Business Development Manager

The Workforce Development Trust; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable UK non-profit organization is looking for a Business Development Manager to lead the sales function and help grow market share. The ideal candidate will have a strong sales background, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to build lasting client relationships. Responsibilities include engaging with potential customers, supporting onboarding, and collaborating with various teams to exceed revenue targets. This role offers generous benefits and flexible working arrangements, including remote options.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Flexible working arrangements

Enhanced pension scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Proven track record in sales and business development.
• Experience in managing customer relationships.
• Understanding of qualifications and apprenticeship sectors.

Responsibilities

• Be the first point of contact for potential customers.
• Respond to enquiries efficiently.
• Identify new markets and customers.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Sales expertise

Market analysis

Relationship building

Tools

iLearner software

Job description

iCQ Awards provides awarding and assessment services to hundreds of training providers and employers across the UK - directly supporting the development of individuals through skills, knowledge and behaviours, often within the workplace. Our commitment to providing exceptional service and support has positioned us as a trusted partner for a wide range of assessment organisations throughout the UK. As we continue to expand our reach, we are seeking an exceptional Business Development Manager to play a key role in our continued success. As the Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for leading and inspiring the sales function and co‑ordinate with the account manager team to achieve and exceed revenue targets. Your strategic vision and leadership will be instrumental in driving market share, building lasting client relationships, and positioning iCQ as the go‑to provider for qualifications, apprenticeship assessments and our integrated assessment and learner management software solution in the training and assessment sector. If you are a dynamic and results‑oriented sales and business development professional with a proven track record, we want you to be a driving force in our success story. The overall purpose of this role is to identify and understand potential customers, what they need, and provide information and solutions to support their goals. You will handle the process from initial enquiry or engagement through to successful onboarding, supporting customers through the application and recognition processes. You will be a visible and customer‑facing individual and play a large role in how iCQ are perceived in the market. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to genuinely connect with people in order to support them in their line of work is therefore key to the role. The role involves communicating with and being supported by experts in qualifications and apprenticeships to meet business development objective, as well as account managers and marketing. These functions will support the Business Development Manager in identify information and solutions to assist in onboarding customers. The role also involves working across the wider Workforce Development Trust divisions and brands, to identify and support cross‑promotional and development activities. You will have an understanding of what awarding organisations and End‑Point Assessment organisations do, and how they work with training providers, colleges and employers. You may come from a background where the management and delivery of qualifications and apprenticeships has taken place - such as an awarding organisation, training provider, employer provider or a further education college. The post holder's key responsibilities will include:

• Being the first point of contact for potential customers who want to engage with iCQ for awarding, assessment or software services
• Responding to enquiries in an efficient and timely manner
• Work closely with the marketing and PR team to help carry out lead generating campaigns and activities, following up on targeted communications and offers efficiently
• Helping to identify potential new markets, customers and opportunities
• Working independently and in collaboration with others, particularly marketing colleagues, to contribute to annual growth
• Managing and updating the business development pipeline on our software system, iLearner.
• Providing prospective customers with appropriate advice and information about iCQ and our qualifications, systems, and assessment services
• Facilitating the inclusion of iCQ in bid proposals by providing evidence and materials to The Workforce Development Trust bids team
• Work with others in the iCQ team to understand feedback about service levels and opportunities by sharing customer insights
• Taking part in events, external and internal meetings that drive business development
• Building productive relationships with colleagues, customers and stakeholders across the sectors that iCQ work with
• Working as an effective team member to support iCQ in achieving our goals and objectives
• Maintaining professional behaviours and standards in line with iCQ and wider Workforce Development Trust values in every interaction

About iCQ Awards

iCQ Awards are a regulated awarding organisation, delivering over 200 regulated qualifications, an end‑point assessment (EPA) organisation for over 40 apprenticeship standards and providing integrated assessment and funding software solutions. We work across over 20 business sectors, delivering skills development to a growing number of organisations, including some large household names.

About The Workforce Development Trust

The Workforce Development Trust is a not‑for‑profit organisation that provides services that support employers to develop skilled, sustainable, and efficient workforces in the UK and abroad. We operate via our collective of five brands; Skills for Health, Skills for Justice, SFJ Awards, People 1st International and ICQ Awards, which deliver specialist, targeted skills interventions to support a variety of frontline public services. The Workforce Development Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement up to a maximum of 28 days, plus public holidays and a potential Christmas closure
• Flexible working - 50% working from home with a dress for your day approach
• Staggered start and finish time
• Employee referral recruitment scheme
• We provide enhanced leave, bereavement, carers, maternity, paternity and sickness leave.
• Health and wellbeing benefits, access to our mental health first aiders, a confidential employee assistance programme, free eye tests and payment for an annual flu jab
• Enhanced pension scheme, with a contribution matching up to a combined 12%, and the option to join the Salary Exchange Pension Scheme along with death in service coverage at three times annual salary.
• Flexible employee benefits, portal including a cycle to work scheme
• Buy annual leave scheme
• Organisational development days and departmental training budgets
• Payroll giving, this is a tax‑free way to donate to any charity, good cause or place of worship