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- Tasks: Drive apprenticeship opportunities and build lasting relationships in the Early Years and Childcare sector.
- Company: Join a passionate community dedicated to empowering learners and educators.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, extra day off for your birthday, and paid volunteering leave.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in education while achieving your career goals.
- Qualifications: Proven sales experience in apprenticeships and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Remote work with a focus on inclusivity and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 42000 £ per year.
At Shaping Lives, we’re more than a team, we’re a community of passionate, values-driven individuals united by one shared mission: to inspire, support, and empower every learner, every time. We are dedicated to making learning engaging, accessible, and transformative, equipping educators with the tools they need to reach their full potential, make a positive impact, and inspire others in turn.
Our mission is driven by five core values: Purpose, Positioning, Values, Personality, and Proposition. We are proud to say that 91% of our apprentices report satisfaction with their learning experience and the professional growth they’ve achieved with us.
In this role, you’ll be a key member of our growing Business Development team, using a solution-focused approach to identify apprenticeship opportunities and drive learner starts across your region or sales vertical—particularly within the Early Years and Childcare sector. As a confident and experienced sales professional, you’ll leverage your communication skills and commercial insight to secure new business, build lasting relationships, and tailor solutions that reflect our values and strategic goals. Your consultative approach will position Shaping Lives as the provider of choice for both new and existing partners.
Key Responsibilities- Achieve KPIs and apprenticeship targets through new business and account management
- Identify and engage SME clients, especially in Education
- Provide expert guidance on the Apprenticeship Levy and ROI for clients
- Design tailored apprenticeship solutions and build lasting client relationships
- Collaborate with internal teams to ensure smooth onboarding and delivery
- Proven success in apprenticeship sales, ideally in Early Years and childcare/education
- Strong commercial acumen and consultative sales approach
- Confident communicator with experience presenting to decision‑makers
- Self‑motivated, organised, and target‑driven
- Passionate about apprenticeships and making a difference
- Proficient in MS Office; CRM experience a plus
- Willingness to travel nationally with a business‑insured vehicle
- Generous Annual Leave: 20 days, increasing with length of service, plus a holiday purchase scheme
- Holiday Benefits: 3 Paragon Days for our operational December closure and 8 Public Bank Holidays
- Extra Day Off: Enjoy an additional day off to celebrate your birthday
- Paid Volunteering Leave: Up to 3 days of paid leave for volunteering opportunities and corporate conscience initiatives
- Perkbox: Access to a wide range of lifestyle benefits and wellness tools
- Recognition and Long Service Awards: Celebrating the milestones and contributions of our colleagues
We are a Disability Confident Employer and have a guaranteed interview scheme in place to ensure that nobody is overlooked or discriminated against because of their disability. If you meet the minimum criteria when you apply and you have informed us in your application that you have a disability, you will be guaranteed an interview for that role.
To promote and maintain an inclusive working environment, as part of your application process we will ask you to share data on certain characteristics. These answers will not form part of the selection and recruitment process and will not be shared with anyone outside of the People Team.
Shaping Lives is committed to the safeguarding and wellbeing of our learners and colleagues and we implement robust safer recruitment practices to support this. Dependant on the role you are applying for, we may undertake a number of necessary checks to confirm you are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults, which may include a Disclosure and Barring Service check. We are also committed to promoting equality and inclusion throughout our colleague and learner populations.
Business Development Manager employer: Paragon Skills
Contact Detail:
Paragon Skills Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education and childcare sectors. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential employers and showcase your passion for apprenticeships.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Shaping Lives thoroughly, understand their values, and think about how your experience aligns with their mission. Be ready to discuss how you can help them achieve their apprenticeship targets.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your consultative sales approach! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've tailored solutions for clients in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to build lasting relationships and drive learner starts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our community at Shaping Lives.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your passion for apprenticeships shine through! We want to see how much you care about making a difference in the education sector and how you can inspire others.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect our values and mission. Highlight your experience in apprenticeship sales and how it aligns with what we do at Shaping Lives. This will show us that you understand our goals!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and skills, especially those related to business development and client relationships. We appreciate clarity!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to navigate!
How to prepare for a job interview at Paragon Skills
✨Know Your Values
Before the interview, take some time to really understand Shaping Lives' core values: Purpose, Positioning, Values, Personality, and Proposition. Think about how your own values align with theirs and be ready to share specific examples of how you've embodied these in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Sales Success
Prepare to discuss your past achievements in apprenticeship sales, especially within the Early Years and Childcare sector. Use quantifiable metrics to demonstrate your success, like KPIs you've met or exceeded, and how you built lasting relationships with clients.
✨Tailor Your Approach
Since this role requires a consultative sales approach, think about how you can tailor your solutions to meet the unique needs of potential clients. Be ready to discuss how you would identify and engage SME clients and provide expert guidance on the Apprenticeship Levy.
✨Practice Your Communication Skills
As a confident communicator, you'll need to present ideas clearly to decision-makers. Practice articulating your thoughts on how you would secure new business and drive learner starts. Consider doing mock interviews with friends or family to refine your delivery.