Business Development Manager

S Knights Recruitment; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle or vehicle allowance

Overtime opportunities

Hybrid working

22 days' annual leave

Company pension

Eyecare vouchers

Free parking

Company events

Job summary

S Knights Recruitment is seeking a Business Development Manager to drive employer partnerships across London, focusing on apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and vocational training. You will build relationships with SMEs, identify workforce gaps, and convert opportunities into learner starts.

This is a full-time, hybrid role offering £30,000–£40,000 with a company vehicle or vehicle allowance, overtime, and additional benefits, with travel across London as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience in business development within a training or apprenticeship context.
• Proven track record of generating leads and converting opportunities into partnerships.
• Understanding of funded training provisions and learner recruitment.
• Confidently explaining funding, eligibility requirements and employer responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Identify, approach and secure new employer partnerships, particularly with SMEs.
• Build relationships with employers and understand their workforce plans and needs.
• Generate employer referrals and learner opportunities for apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps.
• Support prospective learners and employers through to enrolment and programme starts.
• Lead employer engagement activity for sector-specific upskilling projects.
• Promote NVQs, commercial training and short courses to identify additional provision.
• Attend employer meetings, networking events and industry activities.
• Develop relationships with sector bodies, local authorities and Jobcentre Plus.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and provide regular pipeline reports.

Skills

Business development

Employer engagement

Account management

Sales pipeline management

B2B sales

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Business Development Manager – Apprenticeships & Skills Bootcamps

Salary: £30,000 – £40,000 + company vehicle or vehicle allowance + overtime + benefits

Location: London – Hybrid Working

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Drive Employer Partnerships and Create New Training Opportunities

Are you an experienced Business Development Manager with a background in apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps or vocational training? Do you enjoy building employer relationships, identifying workforce skills gaps and turning new opportunities into learner starts?

A well-established training provider is looking for a commercially minded Business Development Manager to expand its employer network across London. You will help employers access relevant training provision while generating opportunities for apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and other skills development programmes.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of employer relationships, develop new business and make a measurable contribution to learner recruitment and programme growth.

About the Organisation

The organisation delivers vocational training, apprenticeships and skills development programmes designed to meet employer needs and support individuals into employment and career progression.

With a focus on employer engagement and workforce development, it works with businesses to identify skills gaps, access relevant training provision and create opportunities for learners.

About the Role

You will lead business development and employer engagement activity across London, identifying new opportunities with SMEs, subcontractors and supply‑chain partners. You will build a strong employer pipeline and help convert business opportunities into apprenticeship enrolments and Skills Bootcamp learner starts.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, approach and secure new employer partnerships, particularly with SMEs.
• Build relationships with employers and understand their workforce plans and skills requirements.
• Generate employer referrals and learner opportunities for apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps.
• Support prospective learners and employers through to enrolment and programme starts.
• Lead employer engagement activity for a construction-sector upskilling project focused on roofing.
• Promote NVQs, commercial training and short courses, identifying opportunities for additional provision.
• Attend employer meetings, networking events, careers events and industry activities.
• Develop relationships with sector bodies, local authorities and Jobcentre Plus.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and provide regular business development and pipeline reports.

The Ideal Candidate

You will have experience in business development, employer engagement or account management within a training provider, college or apprenticeship provider. You will understand the relationship between employer needs, funded training provision and learner recruitment.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Experience working for a training provider, college or apprenticeship or Skills Bootcamp provider.
• A proven record of generating leads and converting opportunities into employer partnerships, learner starts or sales.
• Understanding of apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps or other funded skills and training provision.
• Confidence explaining funding, eligibility requirements and employer responsibilities.
• Experience managing a sales pipeline and working towards monthly and annual targets.
• Competence using CRM systems and Microsoft Office.
• Based in London, with the ability to travel across the city for employer visits.

Construction, roofing or scaffolding experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Why Apply?

• Competitive Salary: £30,000 – £40,000, depending on experience.
• Vehicle Benefit: Company vehicle or vehicle allowance, subject to confirmation.
• Additional Earnings: Overtime opportunities.
• Hybrid Working: Combine home working with face-to-face employer engagement across London.
• Holiday Entitlement: 22 days' annual leave, increasing with length of service.
• Employee Benefits: Company pension, eyecare vouchers, free parking and company events.
• Career Development: Take ownership of employer partnerships and contribute to apprenticeship and skills programme growth.

Please note: This is a hybrid role requiring the successful candidate to be based in London and undertake face-to-face employer visits across the city