Business Development Assistant - Full Time - Head Office

Freedom Leisure; East Hoathly; On-site; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits in a dynamic leisure organization, focusing on business development and contract acquisition. This role offers a chance to engage in financial analysis and research, helping to craft tailored proposals for local authorities. You'll be part of a supportive team, ensuring all submissions reflect the best practices and current initiatives. With a strong emphasis on attention to detail and time management, this position is perfect for a recent graduate eager to kickstart their career in a rewarding environment. Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance your work-life balance and career progression.

Benefits

Staff Benefit Scheme

Discounted Staff Membership

Incremental Holidays

Employee Assistance Programme

Company Pension

Insurance and Saving Schemes

Financial Advice

Cycle-to-Work Scheme

Car Leasing Scheme

Fully Funded Training

Qualifications

• Keen interest in Business, ideal for recent Graduates.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

Responsibilities

• Support Business Development Team with financial analysis.
• Undertake research and prepare bespoke method statements.

Skills

Financial Analysis

Research Skills

Time Management

Attention to Detail

Teamwork

IT Skills (Word, Excel)

Education

Degree in Business or Leisure

Higher-level Professional Qualification

Tools

The Leisure Database

Active People Survey

Sport England Market Segmentation

Local Health Profiles

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Business Development Team, to support and win additional new Contracts for Freedom leisure

Freedom Leisure is a dynamic and successful genuine Leisure Trust which was set up in 2002. It currently operates 129 leisure facilities and a selection of cultural facilities, outdoor pitches and pavilions on behalf of 30 local authority clients and two other not for profit organisations.

We are looking for someone who has a keen interest in Business, perhaps a recent Graduate looking for their first steps into a rewarding career.

You will be supporting the Business Development Team, undertaking financial analysis and carrying out the required research to understand each local authority assisting with the development of bespoke method statements. you will have a keen eye for detail, reviewing documents and producing executive summaries and reviews of each opportunity.

It is essential that you can manage several priorities at once and manage your time effectively.

It will be an advantage to have a degree level qualification or a higher-level professional qualification in business or leisure, however this is not essential.

The Role:

• Monitor leisure publications, appropriate websites and forge intelligence networks to aid business development opportunities.
• Undertake expressions of interest and submit quality and bespoke Standard Selection Questionnaires (SSQ)’s for new business development opportunities
• Supporting with the response to soft market testing requests from potential Clients
• Undertake appropriate research including demographic, competitor, financial and stakeholder analysis. This will include, but will not be not limited to:
• The Leisure Database
• Active People Survey
• Sport England Market Segmentation
• Local Health Profiles
• Council Strategies (Corporate Plan, Health & Wellbeing Strategy, Leisure Strategy, Community Safety Plan, Environmental Strategy)
• Support with the development of all method statements which are bespoke to each Client and tailored to their individual plans and strategies
• Ensure that you keep abreast of current initiatives and programmes at Freedom Leisure so that up to date case studies and best practice can be included within tender submissions
• To coordinate all specialist bid inputs from individuals across the organisation providing relevant bid information clearly setting out expectations and timeframes.
• Supporting the development of detailed and accurate financial plans necessary for each opportunity, including benchmarking of income and costs
• To attend meetings with our clients/partners as and when required
• Support our existing Area/General Managers in developing contract development proposals
• To represent Freedom Leisure as an external consultant on occasions ensuring client objectives are achieved.

Hours: 37 hours per week - Monday to Friday (to meet the demands of the business)

• Working for or with community/local authority leisure
• Project working to tight deadlines
• Being thorough and having an attention to detail
• Good I.T skills (word, excel, website research)
• Understanding of the Local Authority and Public Health landscape
• Team orientated approach, able to work across organisation boundaries and demonstrate interest and be supportive of the work of colleagues
• Able to work flexibly with a high level of autonomy
• Mobility to travel across sites and the UK
• Excellent time management skills - able to deal with a number of priorities at once and keep total workload in hand
• Thorough in approach with an eye for detail

We want you to love coming to work, feeling healthy, happy and valued. That's why we've developed a benefits package with you in mind, so what can we offer you?

• My Staff Shop, our very own staff benefit scheme, gives employees access to a great range of benefits. Get discounts on cinema tickets, travel bookings, high street e-vouchers, gift cards, days out, leisure activities and your day to day spending.
• Discounted Staff membership (including family members)
• Incremental holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 confidential, independent and professional counselling.
• Company pension
• Various insurance and saving schemes
• Financial advice
• Cycle-to-work and Car Leasing tax-efficient schemes (salaried staff only)
• All this as well as fully funded training and career progression opportunities in a team working environment

Closing date: 16th May 2025

Salary: up to £28,000 per annum