Designate Business Manager

South East London / Kent Highly Competitive Package + Company Car + Profit Share + Pension An excellent opportunity has arisen to join a highly successful privately owned group with annual turnover in excess of £1 billion, operating across specialist wholesale, distribution and technical product markets. The group is looking to appoint a Designate Business Manager in the South East London / Kent area as part of its continued growth and long-term management development plans. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and commercially driven manager who is ready to take the next step in their career and progress towards broader business leadership. Operating within a highly decentralised structure, individual businesses are given significant freedom to make decisions locally, develop their teams and respond quickly to commercial opportunities. The successful candidate will progress towards full responsibility for a business, combining sales leadership, people management and overall commercial performance. The Role As Designate Business Manager, you will work closely with senior group leadership while developing towards increasing responsibility and autonomy. Responsibilities will include: * Leading, motivating and developing a team * Driving sales growth and improving overall business performance * Developing existing customer relationships and identifying new business opportunities * Supporting the management of budgets, margins and profitability * Recruiting, coaching and developing people * Building strong relationships with customers, suppliers and key stakeholders * Identifying opportunities to improve performance and grow the business * Making commercially sound decisions and taking ownership of results * Developing towards full responsibility for the management and performance of a business The Person We are looking for someone with proven management experience and a strong commercial background. You may currently be working as a Business Manager, Branch Manager, Profit Centre Manager, Regional Sales Manager, Area Manager, Sales Manager, Commercial Manager or Business Unit Manager. Experience within wholesale, distribution, manufacturing or technical product markets would be particularly relevant, ideally within sectors such as electrical, building services, plumbing and heating, HVAC, industrial products, building products, controls and automation, lighting, cable and technical products, or wider trade distribution. You should be able to demonstrate: * Established experience leading and developing people * A strong sales and commercial focus * Experience taking meaningful responsibility for business performance * The ability to develop customer relationships and identify growth opportunities * A good understanding of margins, profitability and commercial decision-making * Strong communication and leadership skills * Ambition to progress into broader business management and take increasing ownership and responsibility The Opportunity The group has a strong track record of developing managers and operates a decentralised structure that gives its businesses considerable autonomy. This provides the opportunity to run a business with genuine responsibility for its people, customers, commercial performance and future growth. Package & Benefits * Highly competitive package * Company car * Highly attractive profit share / bonus scheme * Pension * Excellent long-term career progression * Significant autonomy and responsibility All applications and conversations will be handled in the strictest confidence