Job Introduction
Together we make a difference, develop and learn, and support each other. Every day with us is different, but our mission remains the same: To champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support - they are at the heart of everything we do. We stand by them and we work together for change.
We believe that everyone deserves a chance to learn and space to thrive and that the right education can change lives. You’ll help break down barriers to education for young people, helping them learn and grow at their own pace.
Location: Openshaw, Manchester
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 43 weeks per year
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £29,803.50 pro-rated
Help Young People Build Skills for Life
Do you have experience in business, enterprise, retail, customer service, facilities, or running small projects? Are you passionate about helping young people develop confidence, independence and employability skills?
As one of the UK's best employers Bridge College are looking for a proactive and enthusiastic Business and Enterprise Technician to join our team and help lead a range of exciting student-run enterprises, including our car wash, jet wash, laundrette and future business ventures.
This is a unique opportunity to combine your practical business knowledge with a rewarding role supporting young people with Learning Difficulties and Autism as they develop real-world work skills.
About the Role
You'll work alongside students, helping them run genuine business enterprises that serve members of the local community. From supporting customer service and cash handling to maintaining equipment and promoting services, you'll play a key role in creating meaningful work experience opportunities.
No two days will be the same. One day you could be helping students prepare a community car wash event, the next you could be building relationships with local businesses, managing stock, or developing new enterprise opportunities that help learners gain valuable employability skills.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading small groups of learners in running the college's car wash, jet wash, laundrette and other enterprise activities.
- Supporting students to develop practical workplace skills including customer service, teamwork, health and safety and cash handling.
- Helping to grow and promote the college's enterprise offer within the local community.
- Building relationships with local residents, businesses and community organisations.
- Preparing engaging practical activities that develop employability and enterprise skills.
- Managing stock, equipment and purchasing within agreed budgets.
- Ensuring enterprise environments are safe, organised and ready for use.
- Supporting learners with a range of additional needs to fully participate and succeed.
- Working closely with teaching staff, Occupational Therapists and Assistive Technology teams to create inclusive learning environments.
About You
We're looking for someone who is practical, organised, creative and passionate about supporting young people.
You'll ideally have:
- A Level 3 or 4 qualification in a vocational or business-related area
- Experience of working in business, retail, enterprise, customer service or a related environment
- A commitment to safeguarding and supporting young people with additional needs
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to inspire and motivate others
- A Level 3 Award in Education and Learning
Most importantly, you'll believe in helping learners achieve their potential and be excited by the opportunity to create real work-based learning experiences that prepare them for adulthood.
Why Join Us?
Join a college where enterprise is about more than business. It's about giving young people the confidence, independence and workplace skills they need for the future.
You'll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team and have the opportunity to shape and grow innovative enterprise projects that make a genuine difference to students' lives and the local community.
If you're ready to combine your business knowledge with a rewarding role that changes lives, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and help our learners gain the skills, confidence and experience they need to succeed.
Benefits
- Annual leave – 27 days’ holiday plus 8 bank holidays, rising to 30 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years.
- Generous pension scheme – a minimum company pension contribution of 4%.
- Occupational sick pay and family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
- Reward and Discount platform – offering discounts on high street shopping, travel and insurance.
- Generous death in service benefit – up to 6 times basic salary.
- Eligibility to apply for a Blue Light Card.
- Proud to be a real living wage employer.
- Refer a friend scheme – be rewarded for recommending a friend to work with us.
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including apprenticeship qualifications.
- Long service awards – vouchers and extra holiday.
- Promotion of wellbeing across the organisation, including Mental Health First Aiders offering wellbeing support from trained colleagues and a free weekly yoga session, in person or online.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for you and adults in your household.
- Inclusive networks for colleagues to join if they’d like to (Disability & Neurodiversity Action Group, Race Equality Network, Proud Together (LGBTQ+ group), Together for Men, Women Together).
Applications are very welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socio-economic background. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. We positively encourage applications from those with lived experience.
If there is any part of your lived experience you want to keep confidential in some way please talk to the Recruitment or HR shared service teams and we will do what we can to support you
The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Don’t hesitate to apply – this role could close early.
Safeguarding checks will be undertaken for the successful candidate in line with our safer recruitment policy, including an Enhanced DBS check (at no cost to yourself).
This role will involve regulated activity and is also exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
This role will involve regulated activity.
