Business Development Manager

National Skills Agency; Greater London; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Healthcare scheme

35-hour working week

Retail and gym membership discounts

Profit-sharing scheme

Life insurance

Employee recognition awards

Job summary

National Skills Agency in London is seeking a Business Development Manager to grow apprenticeship and government-funded training contracts and build a strong sales pipeline. You will drive monthly targets, promote services, and maximise levy utilisation.

You will engage with levy-paying and non-levy employers, develop long-term relationships, and collaborate with internal teams to deliver high-quality training solutions.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development within a training or apprenticeship setting.
• Experience in a target-driven environment.
• Experience in client relationship development and management.
• Ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, HR leaders and L&D teams.
• Experience using CRM systems and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation, and report-writing skills.
• Confidence with LinkedIn and cold-calling engagement.
• Good working knowledge of marketing and sales principles.

Responsibilities

• Develop external client relationships and maximise sales and funding opportunities.
• Manage client relationships from lead generation through to onboarding and account growth.
• Maintain accurate CRM records (Salesforce) and track activity against KPIs.
• Represent the organisation at events, networking forums, careers fairs and conferences.
• Collaborate with internal delivery, curriculum and marketing teams to ensure a seamless onboarding experience and high-quality client delivery.
• Identify and secure new employer partnerships in line with England strategic objectives.
• Conduct skills and training needs analysis with employers, recommending tailored training delivered in-house, virtually or face-to-face.

Skills

Business development

B2B

Employer engagement

CRM systems

Negotiation

Presentation

Report writing

LinkedIn

Cold-calling

Marketing basics

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Business Development Manager - Apprenticeships & Training

Salary: £45,000

Location: Central London

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Working hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am -16:30pm

About Us

At our client, employees are placed at the heart of everything they do. As an employee-owned organisation, every team member plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the business. They foster a culture where each voice is heard and every contribution is valued. They take pride in empowering individuals and businesses to thrive. Join them and become part of a company that is dedicated to your growth, well-being, and success.

About the Role

As a Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for establishing, securing, and nurturing long-term business relationships with new and existing clients, generating new business and achieving monthly targets. This includes promoting and selling all of our client’s services—specifically apprenticeship and government-funded training contracts—maximising employer levy utilisation, and expanding the employer base.

Your Impact

• As the Business Development Manager you will work as part of a team to deliver excellence in external client relationship management, maximising sales and funding opportunities.
• Manage client relationships from lead generation and solution development through to training delivery, as well as the ongoing development and management of key accounts to maximise opportunities.
• Handle speculative calls, new enquiries, aftercare, and client service calls in a timely and professional manner, ensuring accurate record-keeping on the CRM system.
• Develop strong relationships with employers to identify and sell relevant training solutions.
• Proactively identify, target, and secure new employer partnerships in line with England strategic objectives.
• Conduct skills and training needs analysis with employers, recommending tailored short- and long-term training delivered in-house, either virtually or face-to-face.
• Build and manage a strong sales pipeline, from lead generation through to onboarding and account growth.
• Engage with levy-paying and non-levy employers, advising on the use of levy funds, co-investment, and commercial training budgets.
• Work with internal specialists to provide up-to-date guidance on apprenticeship funding rules, levy transfer opportunities, compliance, and commercial pricing options.
• Maintain accurate CRM records (Salesforce), track activity, and produce performance reports aligned to sales KPIs.
• Represent the organisation at events, networking forums, careers fairs, and industry conferences.
• Collaborate with internal delivery, curriculum, and marketing teams to ensure a seamless onboarding experience and high-quality client delivery.

What Are We Looking For?

Essential – As a Business Development Manager:

• Proven experience and a strong track record in business development, B2B, or employer engagement within a training or apprenticeship setting.
• Experience working in a target-driven environment.
• Experience in client relationship development and management.
• Ability to confidently engage and influence senior stakeholders, HR leaders, and L&D teams.
• Experience using CRM systems and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation, and report-writing skills.
• Confidence with LinkedIn and cold-calling engagement.
• Good working knowledge of marketing and sales principles.

What’s in It for You?

Our client offers a range of excellent benefits, including 30 days of annual leave (increasing with length of service), a healthcare scheme, a 35-hour working week, retail and gym membership discounts, a profit-sharing scheme, life insurance, employee recognition awards, length-of-service recognition, and more.

Our client is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcomed from all backgrounds, and equal opportunities are ensured regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, or other protected characteristics.

Paul Feldman is the National Skills Agency Data Protection Officer. Your data will be stored until notice is given by you for it to be removed. Our Data Protection Policy will be forwarded to you on request. As we get a high number of applications we may be unable to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates. We will retain your details to keep you informed of other opportunities. National Skills Agency Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy and is an Equal Opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all backgrounds