Business Development Manager – Apprenticeships & Commercial Training

Lt Selection; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

LT Selection is supporting a specialist training provider to recruit a commercially minded Business Development Manager to grow employer partnerships and develop its apprenticeship and commercial training provision.

You will identify employer needs, recommend training solutions and build lasting relationships, focusing on apprenticeships, work-based qualifications and short courses that work for both employers and learners.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable record in business development, employer engagement, training sales or recruitment with proven wins and lasting client relationships.
• Strong communication, proposal development, negotiation and follow-up skills.
• Disciplined pipeline management and accurate record-keeping.

Responsibilities

• Identify and engage prospective employers through outreach, referrals, networking and meetings.
• Qualify opportunities by understanding workforce priorities and presenting training solutions.
• Coordinate with curriculum and compliance to confirm suitability, eligibility and training routes.
• Develop existing accounts, follow up enquiries and identify opportunities for repeat business.
• Manage proposals, negotiation and follow-up through to training plans, enrolment and handover.
• Maintain CRM records, pipeline quality and reliable forecasts.
• Work toward agreed apprenticeship-start and commercial-income targets with awareness of cohort dates and delivery capacity.
• Share employer feedback and uphold safeguarding, equality and inclusion.

Skills

Business development

Employer engagement

Sales

Recruitment

Client relationships

Pipeline management

CRM

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Business Development Manager – Apprenticeships & Commercial Training

Working arrangement: At least two days each week in the office in Erdington, Birmingham
Salary: Up to £45,000 a year
Working pattern: Full-time role envisaged
Anticipated start: January/February 2027, with flexibility by agreement

The opportunity

LT Selection is supporting a specialist training provider seeking a commercially minded Business Development Manager to grow employer partnerships and develop its apprenticeship and commercial training provision.

You will explore employers’ workforce needs, recommend suitable training and build lasting relationships. The portfolio includes apprenticeships, work-based qualifications and short courses, with a focus on solutions that work for both employers and learners.

What you will do

• Identify and engage prospective employers through targeted outreach, referrals, networking and meetings.
• Understand workforce priorities and skills gaps, qualify opportunities and present relevant training solutions.
• Work with curriculum and compliance colleagues to confirm suitability, eligibility and the appropriate training route.
• Develop existing accounts, follow up enquiries and identify opportunities for repeat business and wider employer engagement.
• Manage proposals, negotiation and follow-up through to agreed training plans, enrolment and handover.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, a well-qualified pipeline and reliable forecasts.
• Work towards agreed commercial and learner-start targets, taking account of cohort dates and delivery capacity.
• Share employer feedback and uphold safeguarding, equality and inclusion.

What you will bring

You will have a demonstrable record in business development, employer engagement, training sales or recruitment, with evidence of winning business and developing lasting client relationships. Strong candidates from recruitment backgrounds are welcome and should be able to explain how their experience transfers to employer-led training sales.

You will be confident asking questions, understanding a client’s needs and presenting a relevant solution. Strong communication, proposal development, negotiation and follow-up skills matter, alongside disciplined pipeline management and accurate records.

A proactive approach, sound commercial judgement and willingness to learn a specialist training portfolio are essential. You will work collaboratively with leadership, curriculum, compliance and delivery colleagues.

Useful experience

Experience of apprenticeship recruitment, funded learning, commercial training or workforce development would be valuable, but is not essential. Relevant employer relationships, multi-site account management or planning recruitment around cohort starts would also be useful.

Your initial focus

You will learn the portfolio and delivery model, complete a structured handover, maintain progress on live enquiries and agree a focused prospecting and account-development plan. Success will mean a healthy pipeline, new and repeat employer business, accurate forecasting and achievement of agreed apprenticeship-start and commercial-income targets. Numerical targets will be agreed as part of the final role brief.