At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive business growth and build partnerships in the Early Years and Childcare sector.
- Company: Join Shaping Lives, a passionate team transforming careers through apprenticeships.
- Benefits: Up to £37,500 salary, generous leave, paid volunteering days, and wellness perks.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a commitment to safeguarding and career development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by connecting employers with tailored apprenticeship solutions.
- Qualifications: Proven sales experience in apprenticeships and strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 50000 £ per year.
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.
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Business Development Manager - Kent in London employer: Shaping Lives
Shaping Lives is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its staff, offering flexible hours to accommodate a healthy work-life balance. With a supportive work culture that values innovation in teaching methods, employees are encouraged to utilise digital tools to enhance learner engagement. Located in Bournemouth, this role not only provides meaningful employment but also the opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of learners pursuing their safeguarding qualifications.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager - Kent in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager - Kent in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Shaping Lives, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Shaping Lives
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
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✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
Get familiar with Shaping Lives’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.
