At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive commercial growth by identifying and developing new revenue opportunities across station assets.
- Company: Join GTR, one of the UK's largest train operating companies, with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Collaborative team culture with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experience and business growth in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in business development and strong financial modelling skills required.
Location: Hybrid
Reporting to: Head of Ancillary Revenue
Shape the Future of Commercial Growth at GTR
Are you a commercially driven business development professional with a track record of turning ideas into revenue-generating opportunities? At GTR, we're looking for an ambitious and innovative Ancillary Business Development Manager to help unlock the commercial potential of one of the UK's largest station estates. This is a unique opportunity to identify new revenue streams, transform underutilised spaces, and deliver innovative commercial solutions that enhance the customer experience while driving sustainable business growth from station assets.
About the Role
As our Ancillary Business Development Manager, you will be accountable for delivering incremental ancillary revenue growth through the development and implementation of new ancillary income opportunities, including station and car park space utilisation, retail concepts, vending, digital media, activations and emerging commercial formats. You will lead the development of new revenue-generating initiatives across the GTR estate, from concept and business case through to implementation and performance monitoring. The role offers the opportunity to shape the future of our ancillary revenue portfolio by identifying innovative ways to utilise station spaces, improve customer provision and create commercial value. Working closely with internal stakeholders, Network Rail, industry partners and suppliers, you will develop commercially viable opportunities that deliver measurable financial returns while supporting our wider strategic objectives.
What you'll be doing:
- Developing and delivering a pipeline of commercially viable ancillary revenue opportunities aligned to business objectives.
- Creating robust business cases, financial models and investment proposals to secure approval and funding.
- Identifying new revenue opportunities across station retail, vending, digital media, experiential marketing, customer services and emerging commercial formats.
- Unlocking the commercial potential of station concourses, forecourts, arches, vacant units and other underutilised assets.
- Leading commercial negotiations and acting as business owner for new development projects.
- Building effective relationships across GTR, Network Rail, TOCs, suppliers and industry partners to deliver innovative commercial solutions.
- Monitoring performance, measuring return on investment and driving continuous improvement across new initiatives.
What we're looking for:
We're looking for a commercially astute individual who combines strategic thinking with the ability to deliver results. You will bring:
- Significant experience in business development, commercial development, revenue growth, asset optimisation or property income generation.
- A proven track record of identifying and delivering opportunities that generate measurable financial returns.
- Strong financial modelling, investment appraisal and business case development skills.
- Excellent commercial negotiation and stakeholder management capabilities.
- The ability to influence stakeholders, manage competing priorities and work effectively within a regulated environment.
- A passion for innovation and identifying new ways to create commercial value.
Ancillary revenue plays a critical role in supporting GTR's long-term financial sustainability. This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the future of our commercial estate by developing new sources of income, enhancing customer experience and delivering innovative solutions at scale. You'll join a collaborative and forward-thinking team where your ideas, commercial expertise and entrepreneurial mindset can directly influence growth in the UK's biggest Train Operating Company.
Ancillary Business Development Manager employer: Govia Thameslink Railway
GTR is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at the Rail Operations Centre in Three Bridges, where no two days are the same. With a strong commitment to employee well-being, we provide a comprehensive benefits package including a final salary pension, health care, and generous travel discounts for you and your family, alongside opportunities for professional growth and a supportive work-life balance through our flexible shift structures. Join us to be part of a dedicated team that values safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement in rail operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Ancillary Business Development Manager
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We think you need these skills to ace Ancillary Business Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Govia Thameslink Railway, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Govia Thameslink Railway
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
✨Practice your technical know-how
Expect some technical questions during the interview that dive deep into your understanding of data modelling and analytics frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of data warehousing concepts and be ready to tackle any real case scenarios they might present. They’ll want to see how you approach problems using your BI toolkit.
✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
Get familiar with Govia Thameslink Railway’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.