Graduate Research and Business Development Executive

Location – London, United Kingdom

Start Date – August 2025

Contract Type – 12 months Fixed Term Contract

Working Arrangement – Hybrid

We are looking for an analytically and commercially minded sports enthusiast to join the YouGov Sport team. You will help some of the biggest domestic and international sports rights-holders, sponsor brands, agencies and media owners to make better and more informed decisions through market leading research solutions. This graduate role will have a dual focus, allowing you to gain experience in two of YouGov Sport’s key departments: Consumer Research and Sales/Commercial.

During your time with the Consumer Research team, you will be exposed to our global data capabilities through hands-on management of research projects, which generally involves creating surveys to better understand how fans engage with various sports and sponsors then analysing the data to deliver actionable insights and reports for our clients. Working with the Commercial team, you will support our new business and account management sales cycles. The role will provide exposure to commercial responsibilities from lead generation to contract closure. Your focus will be to uncover opportunity for YouGov Sport to work with organisations across the sports and entertainment industries.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll do:

• Project management: to co-ordinate and manage research projects of varying complexity either independently or as part of a team.
• Proactive client service: by way of management, guidance and communications with clients and internal stakeholders.
• Data analysis: identifying trends while keeping an eye out for potential discrepancies and errors.
• Extrapolating and estimating data using robust samples, data models and logic.
• Report production: producing bespoke analysis and reports for clients; creating a clear narrative from the data that enables the client to make data-driven decisions.
• Learn all about our global data tools: helping subscribed clients make the most of the data in the tools.
• Ability to identify new business leads and their decision makers through research, LinkedIn and other networking platforms.
• Book and support discovery sales calls/meetings with qualified prospects, (marketers, sponsorship professionals or research experts).
• Utilise our sales enablement and CRM tools to organise daily sales activity, build sales pipeline projections and analyse personal sales performance.

These are the essentials you’ll need to get an interview:

• High level of interest and knowledge in the sport sector.
• Organised with the ability to juggle multiple projects/tasks.
• Numerical reasoning ability – identifying trends and stories from numeric data, understanding of basic numeric calculations and manipulations.
• A team player – enjoys working as part of a team, and open to learning from and passing knowledge on to others in the team and wider business unit.
• Microsoft Office proficiency essential, including Excel and PowerPoint to a high standard.
• Educated to at least degree standard.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Active listening skills to build rapport.

It would be great if you had these too, but we’ll support you if you don’t:

• A flair for the creative and coherent presentation of data-driven results; visually bringing the story alive.
• Confident presenter – presenting reports and findings to clients.
• Negotiation skills or sales experience.

What to expect from the hiring process:

• Call with Talent Partner.
• Assessment/Practical Interview.
• Final Interview with the hiring team.

Our Graduate Programme is designed to accelerate your career and provide a comprehensive foundation for success. Here’s what you can expect:

• 12-Month Development Programme: A structured programme featuring role-specific training and professional skills development to equip you for success.
• Real-World Experience: Engage in meaningful tasks and projects, gaining hands-on experience from day one.
• Exposure to Senior Leadership: Benefit from direct interactions with our CEO, graduate sponsor, and functional leaders, offering invaluable insights and mentorship.
• Comprehensive Support System: Enjoy continuous guidance from the People Experience and Development team, as well as your dedicated line manager.
• Pathway to Promotion: Successful completion of the programme can lead to a permanent role and promotion, contingent on your performance.
• Graduate Alumni Network: Stay connected with your cohort and join a vibrant community of programme alumni to support your long-term growth.

Our programme offers an incredible opportunity to build your skills, expand your network, and shape your career in a supportive and dynamic environment.

What can we offer you:

• A cohesive, fun, inclusive and supportive team environment.
• A good work-life balance.
• Access curated resources for your physical, mental, financial, and social wellbeing at your convenience, anytime, anywhere.
• Exclusive LinkedIn Learning license offering unlimited access to a vast library of high-quality, expert-led training courses that are designed to elevate your skills and foster continuous growth.
• An extra day off to celebrate yourself – enjoy an additional day to relax and celebrate your birthday.

Ready to take the first step? Apply now and be part of our next generation of leaders!

YouGov is a global online research company, offering insight into what the world thinks. We speak daily to our panel of over 27 million registered members to understand opinion and behaviours around the world. We have a strong reputation as a source of accurate data and we’re trusted by the world’s biggest brands to get it right, making us the most quoted market research source in the world.

Join our global team to help us achieve our social mission: to make millions of people’s opinions heard for the benefit of our local, national, and international communities. Understanding diversity of opinion requires diversity of background. Although our global panel of millions of people worldwide powers our research, our biggest asset is our people.

If our research is to be truly representative of what the world thinks, we need people from all walks of life to be part of the team to bring their perspective to the work we do.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, HIV status, political affiliation, socioeconomic background, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law or in line with our responsibilities as a fair and ethical employer. All employment decisions are made based on occupational qualifications, merit, and business need.