¦ Our colleagues enjoy wellbeing campaigns throughout the year, with activities designed around our four pillars of wellbeing, these include career wellbeing, mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing and financial wellbeing

At Great Places we believe the wellbeing of our colleagues is vital to enable them to deliver to great services, all your benefits can be used inside and outside of work.