Trainee Business Development Manager – Graduate in Crawley

Trainee Business Development Manager – Graduate in Crawley

Crawley Trainee 25000 - 32000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
Pen Underwriting UK

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our dynamic team to develop your skills in business development and insurance.
  • Company: Be part of Pen, a forward-thinking underwriting business backed by Gallagher.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25+ days holiday, health plans, and exciting career growth opportunities.
  • Other info: We value diversity and inclusion, ensuring everyone has a voice.
  • Why this job: Transform the insurance landscape while gaining hands-on experience and mentorship.
  • Qualifications: A strong commercial mindset and eagerness to learn are essential.

The predicted salary is between 25000 - 32000 € per year.

At Pen, we don’t just underwrite risk, we unlock possibility. We’re a dynamic underwriting and distribution business backed by the strength of Gallagher and powered by a belief that every challenge has a solution. With entrepreneurial energy, niche expertise, and a bold growth mindset, we’re transforming what it means to be an MGA in today’s insurance landscape. Whether you’re shaping new products, solving complex problems, or collaborating across teams, your ideas and initiative will help deliver smarter solutions for our clients—and move the industry forward. Here, agility meets stability. Creativity meets execution. And your career meets real opportunity. At Pen, we champion innovation, value accountability, and thrive on building something better together. If you’re looking to join a team that’s rewriting the future of underwriting, we’d love to hear from you.

Overview

This graduate role is designed to develop high‑potential talent into Trainee Business Development Managers (BDMs) within 24 months. The successful candidate will be embedded within the Broker Solutions team, acting as an incubator, while receiving structured exposure to the BDM function throughout the programme. This is a performance‑driven, sales‑focused development pathway with clear accountability and progression.

How You'll Make An Impact

  • Introduction to insurance products, distribution model, and broker landscape
  • Training on sales fundamentals, pipeline management, and internal systems
  • Deliver cross‑sell and new business initiatives
  • Support Business Development Managers with broker relationships
  • Exposure to BDM activity (shadowing calls and meetings)
  • Ownership of a small broker portfolio (towards end of period)
  • Active management of pipeline and revenue opportunities
  • Eventual participation in broker strategy and growth planning
  • Maintain accurate CRM and pipeline reporting

About You

  • Strong commercial mindset and curiosity
  • High energy and resilience in a sales environment
  • Confident communicator, particularly over the phone
  • Competitive and target‑driven
  • Structured and organised approach to workload
  • Willingness to learn quickly and take ownership early
  • Right to work in the UK

Compensation And Benefits

On top of a competitive salary, great teams and exciting career opportunities, we also offer a wide range of benefits:

  • Minimum of 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays, and the option to ‘buy’ extra days
  • Defined contribution pension scheme, which Gallagher will also contribute to
  • Life insurance, which will pay 4x your basic annual salary, which you can top‑up to 10x
  • Income protection, we’ll cover up to 50% of your annual income, with options to top up
  • Health cash plan or Private medical insurance

Other Benefits Include

  • Three fully paid volunteering days per year
  • Employee Stock Purchase plan, offering company shares at a discount
  • Share incentive plan, HMRC approved, tax effective, stock purchase plan
  • Critical illness cover
  • Discounted gym membership, with over 3,000 gyms nationally
  • Season ticket loan
  • Access to a discounted voucher portal to save money on your weekly shop or next big purchase
  • Emergency back‑up family care
  • And many more…

We value inclusion and diversity

Inclusion and diversity (I&D) is a core part of our business, and it’s embedded into the fabric of our organisation. For more than 95 years, Gallagher has led with a commitment to sustainability and to support the communities where we live and work. Gallagher embraces our employees’ diverse identities, experiences and talents, allowing us to better serve our clients and communities. We see inclusion as a conscious commitment and diversity as a vital strength. By embracing diversity in all its forms, we live out The Gallagher Way to its fullest.

Gallagher is Disability Confident & Committed. We have pledged to make sure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, in addition to supporting our existing employees with any long‑term health conditions or disabilities. We understand that applicants may have disabilities; if you do, you may find some parts of the recruitment process more challenging than others. Don’t worry, we’re here to help, however, we can only do this if you let us know. Should you require reasonable adjustments to your application, please get in touch with TAGlobalSupport@ajg.com. If you’d prefer to speak on the phone, please request a call back, leaving details, so we get in touch.

Our employing entity, Arthur J. Gallagher Services (UK) Limited, is proud to be accredited as a Living Wage employer with the Living Wage Foundation. We are committed to diversity and opportunity for all and are opposed to any form of less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender or gender identity, marital status, civil partnership status, parental status, race, ethnicity, colour, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, religion/ belief, age and those with caring responsibilities. Gallagher believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity and prohibits any form of discrimination by its managers, employees, vendors or customers based on race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy status), sexual orientation, gender identity (which includes transgender and other gender non‑conforming individuals), gender expression, hair expression, marital status, parental status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected (herein referred to as “protected characteristics”) by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Equal employment opportunity will be extended in all aspects of the employer‑employee relationship, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, layoff, and termination. In addition, Gallagher will make reasonable accommodations to known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified person with a disability, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

Trainee Business Development Manager – Graduate in Crawley employer: Pen Underwriting UK

At Pen, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant work culture where innovation and collaboration thrive. With a strong commitment to employee growth, our Trainee Business Development Manager programme offers structured training, mentorship, and the opportunity to take ownership of projects early on. Located in a dynamic environment, we provide competitive benefits, including generous holiday allowances, health plans, and a focus on inclusion and diversity, making us an ideal place for graduates looking to launch their careers in the insurance industry.

Pen Underwriting UK

Contact Detail:

Pen Underwriting UK Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Trainee Business Development Manager – Graduate in Crawley

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. The more you engage, the better your chances of landing that Trainee Business Development Manager role.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Research Pen and understand their values and goals. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their mission of unlocking possibilities in underwriting.

Tip Number 3

Show off your sales skills! During interviews, share examples of how you've successfully managed projects or driven results. Remember, they’re looking for that competitive, target-driven mindset!

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Pen and being part of their innovative journey.

We think you need these skills to ace Trainee Business Development Manager – Graduate in Crawley

Commercial Mindset
Sales Fundamentals
Pipeline Management
Broker Relationship Management
CRM Reporting
Communication Skills
Organisational Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see that you’re excited about the opportunity to join our team and contribute to transforming the insurance landscape.

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Trainee Business Development Manager role. Highlight relevant experiences and skills that align with what we’re looking for, like your commercial mindset and sales experience.

Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read. Use bullet points where necessary to make your key achievements stand out!

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 this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Pen Underwriting UK

Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, dive deep into understanding Pen's business model and the insurance landscape. Familiarise yourself with their products and how they unlock possibilities for clients. This knowledge will show your genuine interest and help you stand out.

Show Your Sales Savvy

Since this role is sales-focused, be prepared to discuss your understanding of sales fundamentals. Think of examples from your past experiences where you've demonstrated a competitive spirit or successfully managed a project. Highlighting your commercial mindset will resonate well.

Be Ready to Communicate

As a confident communicator, practice articulating your thoughts clearly, especially over the phone. You might be asked to role-play a sales call, so rehearse how you'd engage a broker or client. Good communication skills are key in this role!

Embrace the Challenge

Pen values resilience and a willingness to learn. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in the past and what you've learned from them. Show that you're not just looking for a job, but are eager to grow and contribute to the team.