Business Development Executive - Commercial & Schemes

2136GB00 Howden UK Brokers Limited; Perth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Howden UK Brokers Limited is seeking a Business Development Executive to drive outbound lead generation, identify prospects, and nurture early-stage relationships for our Perth office. You will engage potential clients via telephone and email and support account brokers to convert opportunities into new business.

You will operate in a full-time, permanent role based in Perth, with on-site presence five days a week, and develop knowledge of commercial insurance and Acturis as part of your daily

Qualifications

• Lead generation via outbound telesales to create new business pipeline.
• Qualify prospects before passing to Account Brokers.
• Build rapport quickly with prospective clients.
• Record activity and outcomes in CRM and keep pipelines up to date.
• Willingness to pursue professional insurance qualifications (Cert CII desirable).

Responsibilities

• Proactively generate new business opportunities through outbound telesales.
• Research and contact prospective clients to build a consistent and high-quality pipeline.
• Qualify prospects before handing to Account Brokers.
• Record activity and next actions in CRM and keep pipeline up to date.
• Collaborate with Account Brokers and Team Leaders on strategies and targets.
• Support marketing campaigns and initiatives.
• Maintain awareness of competitors and market activity.
• Plan and manage workload to maximise productivity.
• Build initial rapport and deliver a strong first impression of Howden.

Skills

Telephone sales

Communication skills

Objection handling

Attention to detail

Time management

Prioritisation

CRM familiarity

MS Office

Education

Cert CII desirable

Insurance knowledge helpful

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Howden - Commercial & Schemes are on the hunt for a Business Development Executive

This is a lead-generation focused role to identify opportunities, generate pipeline, and support new business growth. You will be responsible for engaging with potential clients using telephone and e-mail. Developing early-stage relationships that convert into high-quality opportunities for our account brokers. The Business Development Executive will demonstrate strong communication skills, resilience, and the ability to build rapport quickly while maximising new business opportunities. Please note this is a full-time, permanent opportunity. You will be based in our Perth office and be onsite for 5 days per week.

Overview

• Proactively generate new business opportunities through outbound telesales activity across the Schemes teams.
• Research, identify, and contact prospective clients to create a consistent and high-quality new business pipeline.
• Qualify prospects effectively before passing warm opportunities to the relevant Account Brokers.
• Effectively communicating with prospects to secure commitment, including return of proposal forms
• Accurately record all prospect activity, outcomes, and next actions on Acturis, ensuring pipelines are always up to date.
• Positively engaging with marketing campaigns, projects and initiatives
• Work closely with Account Brokers and Team Leaders to align prospecting activity with specific strategies and targets.
• Maintaining an up-to-date understanding of competitors, market activity and positioning
• Monitoring competitor activity and recommending tactical actions where appropriate
• Planning and managing workload and diary to maximise productivity
• Build initial rapport with prospective clients and deliver a strong first impression of Howden.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Commercial Insurance is desirable but not essential.
• Acturis knowledge is preferred but not required (training will be provided).

Skills

• Strong telephone-based sales and prospecting skills.
• Confident, professional, and engaging communication style.
• Ability to handle objections and remain resilient.
• Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage volume activity while maintaining quality conversations.
• Strong time management and the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Results-driven mindset with a proactive approach to meeting targets.
• Ability to build rapport quickly with a wide variety of clients.
• Competent IT skills, including CRM systems and Microsoft Office.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in telesales, lead generation, or a sales-based role is preferred.
• Insurance experience is advantageous but not essential.
• Willingness to work towards professional insurance qualifications (Cert CII desirable).

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us: Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new. We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges. We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments

Reasonable adjustments: We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

Permanent

Howden began in 1994 as just three people and a dog. Now there are 23,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $37bn of premiums for our clients. Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long‑term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business to last, one that will never be sold. The owner's mindset is something that's embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, the actions, and their outputs. They’re invested in every sense. And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.