Business Development Manager

Realise Training Group; Wales; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

25 days holiday

Career progression

Modern training facilities

Job summary

Smart Energy Training, part of Realise Training Group, seeks a dynamic regional business developer to source learners and employer clients in South Wales and adjacent England. You’ll build partnerships, promote apprenticeships, and manage a full sales pipeline from lead to learner sign-up.

You will drive regional campaigns, attend events, forecast progress, and ensure CRM data integrity while staying compliant with apprenticeship funding rules.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development, sales, or employer engagement.
• Strong understanding of energy, utilities, or sustainability sectors.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Motivated, target-driven and able to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Identify and engage new employer clients in South Wales and nearby England.
• Build long-term relationships with employers and support workforce development needs.
• Source and recruit learners for funded training programmes.
• Manage end-to-end sales pipeline from prospecting to learner sign-up.
• Collaborate with marketing and operations on regional outreach campaigns.
• Attend industry events and meetings to generate opportunities.
• Forecast and report pipeline activity and regional performance.
• Use CRM to record interactions and maintain data integrity.
• Understand apprenticeship funding, eligibility and compliance.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Employer engagement

CRM systems

Client relationship building

Tools

HubSpot

Job description

You will play a key role in driving growth for Smart Energy Training, part of the Realise Training Group, by sourcing learners and employer clients across the region. You will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building strong partnerships, and promoting apprenticeship and training solutions within the energy sector.

Your work will directly contribute to the expansion of our learner base, the achievement of business targets, and the ongoing development of sustainable relationships with employers who are investing in green and smart energy skills. This role combines hands‑on business development with strategic input to help shape the future growth of Smart Energy within a rapidly evolving industry.

What you’ll be doing

• - Proactively identify and engage new employer clients in South Wales and the surrounding parts of England, promoting Smart Energy’s apprenticeship and training offer.
• - Build and maintain long‑term relationships with employers, supporting their workforce development needs.
• - Source and recruit learners for funded training programmes, ensuring the ‘Right Learner, Right Programme’ approach.
• - Manage your own end‑to‑end sales pipeline – from prospecting and lead generation through to learner sign‑up.
• - Work closely with marketing and operations to develop and execute regional outreach campaigns.
• - Attend industry events, networking sessions, and employer meetings to build brand awareness and generate new business opportunities.
• - Provide accurate forecasting and reporting on pipeline activity, conversions, and regional performance.
• - Ensure CRM (HubSpot) is used effectively to record all interactions and maintain data integrity.
• - Maintain a strong understanding of apprenticeship funding, eligibility, and compliance requirements.
• - Uphold the Realise Training Group’s values, delivering exceptional customer service and promoting quality at every stage of the learner and employer journey.

• - Proven experience in business development, sales, or employer engagement – ideally within the technical construction skills arena.
• - Strong understanding of the energy, utilities, or sustainability sectors.
• - Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship‑building skills.
• - Highly motivated and target‑driven, with the ability to work independently and manage a varied workload.
• - Confident in using CRM systems.
• - Adaptable, proactive, and passionate about helping learners and employers succeed.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel as required.

Salary and benefits

• - £35,000 basic salary plus £5,000 car allowance.
• - 37.5 hours per week (typically Monday to Friday).
• - 25 days’ holiday plus public and bank holidays, Birthday and Christmas Eve leave.
• - Career progression and development opportunities.
• - Supportive and collaborative team culture.
• - Modern, well‑equipped training facilities.
• - Opportunity to make a lasting impact on apprentices entering the plumbing and gas industries.

About Us

• - Smart Energy Training delivers specialist training across gas, plumbing, electrical, renewable energy and smart technologies to help develop the skilled workforce of the future.
• - We combine industry expertise with a passion for developing people through high‑quality training, apprenticeships and workforce development programmes.
• - Our mission is simple: to deliver outstanding training that equips learners with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.
• - We promote the wellbeing of our learners and employees and are fully committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and fulfilling our Prevent Duty obligations.
• - All successful applicants will undergo a DBS and online search check at offer stage. Proof of qualifications and Right to Work in the UK is required.
• - Smart Energy Training is proud to be part of Realise Training Group, which has been delivering exceptional training for over 35 years. Together, we support thousands of learners every year across the UK and are proud to be part of the AQA charity group.