The vacancy
Role: Learning and Development Manager
Location: Bournemouth or Burton upon Trent
Reference: HOB1121017
Closing Date: 11/08/2025 23:59
Creativity is Hobbycraft’s reason for being, so when you join our fantastic team, you will be surrounded by like-minded imaginative people. We believe that working together and embracing new and innovative ideas are the best way to make our colleagues feel part of something.
Salary - £35k - £40k dependent on experience - Pension with a 4% contribution, 25 days holiday increasing every year, 25% discount in our stores
This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours. Our core business hours are Monday to Friday – 10am to 3pm with a flexible approach to start and finish times
Our hybrid working model is 3 days in the office, 2 days working from home
Job Summary
The Learning and Development (L&D) Manager is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating training and development programs that enhance colleague skills, performance, productivity, and career development. This role plays a critical part in building a culture of continuous learning and aligns employee growth initiatives with the organisation’s strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the organisation's learning and development strategy in alignment with business goals.
- Conduct training needs analysis through surveys, interviews, and performance data.
- Design, implement, and evaluate a variety of learning solutions including in-person training, e-learning, workshops, leadership development programs, and onboarding.
- Partner with internal stakeholders (e.g., department heads, People Team, managers) to identify skill gaps and create targeted learning paths.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs using key metrics (ROI, employee feedback, performance improvement).
- Translate training outcomes into powerful narratives for the business and Board of Directors, demonstrating the ROI of learning and growth
- Develop Coaching as a strategic tool within the business to enhance performance and growth
- Champion Apprenticeships and T-Levels to maximise the Apprenticeship level
- Manage learning budgets, vendors, and LMS platforms (Learning Management Systems).
- Facilitate training sessions and workshops when required.
- Stay up-to-date with L&D trends, tools, and best practices.
- Ignite a passion for continuous learning, career development, and knowledge sharing.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in L&D, training, or HR with progressive responsibility.
- Experience in designing and implementing successful training programs.
- Experience of learning technologies and platforms
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong project management and organisational abilities.
- Ability to build strong relationships across the business
- Excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with leadership development and talent management frameworks.
- Familiarity with digital learning tools and blended learning strategies.
- Coaching Professional Level 5 (training will be provided )
Key Competencies
- Strategic thinking
- Innovation in learning methods
- Analytical and data-driven decision-making
- Coaching and mentoring
- Change management
- Cross-functional collaboration
We are completely committed to supporting anyone with a disability in applying for our vacancies. If you have a disability and require support throughout our recruitment process, you can contact us at recruitment@hobbycraft.co.uk and let us know what adjustments you may need.
At Hobbycraft we celebrate the joy of crafting, and we celebrate all of our colleagues and customers. As a retailer we have a diverse Colleague base from a broad range of all communities. Our colleagues are recruited for their skill, passion, love of craft and customer service, which is also reflected in our customer base. It is this skill and love of crafting which defines them. Hobbycraft, is an equal opportunity employer who takes equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging very seriously, we regularly review our policies and practices to ensure not only compliance, but also best practise from an employment perspective.
Hobbycraft are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, and we are committed to equal and fair treatment for all colleagues or potential colleagues irrespective of race, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic origins, religion or belief, disability, age, gender, marital or family status.
About Us
We’re here to help you create
Our passion for craft is at the centre of everything we do. This is reflected in our creative and knowledgeable Hobbycraft store colleagues, who are always on hand to help, and our vast, carefully selected range of quality products. Throughout the year, we also host a variety of workshops and demos in stores and online, designed to give everyone the opportunity to master a new craft or refine a beloved one.
We're here to support everyone on their crafting journey, from parents looking to encourage their creative kids, to student artists, expert knitters, model making hobbyists and more! Why not come into your local Hobbycraft store today and find the perfect craft for you?
What's Needed
Customer service
Creative
Knowledgeable
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