Business Development Manager (Apprenticeships & Skills)

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

Job summary

Derby-based Business Development Manager role focusing on Apprenticeships and Skills, covering the East and West Midlands. You will own your pipeline, build employer partnerships, and directly influence growth in the Midlands.

Join a growing training provider offering apprenticeship solutions and workforce development programmes. You will generate new business opportunities, manage the full sales cycle, and work with internal teams to ensure a high-quality client journey.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Business Development within Apprenticeships, Training Providers, or the Skills sector.
• Strong track record of generating leads and winning employer partnerships.
• Knowledge of Apprenticeship programmes, workforce development, and employer engagement.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage a regional sales pipeline.
• Strong commercial awareness and KPI-driven mindset.
• Experience working in fast-paced, KPI-focused environments.

Responsibilities

• Generate new business opportunities across the Apprenticeships and Skills sector.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with employers across multiple industries.
• Promote apprenticeship programmes and workforce development solutions.
• Manage the full sales cycle from prospecting to negotiation and account management.
• Identify employer training needs and tailor apprenticeship solutions accordingly.
• Work with internal delivery and learner engagement teams to ensure a high-quality client journey.
• Achieve business development targets, KPIs, and revenue objectives.
• Stay informed on apprenticeship funding, ESFA changes, and sector developments.
• Maintain accurate pipeline and CRM activity records.

Job description

Business Development Manager (Apprenticeships & Skills)

Location: Derby

Salary: £35,000 – £40,000

Contract: Full-time | Permanent

Are you a driven Business Development Manager with experience in the Apprenticeships and Skills sector? Looking for a role where you can take ownership of your pipeline, build long‑term employer partnerships, and directly influence business growth across the Midlands?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing training provider where your ability to generate new business and promote apprenticeship solutions will play a key role in organisational success.

About Company

You’ll be joining a well‑established and respected training provider operating within the Employability, Apprenticeships, and Skills sector.

Focused on delivering high‑quality workforce development solutions, the organisation partners with employers across multiple industries to provide tailored apprenticeship and training programmes that support both business growth and learner progression.

With a strong reputation for quality delivery and employer engagement, they offer a supportive and collaborative environment where performance is recognised, innovation is encouraged, and career progression is genuinely achievable.

Why join?

• Opportunity to drive growth within the expanding Apprenticeships and Skills market
• Strong leadership and supportive management team
• Autonomy to manage and develop your own business pipeline
• Collaborative and target‑driven sales environment
• Genuine opportunities for career progression
• Work with a respected provider delivering impactful apprenticeship programmes

The Job

As a Business Development Manager, you will take responsibility for generating new business opportunities and developing employer partnerships across the East and West Midlands, with a key focus on Apprenticeships and Workforce Development programmes.

This is a consultative, client‑facing role where you will engage employers, identify skills gaps, and promote apprenticeship solutions aligned to workforce needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate new business opportunities across the Apprenticeships and Skills sector
• Build and maintain strong relationships with employers across multiple industries
• Promote apprenticeship programmes and workforce development solutions
• Manage the full sales cycle from prospecting and lead generation through to negotiation and account management
• Identify employer training needs and tailor apprenticeship solutions accordingly
• Work closely with internal delivery and learner engagement teams to ensure a high‑quality client journey
• Achieve business development targets, KPI’s, and revenue objectives
• Stay informed on apprenticeship funding, ESFA changes, and sector developments
• Maintain accurate pipeline and CRM activity records

Ideal Candidate

You’ll be a commercially focused and relationship‑driven Business Development professional with a strong understanding of the Apprenticeships and Skills landscape.

You will have:

• Proven experience in Business Development within Apprenticeships, Training Providers, or the Skills sector
• Strong track record of generating leads and winning new employer partnerships
• Knowledge of Apprenticeship programmes, workforce development, and employer engagement
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work independently and manage a regional sales pipeline
• Strong commercial awareness and target‑driven mindset
• Experience working within fast‑paced, KPI‑focused environments

Desirable

• Understanding of ESFA funding and apprenticeship levy opportunities
• Existing employer network within the Midlands region
• Experience selling training solutions or funded programmes

If you’re an experienced Business Development Manager looking to progress your career within the Apprenticeships and Skills sector, this is an excellent opportunity to join a growing organisation where your performance and success will be recognised and rewarded.

Apply now to take ownership of your region, build impactful employer partnerships, and drive apprenticeship growth across the Midlands.