At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive new business by securing sponsorships and exhibitions with top tech brands.
- Company: Join Informa Festivals, a leader in innovative B2B events and part of the FTSE 100.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and employee wellbeing.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of Africa's leading tech festival and make impactful connections.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in sales with a proven track record in winning new business.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 € per year.
Informa Festivals marks an exciting new chapter in B2B events, bringing some of the world's most influential creative, technology and business festivals together. We’re combining prestigious events like Cannes Lions, Black Hat, Money20/20, GDC, and London Tech Week with cutting‑edge marketing intelligence platforms and advisory services to deliver unmissable experiences and insights. Our festival‑led approach reimagines traditional B2B events, creating powerful, immersive experiences that drive innovation and industry advancement.
This role is based in our 5 Howick Place office. Africa Tech Festival, part of Informa Festivals, is the continent’s leading technology event, bringing together 15,000+ attendees and 300+ partners each year. We are hiring a pure new business hunter to accelerate sponsorship and exhibition revenue from enterprise and blue‑chip technology brands. This role is about winning new logos. You will be highly proactive, commercially driven and comfortable building opportunities from scratch — owning the full sales cycle and closing meaningful, high‑value deals.
What You’ll Do
- Identify, target and win new business sponsorship and exhibition partners
- Build and execute outbound strategies into enterprise technology accounts
- Own the full sales cycle: prospecting, discovery, solution design, negotiation and close
- Sell high‑value, ROI‑led partnerships across live events and digital products
- Close 5–6 figure deals with senior decision‑makers at global and regional tech brands
- Build and maintain a strong, self‑generated pipeline
- Forecast accurately and deliver consistently against revenue targets
- Operate at pace within a high‑energy, high‑performance sales team
- Use social selling and Salesforce to manage pipeline and activity
Qualifications What We’re Looking For
- 3+ years’ experience in new business sponsorship, exhibition or solution‑based sales
- Proven track record as a hunter, winning new logos in a competitive B2B environment
- Demonstrable success closing 5–6 figure deals, ideally with blue‑chip or enterprise brands
- High‑agency, resilient and proactive — comfortable opening doors and creating momentum
- Strong commercial instincts with confident, value‑led selling skills
- Experience using CRM systems for pipeline, forecasting and activity logging
Additional Information
We believe that great things happen when people connect face‑to‑face. That's why we work in‑person with each other, or with customers and partners, three days a week or more. When you’re not spending time together in one of our offices or other workplaces – like at an Informa event – you get the flexibility and support to work from home or remotely. We work hard to make sure Life at Informa is rewarding, supportive and enjoyable for everyone.
Benefits
- Great community: a welcoming culture with in‑person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active diversity and inclusion networks
- Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer, with charity match funding available too
- Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on‑demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves
- Time out: 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after two years, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year
- A flexible range of personal benefits to choose from, plus company funded private medical cover
- A ShareMatch scheme that allows you to become an Informa shareholder with free matching shares
- Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, a healthy living subsidy, access to health apps and more
- Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programmes
- As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world
We’re not solely focused on a checklist of skills. We champion energy and ambition and look for colleagues who will roll their sleeves up, join in and help make things happen. If it sounds like a match and you have most — although not all — of the skills and experience listed, we welcome your application.
If you would like to request reasonable adjustments or accommodations to assist your participation in the hiring process and, or in the advertised position, please inform the appropriate Talent Acquisition Partner for the role once they have been in touch. Your request will be reviewed and considered in confidence.
At Informa, you'll find inclusive experiences and environments where all perspectives and backgrounds are welcomed. As part of this approach and our diversity and inclusion commitments, we are also formally an Equal Opportunities Employer. This means we base decisions on relevant qualifications and merit and do not discriminate on the basis of key characteristics and statuses, including all of those protected by law.
Business Development Manager, AfricaTech in London employer: Informa
Informa Festivals is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. With a strong emphasis on employee growth through bespoke training and mentoring, as well as a commitment to diversity and inclusion, team members are empowered to thrive in their careers. Located in the heart of London, our office provides a dynamic environment where you can connect with industry leaders while enjoying flexible working arrangements and generous benefits.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager, AfricaTech in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get networking! Attend industry events and connect with people in the tech space. You never know who might be looking for a Business Development Manager or who can introduce you to someone who is.
✨Tip Number 2
Leverage social media, especially LinkedIn. Share your insights on tech trends and engage with potential employers. This not only showcases your expertise but also puts you on their radar.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how you can drive revenue and win new business. Tailor your approach to each company, highlighting your experience with high-value deals.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager, AfricaTech in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to join our team and contribute to the Africa Tech Festival.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the job description. Highlight your experience in new business sponsorship and exhibition sales, and don’t forget to mention any impressive deals you've closed. We love seeing how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities of the Business Development Manager position. Keep it engaging and personal!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Informa
✨Know Your Audience
Before the interview, research Informa Festivals and their Africa Tech Festival. Understand their mission, values, and recent events. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in the company and its goals.
✨Showcase Your Hunting Skills
Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully won new business in the past. Highlight your experience in closing high-value deals and your proactive approach to building relationships with enterprise brands. Use metrics to demonstrate your success!
✨Master the Sales Cycle
Be ready to discuss your understanding of the full sales cycle. Talk about your strategies for prospecting, discovery, solution design, negotiation, and closing. This shows that you’re not just a closer but also a strategic thinker who can manage the entire process.
✨Leverage Social Selling
Familiarise yourself with social selling techniques and how to use platforms like Salesforce effectively. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve used these tools to manage your pipeline and forecast accurately in previous roles.