Business Development Manager - Kent

Location: Remote-based with clients based in Kent / South East

Hours: 36.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday)

Salary: Up to £37,500 DOE + Quarterly Bonus

Shape Futures. Drive Growth. Make a Difference.

At Shaping Lives, we’re passionate about transforming careers, supporting employers, and creating meaningful opportunities through apprenticeships. Our mission is built around five core principles: Purpose, Positioning, Values, Personality, and Proposition, and we’re proud that 91% of our apprentices report satisfaction with their learning experience and professional development.

We’re looking for an ambitious and commercially driven Business Development Manager to join our growing Commercial team. This is an exciting opportunity for a proven apprenticeship sales professional to drive new business growth, build strategic partnerships, and generate apprenticeship starts across the Early Years and Childcare sector.

Working consultatively, you’ll engage employers of all sizes, identifying skills gaps and delivering tailored apprenticeship solutions that demonstrate real business value. Your ability to build trusted relationships and position Shaping Lives as the provider of choice will be key to your success.

Key Responsibilities

• Achieve and exceed apprenticeship enrolment and sales targets through a combination of new business development and account management.
• Identify, engage and develop opportunities with SME and larger employers within the Early Years, Childcare and Education sectors.
• Create and implement effective business development plans to generate new leads, partnerships and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Provide expert Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to employers on apprenticeships, funding options and the Apprenticeship Levy.
• Demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) and organisational benefits of apprenticeships to prospective and existing clients.
• Design bespoke apprenticeship solutions that align with employer objectives, workforce challenges and growth strategies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers at all levels.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure a seamless onboarding experience and successful programme delivery.
• Accurately maintain CRM records, sales activity and learner documentation.
• Continuously review performance, market trends and sector developments to maximise opportunities and drive growth.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven track record in apprenticeship sales, business development or employer engagement. (Childcare apprenticeships would be a bonus)
• Experience securing new business and managing accounts in a consultative sales environment.
• Strong understanding of apprenticeship funding and the Apprenticeship Levy.
• Experience presenting solutions and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work towards and exceed sales targets and KPIs.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify opportunities and demonstrate value.
• Confident presenting to senior leaders, business owners and decision-makers.
• Experience using CRM systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of labour market trends and workforce development solutions is advantageous.
• Familiarity with consultative sales methodologies such as SPIN Selling or Challenger Sales is desirable.

Benefits

• 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.