Role Overview

Our client is looking for a driven, ambitious and commercially focused Business Development Executive to join their growing sales team.

This is a new business-focused sales role, responsible for identifying potential clients, generating new opportunities and converting prospects into long-term customers. The role will involve a significant amount of outbound sales activity, including cold calling, email outreach, LinkedIn prospecting and lead generation.

The Business Development Executive  will be selling a range of IT, technology and digital skills training solutions to businesses, helping organisations develop their workforce and address their current and future technology skills needs.

You don’t need previous experience in the apprenticeship or training sector. What matters most is that you are a strong B2B salesperson who is confident picking up the phone, speaking to decision-makers, handling objections and closing new business.

Experience within apprenticeships, education, training, technology, SaaS or another consultative B2B sales environment would be advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and target new business opportunities across a range of industries.
• Generate new leads through cold calling, outbound email, LinkedIn and other prospecting activity.
• Make a high volume of quality outbound calls to prospective clients and decision-makers.
• Research organisations to identify potential business opportunities and understand their commercial and skills needs.
• Engage with senior stakeholders, including business owners, HR leaders, L&D teams and technical decision-makers.
• Build relationships with prospects and develop opportunities from initial contact through to close.
• Promote a portfolio of IT, technology and digital training solutions, including programmes covering Software Development, Cyber Security, Data, AI, Cloud and IT Support.
• Conduct effective discovery conversations and identify opportunities to upsell or cross-sell additional services.
• Arrange and conduct sales meetings, presentations and demonstrations where appropriate.
• Manage a pipeline of prospects and opportunities from initial lead through to conversion.
• Consistently achieve and exceed monthly and quarterly sales, appointment-setting and revenue targets.
• Follow up effectively with prospects and ensure opportunities progress through the sales pipeline.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure a smooth handover and positive customer experience.
• Attend networking events, industry events and other business development activities when required.
• Keep up to date with developments across the technology, digital skills and training markets.

About You

We are looking for someone who is sales hungry, resilient and confident.

You will be comfortable with the fact that this is a proactive business development role where cold calling and outbound prospecting are a core part of the job.

You should be someone who enjoys speaking to new people, isn’t afraid of rejection and is motivated by targets, commission and winning new business.

Essential:

• Proven experience in B2B sales, business development, telesales or a similar new business environment.
• A strong track record of generating and converting new business opportunities.
• Confident making cold calls and outbound sales activity.
• A confident and consultative approach to selling.
• Comfortable speaking with decision-makers and senior stakeholders.
• Highly target-driven and motivated by achieving results.
• Resilient, persistent and able to deal positively with rejection.
• Experience using CRM systems and standard Microsoft Office/digital sales tools.

Desirable:

• Experience selling IT, technology, SaaS, training or professional services.
• Knowledge of the UK apprenticeship or skills training landscape and experience within the education, training or apprenticeship sector.
• Understanding of digital and technology skills, such as Software Development, Cyber Security, Data, AI or Cloud.
• Experience selling to HR, L&D or technical decision-makers.

Sector experience is not essential. We are primarily looking for a high-performing salesperson with the attitude, drive and ability to win new business. Full product and sector training will be provided.

What We’re Looking For

This role would suit someone who:

• Enjoys picking up the phone and creating opportunities from scratch.
• Is motivated by targets and commission.
• Has a genuine hunter mentality and enjoys winning new clients.

Paul Feldman is the National Skills Agency Data Protection Officer. Your data will be stored until notice is given by you for it to be removed. Our Data Protection Policy will be forwarded to you on request. As we get a high number of applications we may be unable to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates. We will retain your details to  keep you informed of other opportunities. National Skills Agency Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy and is an Equal Opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.