Business Development Executive in Sunderland

Salary: Up to £35,000 per annum

Make sure to read the full description below, and please apply immediately if you are confident you meet all the requirements.
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2HJ - office based, 5 days per week
Working pattern: Full time, permanent
About Independent Utility Advice
Independent Utility Advice is a leading utility consultancy. We help businesses reduce costs and manage their energy requirements through expert advice, procurement and ongoing account management. Our clients stay with us because of the quality of our service, our commercial insight and the long-term value we deliver.
About the role
We are looking for a Business Development Executive to help grow the business by identifying and qualifying new sales opportunities. You will be the first point of contact for prospective customers, generating high-quality appointments and leads for our Business Development Managers and Account Managers, and building a strong pipeline of new business.
This role suits someone who is confident speaking with decision-makers, comfortable working to targets, and takes pride in the experience a customer has from the very first conversation.
We are a growing business, so flexibility and teamwork matter to us. The responsibilities below cover the main parts of the role but are not exhaustive you may occasionally be asked to support with other tasks that help the wider team.
What you'll be doing
Lead generation and prospecting

• Research and identify prospective business customers across target sectors
• Generate new opportunities through outbound calls, email campaigns and social selling
• Qualify leads against agreed criteria and assess customer needs
• Build and maintain a consistent pipeline of qualified opportunities
• Secure appointments and introductions for Business Development Managers and Account Managers

Customer engagement

• Act as the first point of contact for prospective customers
• Build rapport with key decision-makers and influencers
• Explain the value of our services clearly and credibly
• Gather the information needed to support effective sales conversations

CRM and data management

• Keep accurate, up-to-date records in the CRM system
• Track all prospecting activity, lead status and outcomes
• Maintain data quality and comply with company procedures and GDPR
• Identify ways to improve prospecting data and targeting

Campaign support

• Follow up inbound enquiries and marketing-generated leads
• Give marketing feedback on lead quality and campaign performance
• Contribute ideas to improve lead generation and conversion rates
• Support promotional activities, events and customer engagement initiatives

Performance

• Meet agreed KPIs for activity levels, appointments, qualified leads and conversion rates
• Monitor your own performance and identify areas to improve
• Keep up to date with market trends, competitor activity and industry developments
• Share best practice with the wider team

What you'll bring
Essential

• Previous experience in lead generation, telesales, business development or sales support
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Confidence speaking with business owners, directors and decision-makers
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Ability to work towards targets and performance metrics
• Good IT skills, including CRM systems and Microsoft Office
• A resilient and proactive approach to work

Desirable

• Experience in utilities, energy, telecommunications or business services
• Experience using CRM platforms such as Salesforce or HubSpot
• Knowledge of B2B sales processes and lead qualification techniques
• Experience in a high-volume sales environment

Personal attributes

• Strong relationship-building skills
• Professional and customer-focused approach
• Adaptable and willing to learn
• Collaborative team player
• Strong attention to detail

What success looks like
Consistent generation of high-quality qualified leads, achievement of appointment-setting and pipeline targets, strong engagement with prospective customers, accurate and timely CRM management, and a positive contribution to overall sales growth.
What's on offer

• Private healthcare
• Cash handout week
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Tech Scheme
• 50% discount on LNER train travel
• Hotel and restaurant discounts
• Team social events and incentives
• Early Friday finishes (performance based)
• Paid day off on your birthday
• Structured onboarding and ongoing training

Additional information
This role is fully office based, five days per week. xiskglj
You may have experience of the following: Business Development Executive, Business Development Representative, Lead Generation Executive, Sales Development Representative, Telesales Executive, Inside Sales Executive, New Business Executive, Appointment Setter, Sales Executive, B2B Sales Executive.