Business Development Manager

SLS Recruitment Specialising in Further Education; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

SLS Recruitment Specialising in Further Education is seeking a Business Development Manager for our Leeds-based apprenticeships team. The role involves driving apprenticeship starts through proactive sales, prospecting new B2B clients, and building long-term relationships in a hybrid Leeds setting.

You will be responsible for identifying cross-sell opportunities in training and development solutions, maintaining CRM records, and meeting sales and billing targets.

Qualifications

• This role requires 2+ years of successful sales or account management experience.
• Experience in the apprenticeship market is essential.
• Strong prospecting and relationship-building abilities are required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, with a target-driven mindset.

Responsibilities

• Generate new business and apprenticeship starts through proactive sales activity.
• Prospect and engage new B2B clients to expand the portfolio.
• Build and manage strong, long-term client relationships.
• Identify opportunities to cross-sell training and development solutions.
• Work towards sales, activity and billing targets with accurate CRM records.

Skills

B2B sales

Account management

New business development

Telephone prospecting

Client relationship building

Communication skills

Tools

CRM system

Job description

Business Development Manager – Apprenticeships

Leeds | Hybrid – 2 days in office

We’re working with a growing training and education organisation to recruit an ambitious Business Development Manager to join their apprenticeships sales team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced B2B sales professional who understands the apprenticeship market and enjoys winning new business, developing employer relationships and driving apprenticeship starts.

The role:

• Generate new business and apprenticeship starts through proactive sales activity
• Prospect and engage new B2B clients
• Build and manage strong, long-term client relationships
• Identify opportunities to cross-sell training and development solutions
• Work towards agreed sales, activity and billing targets
• Maintain accurate CRM records and management information
• Ensure onboarding, eligibility and compliance processes are followed
• 2+ years' successful sales or account management experience
• Previous experience within the apprenticeship market
• Confident telephone prospecting and relationship‑building skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• A target-driven, resilient and proactive approach
• Someone genuinely passionate about sales and delivering excellent customer service

You'll suit this role if you're commercially driven, curious, coachable and motivated by winning new business and making a real impact through apprenticeships.