Commercial Director

ZipRecruiter; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Access Training is seeking a Commercial Director to lead sales and business development, design growth plans, and manage strong stakeholder relations. This role offers a competitive salary and a supportive work culture, directly impacting learners and employers in a period of expansion.

Benefits

10% employer pension contribution

30 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Extra week off at Christmas

CPD as required

Qualifications

• Senior-level success in sales, business development, or commercial leadership.
• Experience with universities or further education providers.
• Knowledge of apprenticeship funding rules.

Responsibilities

• Lead sales, marketing, and business development activities.
• Design and deliver growth plans and manage a talented team.
• Build partnerships with universities and external stakeholders.

Skills

Commercial Leadership

Business Development

Sales Management

Job description

Job Description

About us

AccessTraining is a rapidly growing apprenticeship and commercial training provider, now part of the University of Sunderland group. We run high-quality programmes in Business and Management, Digital and Technical, Accountancy, and Fire, Emergency, and Security Systems.

About the role

We need a Commercial Director who can lead our sales, marketing, and business development activities and play a key strategic role in shaping the organisation’s future.

Working closely with internal teams, the University of Sunderland, and a wide range of external stakeholders, you will drive growth and ensure long-term sustainability. You will design and deliver growth plans, manage a talented team, launch new training products, and build strong partnerships, including a joint work-based learning offer with the University.

Staying ahead of policy changes and market trends, and reporting clearly on commercial performance and opportunities, will be central to your success.

About you

You will bring senior-level success in sales, business development, or commercial leadership within apprenticeships, training, or higher education. You know how to grow revenue, develop people, and manage complex stakeholder relationships with confidence and clear analytical insight.

Experience with universities or further-education providers, knowledge of apprenticeship funding rules, and skills in creating work-based learning or CPD programmes would be a bonus.

Why work for us?

This is a great career opportunity to influence a respected provider during an exciting expansion. You will work in a supportive, ambitious culture where your decisions have a visible impact on learners, employers, and the wider economy.

We are offering a salary range of £58,000 - £64,000 depending on experience.

We will provide a 10 percent employer pension contribution for this role, 30 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, an extra week off at Christmas, and CPD as required. Our hybrid model expects you to spend about half of your working hours on site or with clients; this role is not suitable for fully remote working.

How to apply

Please email your CV and a covering letter to Rema Malik, HR Coordinator, at [e-mail] by 16:00 on Friday 20th June 2025. We will be looking to interview in early July 2025.

Equal Opportunity Statement and Confident Scheme

At Access Training, we are committed to providing equal opportunities in all aspects of employment. We comply with the Equality Act 2010 and are dedicated to recruiting, training, and promoting employees based on merit. We do not discriminate against any individual based on race, gender, disability, belief, or other protected characteristics. We are also a recognised Confident employer and encourage applicants with disabilities to apply for our roles. We are committed to offering an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for any roles advertised. If you would like to be considered for this role under the scheme, please let us know at [e-mail].