Account Manager/Business Development Executive in London

Location: London & surrounding areas

Salary: £40,000 - £48,000 per annum

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday

Benefits: 20 days' holiday + Bank Holidays | NEST Pension | Annual Performance Bonus | Potential Shareholding Opportunity

The Opportunity

My client is a successful and growing business operating within the commercial catering and hospitality sector, and they are looking to appoint an experienced Sales & Business Development Manager to join their team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a catering, chef, hospitality, foodservice or commercial kitchen background who is looking to utilise their industry knowledge in a commercially focused sales role. You may currently be a senior chef, catering manager, hospitality manager or contract catering professional with excellent customer-facing and commercial skills, or you may already have experience in catering equipment or project sales. The key requirement is that you understand the catering environment, can build strong relationships with clients and have the commercial ability to identify opportunities and convert them into profitable projects. The role is predominantly London-based, with the majority of clients located across London and the surrounding areas. There will also be regular attendance at the company's office, as well as client meetings and site visits.

The Role

Reporting to the General Manager, you will be responsible for developing new business, managing an established client portfolio and supporting projects from initial enquiry through to handover. Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing new business opportunities across London and surrounding areas.
• Managing and growing an existing portfolio of clients.
• Identifying opportunities to increase sales from existing accounts.
• Building long-term relationships with clients, contractors and industry contacts.
• Attending client meetings, site visits and project handover meetings.
• Preparing, presenting and following up quotations and proposals.
• Working closely with design, estimating, project coordination and installation teams.
• Ensuring projects are commercially viable and achieve the required company margins.
• Gathering accurate information from clients to ensure quotations are prepared correctly.
• Supporting the design process, including providing initial drawings or information where appropriate.
• Managing the sales pipeline and progressing opportunities from initial enquiry through to order.
• Ensuring payment terms and required deposits are agreed before projects are handed over.
• Supporting the wider team with outstanding payments where required.
• Identifying opportunities for additional works and related services.
• Developing opportunities through existing supplier, contractor and industry relationships.
• Responding to sales enquiries and leads promptly, with a target of responding within 24 hours.

Business Development

A key part of the position will be identifying new markets and opportunities for growth. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop relationships across sectors such as:

• Hospitality
• Contract catering
• Healthcare
• Garden centres
• Public health
• Commercial businesses
• Other organisations requiring catering and kitchen solutions

You will be expected to take a proactive approach to business development rather than relying solely on inbound enquiries.

The Ideal Candidate

My client is particularly interested in speaking with candidates who have a strong catering or hospitality background. You could be an experienced:

• Head Chef or Senior Chef looking to move into a commercial role
• Catering Manager
• Contract Catering Manager
• Hospitality Manager
• Foodservice professional
• Commercial Kitchen Manager
• Catering Equipment Sales professional
• Kitchen Designer / Project Sales professional
• Sales professional with strong experience within the catering industry

Chef experience would be particularly advantageous, as a practical understanding of how commercial kitchens operate will allow you to understand clients' requirements and provide credible solutions. Sales experience is beneficial, but my client is also open to candidates who have developed strong commercial and customer-facing skills within the catering industry and are ready to make the move into sales.

Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Experience within catering, hospitality, foodservice or commercial kitchens.
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills.
• A commercial mindset and understanding of profitability and margins.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Confidence dealing with clients at all levels.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• The ability to identify and develop new business opportunities.
• Excellent organisation and time-management skills.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and opportunities simultaneously.
• A proactive and self-motivated approach.
• The confidence to attend client meetings and site visits.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel throughout London and surrounding areas.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is more than a traditional sales position. For someone coming from a chef or catering background, it offers the opportunity to take the knowledge and experience gained within the industry and move into a commercially rewarding role, working directly with clients and helping develop catering projects from initial concept through to completion. The successful candidate will be joining a business that is looking for someone to become a long-term member of the team, rather than simply filling a vacancy. There is also the potential for the right individual to progress towards becoming a shareholder in the business further down the line.