Business Development Manager

Paragon Skills; Remote; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A learning solutions provider in the United Kingdom is looking for a Business Development Manager focused on apprenticeships. This remote-based position involves achieving KPIs, identifying new clients in the education sector, and collaborating with teams to provide tailored apprenticeship solutions. Ideal candidates will have a background in apprenticeship sales and strong commercial skills, with the ability to build relationships and communicate effectively. Competitive salary of up to £35,000 plus bonuses is offered, alongside generous leave and benefits.

Benefits

Generous Annual Leave

Holiday Benefits

Extra Day Off for birthday

Paid Volunteering Leave

Perkbox access

Recognition and Long Service Awards

Qualifications

• Proven success in apprenticeship sales, ideally in Early Years and childcare/education.
• Confident communicator with experience presenting to decision-makers.
• Self-motivated, organised, and target-driven.

Responsibilities

• Achieve KPIs and apprenticeship targets through new business and account management.
• Identify and engage SME clients, especially in Education.
• Provide expert guidance on the Apprenticeship Levy and ROI for clients.

Skills

Consultative sales approach

Strong communication skills

Commercial acumen

Proficiency in MS Office

Experience in apprenticeship sales

Tools

CRM software

Job description

At Shaping Lives, we’re more than a team, we’re a community of passionate, values‑driven individuals united by one shared mission: to inspire, support, and empower every learner, every time.

We are dedicated to making learning engaging, accessible, and transformative, equipping educators with the tools they need to reach their full potential, make a positive impact, and inspire others in turn.

Position

Job Title - Business Development Manager - Apprenticeships

Location: Remote‑based, supporting clients in the East of England.

Hours: 36.5 hours per week (Monday – Friday)

Salary: up to £35,000 per annum plus bonus

Our mission is driven by five core values: Purpose, Positioning, Values, Personality, and Proposition. We are proud to say that 91% of our apprentices report satisfaction with their learning experience and the professional growth they’ve achieved with us. In this role, you’ll be a key member of our growing Business Development team, using a solution‑focused approach to identify apprenticeship opportunities and drive learner starts across your region or sales vertical—particularly within the Early Years and Childcare sector.

As a confident and experienced sales professional, you’ll leverage your communication skills and commercial insight to secure new business, build lasting relationships, and tailor solutions that reflect our values and strategic goals. Your consultative approach will position Shaping Lives as the provider of choice for both new and existing partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Achieve KPIs and apprenticeship targets through new business and account management
• Identify and engage SME clients, especially in and Education
• Provide expert guidance on the Apprenticeship Levy and ROI for clients
• Design tailored apprenticeship solutions and build lasting client relationships
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure smooth onboarding and delivery

Requirements

• Proven success in apprenticeship sales, ideally in Early Years and childcare/education
• Strong commercial acumen and consultative sales approach
• Confident communicator with experience presenting to decision-makers
• Self‑motivated, organised, and target‑driven
• Passionate about apprenticeships and making a difference
• Proficient in MS Office; CRM experience a plus
• Willingness to travel nationally with a business‑insured vehicle

Benefits

• Generous Annual Leave: 20 days, increasing with length of service, plus a holiday purchase scheme
• Holiday Benefits: 3 Paragon Days for our operational December closure and 8 Public Bank Holidays
• Extra Day Off: Enjoy an additional day off to celebrate your birthday
• Paid Volunteering Leave: Up to 3 days of paid leave for volunteering opportunities and corporate conscience initiatives
• Perkbox: Access to a wide range of lifestyle benefits and wellness tools
• Recognition and Long Service Awards: Celebrating the milestones and contributions of our colleagues

We are a Disability Confident Employer and have a guaranteed interview scheme in place to ensure that nobody is overlooked or discriminated against because of their disability. If you meet the minimum criteria when you apply and you have informed us in your application that you have a disability, you will be guaranteed an interview for that role.

To promote and maintain an inclusive working environment, as part of your application process we will ask you to share data on certain characteristics. These answers will not form part of the selection and recruitment process and will not be shared with anyone outside of the People Team.

Shaping Lives is committed to the safeguarding and wellbeing of our learners and colleagues and we implement robust safer recruitment practices to support this. Dependant on the role you are applying for, we may undertake a number of necessary checks to confirm you are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults, which may include a Disclosure and Barring Service check. We are also committed to promoting equality and inclusion throughout our colleague and learner populations.