Customs & Business Development Apprentice

We Are Zenith; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Instant Clearances Ltd is offering a Customs & Business Development Apprenticeship in Sunderland. You’ll learn how to identify new business opportunities, engage with potential customers and support marketing activities while gaining exposure to customs procedures and international trade.

No prior experience is required as full training will be provided, and you’ll study for a Level 4 Sales Executive Apprenticeship while building practical commercial skills in a fast-paced logistics environment.

Qualifications

• No previous experience required; full training will be provided.
• Interested in business, customer relationships, logistics or international trade.
• Confident and clear communicator, both written and spoken.
• Organised and able to manage multiple tasks.
• Motivated, reliable and proactive.

Responsibilities

• Business Development: contact prospective customers, research opportunities, qualify leads, build relationships, support enquiries, update CRM.
• Marketing & Social Media: create content, assist campaigns, promote services, monitor engagement.
• Customs & Administration: understand customs processes, assist with entries and documentation, maintain records, provide admin support.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to build a career in business development, customer engagement and international trade. Apprenticeships include time away from work for specialist training. You'll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

About this employer:

Instant Clearances Ltd is a specialist customs clearance and logistics provider supporting businesses with their import and export requirements across the UK and internationally. We help our customers navigate customs procedures efficiently, ensuring goods move smoothly across borders while remaining compliant with current regulations. Based within a growing and fast-paced industry, we are looking for an ambitious apprentice to join our team and support the continued growth of the business.

What you’ll do at work

As a Customs & Business Development Apprentice, you will play a key role in helping us identify new business opportunities, engage with potential customers, and support our marketing activities. You'll spend most of your time developing commercial skills such as lead generation and relationship building, while also gaining valuable exposure to customs and logistics operations.

This role would suit someone who enjoys communicating with people, wants to learn about business growth, and is motivated to develop a long-term career within a professional environment.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development

• Contact prospective customers through outbound calls and follow-up activity.
• Research and identify new business opportunities.
• Generate and qualify leads for the business.
• Build relationships with potential and existing customers.
• Support customer enquiries and maintain regular communication.
• Update customer records and interactions within the company CRM system.
• Assist with sales campaigns and business growth initiatives.

Marketing & Social Media

• Support the creation of content for social media platforms.
  Assist with marketing campaigns aimed at generating new business enquiries.
• Promote company services across digital channels.
• Monitor engagement and contribute ideas to increase brand awareness.

Customs & Administration

• Gain an understanding of customs clearance processes and international trade.
• Support the team with customs entries and associated documentation.
• Assist with maintaining accurate customer and operational records.
• Provide administrative support to the wider team as required.
• Ensure information and documentation is processed accurately and efficiently.

What We’re Looking For

We're looking for someone who is:

• Confident and comfortable speaking with people.
• Eager to learn and develop new skills.
• Organised and able to manage multiple tasks.
• Motivated, reliable and proactive.
• A good communicator, both verbally and in writing.
  Comfortable using Microsoft Office applications.
• Interested in business, customer relationships, logistics or international trade.
• No previous experience is required as full training will be provided.

What You’ll Gain

• A Level 4 Sales Executive Apprenticeship qualification.
• Hands-on experience in business development and customer engagement.
• Training in lead generation, relationship management and commercial awareness.
• Exposure to customs clearance and international trade processes.
• Ongoing support and mentoring from experienced professionals.
• The opportunity to develop a long-term career within a growing business.