New Business Manager - Interior Design Studio (creating new business with architects & designer[...]

Guardian Jobs; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading architectural design practice in London is seeking a proactive Business Development Manager. This role focuses on building meaningful relationships and driving growth through networking, lead generation, and marketing efforts. Candidates should possess strong communication skills and experience in design or engineering sectors.

Qualifications

• Previous new business experience in design, architecture or engineering.
• Excellent relationship-building and networking experience.
• Comfortable attending events and travelling independently.

Responsibilities

• Develop new and existing relationships with clients to ensure a buoyant pipeline of work.
• Manage and update customer relationship software.
• Prepare presentations and reports for management meetings.

Skills

Relationship building

Networking

Sales skills

Communication

Self-motivated

Job description

We're looking for a confident, proactive, and highly motivated Business Development Manager to join our ambitious and fast-paced architectural design practice based in London.

This isn't a traditional sales role — it's about building meaningful relationships and driving growth through strategic networking, lead generation and relationship management.

Ideally, you'll have a background in the design, architecture or engineering sectors and a natural ability to connect with people. You'll thrive on meeting new contacts, representing the business at events, and identifying fresh opportunities. From attending industry gatherings and hosting breakfast meetings to maintaining their CRM and contributing to marketing efforts, you'll be a key player in shaping how they grow.

The responsibilities include:

• Develop new and existing relationships with interior designers, architects, developers, retailersand end users to ensure a buoyant pipeline of work.
• Provide an initial point of contact for clients and identifying new clients via networking, LinkedIn, e-marketing and cold calling.
• Identify and attend networking opportunities, particularly those where interior designers and architects will be attending.
• Manage and update customer relationship software
• Assist with all marketing material including portfolios, brochures, press releases etc
• Develop professional relationships with clients throughout the entire process, assisting with project management where required
• Represent the business in a professional manner at all times
• Prepare presentations to clients.
• Attend monthly management meetings and prepare reports detailing tenders, sales forecast and business development activity

The ideal candidate will have previous new business experience within design, architecture or construction/engineering in the build environment. We also need

• Excellent relationship-building and networking experience
• A self-motivated, driven approach
• Excellent sales skills and be tenacious, self driven with incredible communication skills.
• Comfortable attending events and travelling (abroad at times) independently as part of the role

The client is keen to start holding interviews as soon as possible so please apply immediately if this is of interest.

At Fourteen People, we are committed to offering equal opportunities to all candidates regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, age or any other protected characteristics. We understand there is still much to be done as we partner with our clients to create and improve robust recruitment processes that will improve diversity equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Fourteen People Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.