Non-Executive Director - MTC Training

Non-Executive Diector

We have a Unique opportunity for an experienced Non-Executive Director to join MTC Training!

MTC Training is the workforce development arm of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and a wholly owned subsidiary of the MTC. We bring together Training and Skills, Training Services and Events to provide an integrated offer for learners, employers, sectors and regions. Our purpose is to build the technical, occupational and leadership capability needed to support innovation, productivity and sustainable growth across advanced manufacturing, engineering, nuclear and related priority sectors.

What we deliver

Through our Training and Skills team, we train award winning apprentices in advanced manufacturing and nuclear, HNC, and higher-level technical provision, alongside programmes that support learner development, achievement and progression. The Training Services team provides workforce diagnostics, consultancy, bespoke employer programmes, and flexible upskilling and reskilling solutions. Events are an award-winning team which create commercial and sector-focused opportunities to convene employers and stakeholders, showcase MTC expertise, strengthen market visibility and generate relationships that can progress into training, consultancy and strategic partnerships. Together, these services create a connected route from identifying workforce need to delivering measurable capability development.

Your role

As Non-Executive Director, we’ll be looking for you to contribute independent judgement, strategic insight and current industry and market experience to the MTC Training Board. You’ll help ensure that MTC Training remains commercially focused, employer-led and responsive to the evolving skills needs of advanced manufacturing, while supporting the organisation’s long-term growth, impact and sustainability.

You’ll provide strategic contribution to the direction and oversight of MTC Training’s strategy and long-term aims. We’ll be looking for you to bring a current advanced manufacturing and employer perspective to Board discussions and decisions. Provide insight into changing industrial, technological, workforce and skills requirements and constructively challenge strategic proposals, assumptions and investment decisions to improve their validity.

You’ll also support the Board in identifying opportunities for sustainable growth and increased impact.

We’ll be looking for you to bring strong commercial thinking to the Board, helping MTC Training strengthen its understanding of employer and customer requirements. Enhance its market relevance, proposition and competitive positioning as well as Identify opportunities for growth, partnerships and new markets

Skills and Industry Leadership

You’ll provide an influential employer voice on market dynamics and the skills required by advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses. 

We’re looking for somebody who will be a champion of apprenticeships, early careers, technical education and continuing workforce development, bringing insight into how leading employers attract, develop and retain talent.

You’ll will support MTC Training in ensuring its training provision remains closely connected to employer demand and contributes to productivity, innovation, competitiveness and the development of future manufacturing capability.

Governance and Board Responsibilities

You’ll provide independent judgement and constructive challenge to the executive leadership.  Contribute actively and collaboratively to Board discussions and decisions and support appropriate oversight of strategy, performance, risk and organisational sustainability. 

This role also acts as an external ambassador for MTC Training within advanced manufacturing, engineering, government’s policy and the wider skills ecosystem.  You will help strengthen MTC Training’s relationships with employers and industry, promote the importance of investment in apprenticeships and workforce capability, and enhance understanding of MTC Training’s contribution to UK manufacturing.

Who we’re looking for

The successful candidate will be a current Director, Executive Committee, or C-suite member of a small to medium sized (SME) advanced manufacturing, engineering, or technology-led business.  With experience of contributing to strategy development, organisational growth and investment decisions at senior executive or Board level.

You’ll have significant commercial leadership experience, with a strong understanding of markets, customers, growth, investment and business performance.

You’ll bring first-hand knowledge of the UK advanced manufacturing environment, including the opportunities and challenges affecting employers and their future skills requirements.

We’re also looking for somebody who

• Demonstrates a strong personal and organisational commitment to apprenticeships, early careers and workforce development.
• Comes from an organisation with a substantive and demonstrable track record of investing in apprenticeship programmes and other forms of technical and professional training.
• Understands how skills, workforce capability and talent development contribute to productivity, competitiveness, innovation and business growth.
• Is commercially minded and able to help MTC Training strengthen its employer proposition, market relevance, customer relationships and commercial performance.
• Demonstrates the ability to operate strategically, providing independent judgement, constructive challenge and support to the Chair, fellow Directors and executive leadership.
• Is able to act as a credible industry ambassador for MTC Training, strengthening relationships with employers, stakeholders and the wider advanced manufacturing community.

Personal qualities

The ideal person will demonstrate

• Strategic and commercially oriented thinking.
• Previous Board or NED experience.
• Intellectual curiosity and sound judgement.
• Confidence to challenge constructively whilst remaining collaborative.
• A strong commitment to developing the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent.
• An ability to translate their own industry experience into insights relevant to MTC Training rather than representing their employer.
• A commitment to MTC Training's purpose and the wider economic importance of developing advanced manufacturing skills.
• Sufficient independence of thought to contribute effectively as a NED.

Desirable

It would be advantageous for candidates to have:

• Experience of significant organisational transformation, technology adoption or manufacturing investment.
• Detailed knowledge of the UK apprenticeship and technical education system.
• Experience working with government, training providers, universities, colleges or national skills organisations.
• Experience in sectors strategically relevant to MTC Training, such as aerospace, defence, nuclear, electrification, batteries, advanced engineering, digital manufacturing or industrial automation.

Please be aware that many roles working for MTC will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation.

All candidates must meet Right to Work in the UK criteria and achieve the required security and clearance requirements to undertake this role which will be shared with you upon application.