Graduate trainee jobs in leeds
THE JOB (IN A NUTSHELL)
An amazing opportunity to be part of a UK charity with a bold social purpose - helping young people and early careers professionals discover more in themselves than they ever thought possible.
We’re looking for a dynamic and motivated individual to grow and develop new long-term partnerships with employers across the UK, focusing on Apprentices, Graduates, and Future Leaders. You’ll be helping businesses invest in the next generation of talent by connecting them with Outward Bound’s experiential learning programmes that accelerate personal growth, resilience, teamwork, and leadership in early careers cohorts.
Your focus will be on building strong relationships, understanding workforce development needs, and positioning Outward Bound as the partner of choice for early talent development.
Occasional evening, weekend, and overnight work will be required as part of the role, including attending client visits, taster sessions, and visits to our Outward Bound Centres.
WHO WERE LOOKING FOR
You’ll be a creative, results-driven team player with a strong understanding of early careers development and how experiential learning supports the transition from education to work.
You’ll have a proven business development background and experience in selling or promoting professional development solutions, graduate or apprenticeship training, or corporate learning programmes.
You’ll thrive on networking and building relationships with HR, L&D, and talent development professionals, and you’ll be excited by the idea of helping organisations future-proof their workforce through impactful outdoor learning experiences. You are someone who perseveres, never accepting silence or a lack of response as the end of the conversation.
You’ll also have a passion for the outdoors and be aligned to Outward Bound’s values of courage, integrity, and belief in young people’s potential.
YOUR EXPERIENCE
- Excellent communications skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with internal and external professionals. A strong understanding of the apprenticeship and graduate development programmes, and talent pipelines.
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail, able to manage multiple projects and maintain consistent follow-up.
- Confident in presenting to clients, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences (HR, L&D, operational teams, senior leadership).
- Good negotiation and influencing skills.
- Experienced in LinkedIn / LinkedIn Sales Navigator for prospecting and building connections within early careers networks.
- Proficient in Microsoft systems and CRM tools.
- Knowledge of or interest in experiential learning, leadership development, and outdoor education is an advantage.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- Secure mainly new and some key repeat business to meet personal, and team, quarterly and annual targets.
- Lead on developing new partnerships within key industry sectors for Apprentice, Graduate, and Emerging Leader programmes.
- Undertake client learning needs analysis to understand early career development goals and challenges.
- Produce compelling proposals that align Outward Bound programmes with organisational objectives.
- Represent Outward Bound at early careers events, conferences, and employer network sessions.
- Maintain accurate client records via our CRM system and ensure timely follow-up and reporting.
- Liaise with internal delivery and marketing teams to ensure client needs are met and opportunities are maximised.
- Drive new business through research, networking, referrals, and sector insights.
- Contribute ideas to help shape Outward Bound’s early careers strategy and offer to stay relevant in a fast-changing employment landscape.
Salary: £32,000 – £40,000, salary depending on experience
HOURS: 37.5 hours per week
REPORTING TO: Head of Early Careers Business Development
LOCATION: Home-based with extensive travel to centres and Head Office
Settling in period
There is a 3-month settling in period from contract start date.
The closing date is 21st November 2025 with first interviews taking place on 1st December 2025.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
To inspire young people to realise their potential through learning and adventure in the outdoors.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Want to play your part in transforming society?
You're in the right place.
Many of our Spear trainees have faced significant barriers to finding work, including family breakdown, growing up in care, disability or mental health difficulties, having been involved in crime, or really struggling at school. We believe that being out of work can lead to isolation and proliferate these challenges, meaningful work is key in helping young people find a sense of purpose and community. We're proud that the coaching and community that the Spear Programme provides makes such a difference that 75% of those who take part find work, and are still in work a year later.
Not only will you be part of bringing about powerful change in people's lives, but throughout this paid, dynamic opportunity, you'll be supported and challenged. We'll invest in you, developing expert coaching and leadership skills to set you on a great career path.
Please feel free to let us know if you may require any reasonable adjustments to participate fully in our recruitment process, or if you have any enquiries regarding accessibility such as wheelchair access.
The important stuff
Location: Leeds
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm (With some out-of-hours work needed for events such as our Spear Celebrations)
Salary: from £23,690
Closing date: Tuesday 18th November (We are interviewing on a rolling basis and might close the application early if we find the right candidate)
Assessment Day: Wednesday 26th November
Application pack: Have a look at our application pack for more information about the role and Resurgo
Benefits
- 28 days annual leave (including Christmas Gift Days) plus bank holidays
- Excellent benefits including Health Insurance, access to Cycle to Work scheme, and enhanced parental leave, dependants leave, and sick leave policies with income protection
- Excellent personal development and training opportunities, including our iLM-accredited 5-day Coaching for Leadership programme (worth £3,000)
- We aim to support all Assistant Coaches to progress to other roles with us after this initial year, with development towards management level within 3 years
- Regular staff prayer meetings, conferences and retreats (one residential)
What will you do?
- Coach 16-24 year olds, bringing about powerful change in their lives
- Build great relationships with relevant professionals
- Form part of an intentional church community
What will you gain?
- Management skills and career progression
- Excellent coaching capability
- Social Impact Experience
- Christian Leadership Skills
Registered Charity
101 - 500
With young people, with organisations, for society.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This is an exciting role that will appeal to someone who is well organised, a self-starter who enjoys administrative work. You would be required to handle office tasks, mostly by email, but also by phone, and have a sound knowledge of Word, Outlook and Excel.
To fulfil this role, you will need the following knowledge, experience and attributes. A full job description is available to download from this site.
· Sympathetic to the spiritual and psychological ethos of G.A.P.
· 4-5 years’ experience in an administrative or membership coordinator role
· Proven excellent IT and organisational skills; proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook); and knowledge of Dropbox and Teams would be useful
· The ability to work effectively under pressure and to deadlines
· The ability and experience of working on your own initiative
· Be a multi-tasker with excellent communication skills and a ‘hands-on’ approach, with attention to detail.
· Emotionally intelligent, discreet, and confident in handling sensitive matters
· Self employed - the postholder is expected to keep a record of how time is spent (time sheet or activity report) and provide this with an invoice for payment at the end of each month.
Applications deadline – Friday 21st November (midday)
Please send a cover letter with your CV highlighting where your experience matches our requirements.
Please note, applications will be reviewed and suitable applicants interviewed on an ongoing basis, so please apply early as the role may close prior to the closing date if a suitable applicant is appointed
Please include a cover letter with your CV highlighting how your experience, knowledge and attributes meet our requirements.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.