Early Careers Manager

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Cardo Group is seeking an Early Careers Manager to shape and deliver its early talent strategy across apprenticeships, graduate schemes, internships, and professional development qualifications, ensuring workforce needs align with compelling career pathways. You will own end-to-end programmes, manage funding and compliance with apprenticeship standards and CITB requirements, and act as the conduit between providers, line managers, mentors and learners. You will build partnerships with colleges and universities, optimise the Apprenticeship levy and grant claims, and use data to demonstrate impact while championing inclusive recruitment. To apply, tailor your CV to highlight construction or engineering L&D success, quantify outcomes, emphasise funding experience, and share mentoring and progression examples.

Who Are We:

Cardo Group is a trusted provider of building maintenance, refurbishment, and retrofit services for social housing and public sector buildings across the UK. With nationwide coverage and skilled local teams, we deliver a reliable end-to-end service that ensures homes and public spaces are safe, sustainable, and well-maintained.

We specialise in responsive repairs and voids, planned maintenance, energy-efficiency upgrades, compliance works, and major improvement programmes. Our approach combines quality workmanship, strong resident communication, and efficient project delivery to achieve the best outcomes for customers and communities.

Driven by ambitious growth plans, we continue to expand our capabilities and adapt to the evolving needs of our clients. Our reputation is built on consistent service delivery, trusted partnerships, and a commitment to doing things the right way. As we grow, so do the opportunities - for our people, our clients, and the communities we support.

Cardo Group is becoming one of the UK’s most forward-thinking maintenance and retrofit providers. Do you want to be part of something great?

The Role:

The Early Careers Manager is responsible for shaping and delivering the organisation’s early talent strategy. This includes overseeing programmes such as apprenticeships, graduate schemes, internships, and work experience initiatives. Also leading on the development of our existing workforce by way of Professional Development qualifications.

This role ensures alignment between workforce needs and innovative career pathways to attract, develop, and retain emerging talent.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage end-to-end delivery of early careers programmes across the business.
• Manage end-to-end delivery of Professional Development qualifications across the business.
• Act as intermediary between the provider, Line Manger, Mentor and Learner.
• Ensure alignment with statutory apprenticeship standards and CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) requirements.
• Track programme effectiveness, learner satisfaction, and progression outcomes, through regular reviews.
• Provide data-driven insights and reports to stakeholders.
• Partner with business leaders, site managers, project leads etc. to identify early talent needs.
• Build strong relationships with colleges, universities, and training providers.
• Manage the Apprenticeship levy (DAS) account and CITB grant claims recovery, maximising both.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to secure funding and resources.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety, safeguarding, and employment legislation.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of structured learning pathways, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement of training delivery and workplace learning.
• Lead on Apprentice Awards and Networking events to celebrate progress, motivate and boost morale and strengthen employer Apprentice relationships.
• Champion inclusive recruitment practices and outreach to underrepresented groups.
• Support initiatives that promote fairness, respect, and opportunity across all programmes.

Key Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience managing Early Careers or L&D programmes in a construction or engineering environment.
• Strong understanding of apprenticeship frameworks and funding mechanisms (e.g., CITB funding, DAS funding).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work across multiple contracts and manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Strong organisational skills
• Passion for developing young talent and building inclusive career pathways.

Why Join Cardo Group?

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. Diverse perspectives strengthen our business, drive innovation, and help us better serve the communities we work with.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is rooted in our core values:

Teamwork – We collaborate, support one another, and achieve more together.

Integrity – We act with honesty, fairness, and transparency in everything we do.

Excellence – We set high standards and deliver quality for our people and our customers.

Respect – We value every individual and create a space where all voices are heard.

We ensure fair opportunities, embrace diverse backgrounds and experiences, and foster a culture where everyone truly belongs. Join us on our ambitious, exciting, and inclusive journey.