Business Development Manager

ESP Utilities Group Ltd; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ESP Utilities Group Ltd is seeking a dynamic Business Development Manager to drive sustainable growth across the multi-utility sector. The role focuses on building trusted relationships, identifying new opportunities, and delivering value to both new and existing clients.

The ideal candidate will cover the North of England and Scotland, work with the commercial team to prioritise leads, and negotiate contracts in line with ESP’s guidelines.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in business development within the multi-utility sector (gas/electric/water).
• Ability to identify opportunities, qualify deals and manage a sales pipeline.
• Strong communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver volume and value targets.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities in the multi-utility sector.
• Meet with prospective clients to document requirements and articulate ESP value.
• Create and execute strategic business development plans to achieve revenue targets.
• Generate and manage a robust pipeline across public and private sector utilities.
• Lead client engagement activities including meetings, presentations, and industry events.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to identify opportunities.
• Prioritise leads with the commercial team and negotiate contracts per company guidelines.

Skills

Business development

Relationship building

Negotiation

Strategic planning

Public speaking

Job description

We’re looking for a dynamic Business Development Manager to drive sustainable growth and strengthen ESP Utilities’ position in the multi-utility sector. This role is all about building trusted relationships, identifying new opportunities, and delivering value to both new and existing clients.

We are ideally looking for and individual who is able to cover the North of England & Scotland.

Key Responsibilities

• Accountable to deliver volume and value targets.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities within the multi-utility sector
• Meeting with prospective clients to understand and document their requirements, articulating the benefits and value add of the ESP proposition. Qualify these opportunities to determine whether they are worth pursuing.
• Create and execute strategic business development plans to achieve revenue and growth targets.
• Generate and manage a robust pipeline of opportunities across public and private sector utility clients.
• Lead client engagement activities, including meetings, presentations, networking events, and industry conferences.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities within regulated and non-regulated utility markets.
• Work with the commercial team to prioritise leads, opportunities and relationships to ensure optimum use of time and capacity
• Negotiate commercial contracts in line with the company’s rules and guidelines.

Key Skills

• Highly motivated individual with proven technical and commercial experience as a business development manager, sales executive or other relevant role in the multi-utility (gas/elect/water) sector, ideally with a current network of contacts useful to the D2D strategy.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with companies, contractors, framework providers, and key industry stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, understanding their requirements and aligning solutions accordingly.
• Develop long-term customer partnerships to drive repeat business and account growth.
• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction throughout the sales lifecycle.
• Strong contract negotiator with the ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly organised, self-motivated with the ability to operate autonomously, but must ultimately thrive as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
• Excellent time management and planning skills.
• Persuasive manner, tenacious attitude and confident communication and presentation skills.

Joining ESP Utilities Group now is an exciting opportunity to become part of a business that is playing a vital role in shaping the UK's infrastructure and supporting the transition to a more sustainable future. As one of the UK's largest and longest-established independent multi-utility network operators, ESP delivers essential services including electricity, gas, water, wastewater and heat to more than 1.1 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across the country.

This is a period of significant growth and innovation for the business. ESP is at the forefront of major industry developments, helping to enable electric vehicle infrastructure, supporting low-carbon technologies and investing in the utility networks that will be critical to the UK's future energy needs. Employees have the opportunity to contribute to projects that make a tangible difference to communities, businesses and the environment.

With more than 25 years of industry experience, ESP combines the stability of an established organisation with the pace and ambition of a growing business. This creates an environment where individuals can develop their careers, broaden their expertise and make a meaningful impact. The company continues to invest in its people, technology and infrastructure, offering employees the chance to be part of a forward-thinking organisation with a clear vision for the future.

For those looking to join a business that values innovation, collaboration and long-term growth, there has never been a better time to join ESP Utilities Group and help power the next generation of utility solutions across the UK.