Industry Engagement Lead
| Posting date: | 03 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 February 2026 |
| Location: | Wigan, Not recorded, WN2 4SQ |
| Company: | Teaching Vacancies |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | f8809c1c-4eea-413c-a2aa-8afce0745ce9 |
Summary
What skills and experience we're looking for
Industry Engagement Lead
Do you have experience in education, recruitment, sales or a similar industry? This maybe the perfect opportunity for you to join our QUEST team by supporting our students in engaging industry professionals and developing our students careers opportunities!
Join QUEST Academy Trust and help shape the future of young people from Early Years to Employment
Are you passionate about building meaningful connections between education and industry? Do you want to make a real difference by expanding career opportunities for children and young people across the Northwest? QUEST Academy Trust is seeking an enthusiastic and drivenIndustry Engagement Leadto join our vibrant team and lead the development of employer partnerships that empower our pupils and students to succeed in their career journeys.
About the Role
As theIndustry Engagement Lead, you will be at the heart of connecting QUEST’s educational provision with the world of work. This is a unique opportunity to lead the Trust’s employer engagement strategy, particularly developing the University Technical College (UTC) in Bolton and expanding apprenticeship pathways.
Your role will include:
• Building and maintaining strategic partnerships with local, regional, and national employers to create impactful work experience, mentoring, and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Driving growth in vocational pathways and ensuring pupils and students have access to meaningful employment placements aligned with their career aspirations.
• Leading the implementation of employability strategies across our Trust, embedding employability skills within the curriculum and extracurricular activities.
• Representing QUEST in external forums and aligning our work with regional and national skills strategies.
• Supporting pupils and employers throughout the placement process, from preparation to assessment and ongoing support.
This is a role with significant influence and scope for innovation, where your efforts will directly contribute to shaping young lives and enhancing workforce readiness in our community.
About You
You will bring a genuine passion for empowering young people and a proven ability to build strong, professional relationships with employers and partners. We are looking for someone who:
• Has experience working with young people and engaging employers in education or recruitment settings.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, confidence, and a persuasive manner to inspire and negotiate with a variety of stakeholders.
• Is highly organised, accountable, and able to manage multiple projects while maintaining a keen eye for detail.
• Shows a commitment to inclusivity, safeguarding, and upholding the Trust’s values of professionalism, compassion, responsibility, respect, loyalty, and kindness.
• Is proactive, creative, and ready to contribute to a dynamic team environment, sharing best practises and ideas to continually improve our employer engagement offer.
A relevant degree or equivalent qualification is essential, and experience in employer engagement or business management is highly desirable.
Application Details
• Salary:QUEST Grade H NJC 29-34£39,862- £45,091(37 hours per week / full year – term time can be discussed)
• How to apply: Please submit your application toapply@quest-trust.org.uk
• Further information: For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Mr. Marc Doyle (CEO) 07748458006
QUEST Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS clearance will be required for the successful applicant.
Join us at QUEST Academy Trust and become a vital part of a community dedicated to unlocking potential, nurturing growth, and preparing young people for a successful future beyond school. We look forward to receiving your application.
What the school offers its staff
What We Offer
• Wellness Day - An additional day leave for you to spend time on your own wellness. A day to rest and recuperate, bringing your best selves back to work
• The chance to work within a forward-thinking, supportive Trust dedicated to professional development and continuous improvement.
• Opportunities to make a real impact on the career readiness and futures of young people
• A collaborative and values-driven culture where your expertise and contributions are valued and celebrated.
• Access to ongoing training and development aligned with the Trust’s commitment to staff growth.
• Family Friendly Policies
• Comprehensive CPD opportunities
• Pension scheme
• The opportunity to lead within a supportive and ambitious Trust committed to your professional growth
• A culture that values wellbeing, collaboration, and shared success
• Access to ongoing leadership development and coaching opportunities
• The satisfaction of making a tangible difference to pupils’ lives and futures
• See employee benefits brochure for further details
About QUEST Academy Trust
QUEST Academy Trust is a flourishing multi-academy trust rooted in strong Christian values, committed to providing a caring, thoughtful, and high-quality education across our family of five schools and nursery settings. Serving over 1700 pupils aged 0 to 19, we nurture each child’s potential through a curriculum and community that reflect their unique needs.
Our vision is clear: to prepare young minds for a lifelong quest for knowledge, character, and service. Our mission —Supporting young people from Early Years to Employment— drives every decision we make. We are proud to foster a professional and compassionate culture where responsibility, respect, loyalty, and kindness shape everything we do.
As we continue to grow, we are focused on building strong governance, enhancing accountability, and creating lasting partnerships to improve outcomes and experiences for all our pupils.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Industry Engagement Lead
Do you have experience in education, recruitment, sales or a similar industry? This maybe the perfect opportunity for you to join our QUEST team by supporting our students in engaging industry professionals and developing our students careers opportunities!
Join QUEST Academy Trust and help shape the future of young people from Early Years to Employment
Are you passionate about building meaningful connections between education and industry? Do you want to make a real difference by expanding career opportunities for children and young people across the Northwest? QUEST Academy Trust is seeking an enthusiastic and drivenIndustry Engagement Leadto join our vibrant team and lead the development of employer partnerships that empower our pupils and students to succeed in their career journeys.
About the Role
As theIndustry Engagement Lead, you will be at the heart of connecting QUEST’s educational provision with the world of work. This is a unique opportunity to lead the Trust’s employer engagement strategy, particularly developing the University Technical College (UTC) in Bolton and expanding apprenticeship pathways.
Your role will include:
• Building and maintaining strategic partnerships with local, regional, and national employers to create impactful work experience, mentoring, and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Driving growth in vocational pathways and ensuring pupils and students have access to meaningful employment placements aligned with their career aspirations.
• Leading the implementation of employability strategies across our Trust, embedding employability skills within the curriculum and extracurricular activities.
• Representing QUEST in external forums and aligning our work with regional and national skills strategies.
• Supporting pupils and employers throughout the placement process, from preparation to assessment and ongoing support.
This is a role with significant influence and scope for innovation, where your efforts will directly contribute to shaping young lives and enhancing workforce readiness in our community.
About You
You will bring a genuine passion for empowering young people and a proven ability to build strong, professional relationships with employers and partners. We are looking for someone who:
• Has experience working with young people and engaging employers in education or recruitment settings.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, confidence, and a persuasive manner to inspire and negotiate with a variety of stakeholders.
• Is highly organised, accountable, and able to manage multiple projects while maintaining a keen eye for detail.
• Shows a commitment to inclusivity, safeguarding, and upholding the Trust’s values of professionalism, compassion, responsibility, respect, loyalty, and kindness.
• Is proactive, creative, and ready to contribute to a dynamic team environment, sharing best practises and ideas to continually improve our employer engagement offer.
A relevant degree or equivalent qualification is essential, and experience in employer engagement or business management is highly desirable.
Application Details
• Salary:QUEST Grade H NJC 29-34£39,862- £45,091(37 hours per week / full year – term time can be discussed)
• How to apply: Please submit your application toapply@quest-trust.org.uk
• Further information: For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Mr. Marc Doyle (CEO) 07748458006
QUEST Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS clearance will be required for the successful applicant.
Join us at QUEST Academy Trust and become a vital part of a community dedicated to unlocking potential, nurturing growth, and preparing young people for a successful future beyond school. We look forward to receiving your application.
What the school offers its staff
What We Offer
• Wellness Day - An additional day leave for you to spend time on your own wellness. A day to rest and recuperate, bringing your best selves back to work
• The chance to work within a forward-thinking, supportive Trust dedicated to professional development and continuous improvement.
• Opportunities to make a real impact on the career readiness and futures of young people
• A collaborative and values-driven culture where your expertise and contributions are valued and celebrated.
• Access to ongoing training and development aligned with the Trust’s commitment to staff growth.
• Family Friendly Policies
• Comprehensive CPD opportunities
• Pension scheme
• The opportunity to lead within a supportive and ambitious Trust committed to your professional growth
• A culture that values wellbeing, collaboration, and shared success
• Access to ongoing leadership development and coaching opportunities
• The satisfaction of making a tangible difference to pupils’ lives and futures
• See employee benefits brochure for further details
About QUEST Academy Trust
QUEST Academy Trust is a flourishing multi-academy trust rooted in strong Christian values, committed to providing a caring, thoughtful, and high-quality education across our family of five schools and nursery settings. Serving over 1700 pupils aged 0 to 19, we nurture each child’s potential through a curriculum and community that reflect their unique needs.
Our vision is clear: to prepare young minds for a lifelong quest for knowledge, character, and service. Our mission —Supporting young people from Early Years to Employment— drives every decision we make. We are proud to foster a professional and compassionate culture where responsibility, respect, loyalty, and kindness shape everything we do.
As we continue to grow, we are focused on building strong governance, enhancing accountability, and creating lasting partnerships to improve outcomes and experiences for all our pupils.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.