Business Development Manager - Apprenticeships & Skills

S Knights Recruitment; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

S Knights Recruitment is seeking a proactive Business Development Manager to drive employer engagement and new business in the Midlands region. You will identify opportunities, cultivate relationships with senior stakeholders and promote Apprenticeships, Adult Skills and workforce development solutions to meet business needs.

The role focuses on building an extensive regional employer pipeline, negotiating partnerships and guiding opportunities from prospecting to apprenticeship starts, with a

Qualifications

• Proven experience in B2B business development, employer engagement or sales.

Responsibilities

• Generate new business opportunities through proactive prospecting and employer engagement.
• Build strong relationships with employers, decision-makers and key stakeholders across the region.
• Promote Apprenticeships, Adult Skills, Employability and workforce development programmes.
• Understand employer skills requirements and identify appropriate training solutions.
• Manage regional sales pipeline and consistently develop new opportunities.
• Conduct meetings and presentations with prospective employer partners.
• Convert qualified opportunities into new employer partnerships and apprenticeship starts.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, sales forecasts and activity.

Skills

B2B business development

Employer engagement

Sales

CRM / pipeline management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Business Development Manager - Apprenticeships & Skills

Location: West Midlands (Birimingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Lichfield, Worcester, Hereford)

Salary: £35,000 £40,000 per annum

Job Type: Full-time Permanent

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced Business Development Manager, Employer Engagement Manager, Apprenticeship Sales Manager or Training Sales professional with a strong background in the UK Apprenticeships and Skills sector?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing training provider and take ownership of employer engagement and new business development across the Midlands.

You ll be responsible for identifying new opportunities, building relationships with employers and promoting Apprenticeships, Adult Skills, Employability and workforce development solutions that address real business skills needs.

If you re commercially driven, confident engaging senior stakeholders and enjoy winning new business, this role offers an excellent opportunity to make a genuine impact.

About the Organisation

You ll be joining an established training provider delivering Apprenticeships, Adult Skills, Employability and workforce development programmes to employers across a range of sectors.

The organisation works closely with employers to understand their skills requirements and connect them with appropriate training and apprenticeship solutions.

This is a collaborative environment where employer engagement, learner outcomes and business growth are closely aligned.

The Role

As Business Development Manager, you ll take responsibility for developing new employer relationships and growing commercial opportunities across the East and West Midlands.

You ll operate across the full business development cycle, from identifying and qualifying prospects through to developing relationships and converting opportunities into successful partnerships.

Key responsibilities include:

• Generate new business opportunities through proactive prospecting, networking and employer engagement.
• Build strong relationships with employers, decision-makers and key stakeholders across the region.
• Promote Apprenticeships, Adult Skills, Employability and workforce development programmes.
• Understand employer skills requirements and identify appropriate training solutions.
• Manage a regional sales pipeline and consistently develop new opportunities.
• Conduct meetings and presentations with prospective employer partners.
• Convert qualified opportunities into new employer partnerships and apprenticeship starts.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, sales forecasts and business development activity.
• Work closely with internal delivery and learner engagement teams to ensure a smooth employer journey.
• Monitor market developments, funding changes and opportunities within the Apprenticeships and Skills sector.

The Ideal Candidate

We re looking for a commercially focused Business Development Manager, Employer Engagement Manager, Apprenticeship Sales Consultant, Training Sales Manager or Employer Partnerships professional with a proven track record of generating new business.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience in B2B business development, employer engagement or sales.
• Experience selling Apprenticeships, training, qualifications or workforce development solutions.
• Strong understanding of the UK Apprenticeships and Skills sector.
• Knowledge of employer-funded and government-funded training, Apprenticeship Levy or relevant funding models.
• A proven track record of achieving sales, revenue or apprenticeship-start targets.
• Excellent consultative selling, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence engaging business owners, senior managers and key decision-makers.
• Strong pipeline management and CRM experience.
• A self-motivated, target-driven and commercially aware approach.
• Existing employer relationships across the Midlands would be advantageous.

Why Apply?

• £35,000 £40,000 salary.
• Permanent opportunity within the Apprenticeships and Skills sector.
• Opportunity to take ownership of a regional employer pipeline.
• Work across Apprenticeships, Adult Skills, Employability and workforce development.
• Build and develop long-term employer partnerships.
• Opportunity to contribute directly to business growth and learner outcomes.
• Genuine opportunity for professional development within a growing training organisation.