Divisional L&D Lead - UK

Wolverhampton (primary) with responsibility for a second UK site

We’re partnering with a well-established, engineering-led manufacturing business to appoint an L&D Lead to shape and deliver capability development across its UK operations.

This is not a traditional central L&D role. It’s a hands-on, business-facing position focused on building practical capability at plant level — working directly with site and functional leaders to identify skills gaps, prioritise interventions, and ensure learning translates into performance.

If you’re someone who prefers being close to the operation, understands how industrial businesses really work, and can turn broad ideas into tangible delivery, this should feel like a good fit.

What You’ll Be Doing

Acting as the primary L&D partner to UK site and functional leadership teams
Translating operational priorities into focused, practical learning interventions
Identifying critical capability gaps across areas such as operations, engineering, supply chain, and leadership
Building and executing a clear, site-level L&D plan with visible progress and outcomes
Shaping how learning is delivered — combining internal capability with external providers where it adds value
Managing L&D spend and ensuring investment is directed to the highest-impact areas
Supporting delivery of leadership and management development where it drives business performance
Providing clear, pragmatic challenge to stakeholders on where learning will (and won’t) add value

What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)

Clear priorities established across both UK sites, aligned to business needs
A simple, structured L&D plan in place with tangible delivery milestones
Strong relationships built with site and functional leaders
Learning activity that is visible, relevant, and applied in the workplace
Better alignment between capability needs and how training is delivered

The Environment

Multi-site UK manufacturing operation
Engineering and operationally driven culture
High degree of local ownership and autonomy at site level
Requires influence rather than central authority

What They’re Looking For

Proven experience in L&D within an industrial, engineering, or manufacturing environment
Credibility with operational stakeholders — you understand shopfloor realities and leadership pressures
Track record of translating business needs into practical, applied learning solutions
Comfortable working with ambiguity and shaping direction rather than following a defined playbook
Strong stakeholder management skills — able to influence without formal authority
Experience managing L&D budgets and external training providers

Useful (But Not Essential)

Experience building or reshaping an L&D function or approach
Exposure to multi-site or federated organisations
Broader understanding of talent, succession, or workforce planning
Familiarity with LMS tools and digital learning (practical use rather than technical ownership)

Style & Approach

Pragmatic, direct, and outcome-focused
Comfortable being hands-on and close to the detail
Able to simplify complexity and focus on what matters
Commercially aware — understands the link between capability and performance

Why This Role

This is an opportunity to step into a role where you can genuinely shape how capability is built within a complex, industrial environment — without being constrained by overly centralised or theoretical L&D structures.

You’ll have the chance to work closely with senior leaders, focus on real operational impact, and build something that is visible and valued by the business.

Aston Fisher

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