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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive growth by opening new markets and building partnerships in the leisure sector.
- Company: Join ESPO, a forward-thinking organisation with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a supportive pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in expanding ESPO's commercial footprint and customer base.
- Qualifications: Proven sales experience and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: Great office location with opportunities for personal and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 35200 - 39600 £ per year.
Overview
Organisation: ESPO
Work Location: Hybrid - Field Based with travel to ESPO, Barnsdale Way, Grove Park, Enderby
Salary: £41,208 - £45,054 per annum (Pro rata for part time)
Working Hours: Full Time, 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Fixed Term - 12 months Maternity Cover
Closing Date: Sunday 22nd February 2026
Interview Date(s): End of February/Early March 2026
Do you thrive on opening new markets and building commercial partnerships? Can you adapt across brands and sectors, tailoring your approach to different customers? Do you have experience supplying to UK Holiday Parks or International Schools sector?
About the Role
ESPO is expanding into new commercial markets and we are seeking a Business Development Manager to support both national and international growth plans. The role includes outreach into emerging commercial and third-sector markets, with a particular focus on the leisure and holiday park sector, as well as supporting ESPO International through key distribution partners to grow our presence in new and emerging international markets. This fixed-term maternity cover position offers the opportunity to develop ESPO Trading Limited's (ETL) sales channels and commercial footprint, open new markets and build partnerships that support the wider growth strategy for our brands; Smart Solutions and ESPO International. You will work across brands and sectors, adapting your approach to suit different customers and markets. You will identify and progress new customer opportunities, build networks, develop propositions and support commercial conversations that position ESPO as a trusted sourcing and procurement partner. The role combines strategic outreach with practical account development, including managing proposals, engagement plans and pipeline reporting, using CRM and customer insight tools to inform activity and forecast growth. Success in the role will involve securing new customers, establishing strong sector relationships, supporting distribution partner activity for ESPO International and enabling ESPO's commercial brands and service solutions to deliver measurable outcomes.
About You
To apply for this post, you must have:
- Proven sales and/or account management experience in a commercial environment
- Strong commercial and financial acumen with an ROI focus
- Ability to create new market channels and develop relationships at pace
- Confident communicator with strong influencing and presentation skills
- Ability to interpret datasets and complex information using ERP systems, CRM and Excel to support business development and growth.
We'd also expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the interview process.
What we offer:
- Flexible working opportunities and access to employee benefits portal with salary sacrifice car lease scheme.
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and a scheme to buy additional leave.
- Local Government Pension Scheme with a generous employer contribution.
- Opportunities for learning development.
- Great office location next to Fosse Park, with free on-site parking and easy access to M1 and M69.
Interested in Flexible Working? We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of ESPO. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below. This may include requests for term-time working, part-time hours, compressed hours, flexible start and finish times, home/remote working, etc.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Helen Swann, Head of Business Development.
How to Apply
ESPO is an inclusive organisation which is on a journey to embed and celebrate equality, diversity, and inclusion at every level. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, as having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and ideas is fundamental to our values and enriches the services we offer our customers. We particularly welcome applicants from Ethnically Diverse and LGBTQ Plus communities and people with disabilities to create a balanced workforce and one that reflects the customers we serve. Applicants with a disability who meet the criteria listed in the About You section above will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme.
To apply for this job, please click Apply Now. You will need to upload a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet the criteria listed in the About You section above. For more information, see the How to Apply section on our career site. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Employee Service Centre.
Business Development Manager in England employer: Leicestershire County Council
Contact Detail:
Leicestershire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even reach out to folks on LinkedIn. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that Business Development Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a killer pitch that highlights your experience in sales and account management. Be ready to discuss how you've opened new markets or built partnerships in the past. Confidence is key, so practice makes perfect!
✨Tip Number 3
Research, research, research! Know ESPO inside out. Understand their values, products, and market strategies. This will not only help you in interviews but also show that you're genuinely interested in the role and the company.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team. Don’t forget to tailor your supporting statement to highlight how you meet the criteria for the role!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure your supporting statement is tailored to the role. Highlight your experience in sales and account management, especially if you've worked with UK Holiday Parks or International Schools. We want to see how you can adapt your approach to different customers!
Show Off Your Commercial Acumen: Don’t forget to showcase your strong commercial and financial acumen. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've created new market channels or developed relationships quickly. This will help us see your ROI focus in action!
Be a Confident Communicator: Since this role involves a lot of communication, make sure to highlight your influencing and presentation skills. Share instances where you've successfully engaged stakeholders or led commercial conversations. We love confident communicators!
Apply Early and Through Our Website: Remember, we might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so don’t wait! Apply through our website as soon as you can, and ensure all your documents are polished and ready to go. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leicestershire County Council
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the leisure and holiday park sector. Understand the current trends, challenges, and opportunities. This knowledge will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your ability to adapt across different markets.
✨Showcase Your Sales Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully opened new markets or built partnerships. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, making it clear how your experience aligns with the role's requirements.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Be ready to discuss how you've used financial metrics to drive business decisions in previous roles. Highlight your ROI focus and how you've interpreted datasets to inform your strategies. This will show that you have the commercial mindset ESPO is looking for.
✨Align with Company Values
Research ESPO's values and think of instances where you've demonstrated similar principles in your work. Be prepared to share these examples during the interview, as cultural fit is just as important as skills and experience.
