Business Development Manager – Apprenticeships, SME

KnowledgeBrief

. Develop apprenticeship partnerships with small and medium-sized employers .

Posted 11/10/2026full-timeLondon • United KingdomEntry Level💰 £35,000 - £45,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in consultative sales, building apprenticeship partnerships, and managing client relationships to achieve commercial results. Proficient in research, organization, and CRM management to support successful learner outcomes and meet apprenticeship start targets.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Consultative Sales ApproachClient Relationship ManagementPipeline ManagementCommunication SkillsResearch Skills

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Sales GenerationProposal PreparationApprenticeship Funding KnowledgeLearning Solutions RecommendationMarket Insight Analysis

Soft Skills

Self-MotivationResilienceCollaborationPresentation SkillsThoughtful Questioning

Tools & Technologies

CRM SoftwareEmail CommunicationLinkedIn Networking

Industry Keywords

ApprenticeshipsWorkforce DevelopmentSmall and Medium-Sized EmployersLearning SolutionsStakeholder Engagement

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop apprenticeship partnerships with small and medium-sized employers
Identify and research prospective employers, using market insight to prioritise opportunities and build a strong pipeline
Generate new business through telephone calls, email, LinkedIn, networking and collaboration with Marketing
Build relationships with business owners, managing directors and HR or L&D leads
Lead discovery conversations and recommend programmes, demonstrating KBPro in the context of employer needs
Prepare tailored proposals connecting learning to clients’ priorities and progress opportunities through to learner starts
Build trusted employer relationships and identify further learning opportunities
Partner with clients and internal colleagues to agree expectations, ensure programme fit and support successful learner outcomes
Represent KnowledgeBrief authentically and advise when a programme may not be the right fit
Meet monthly apprenticeship start targets, maintain accurate CRM records and provide pipeline updates and forecasts
Work closely with sales colleagues, Marketing and Client Partnerships; report to the SME Sales Manager

Requirements

What you’ll need

Experience using a consultative sales approach to understand client needs, recommend appropriate solutions and achieve commercial results, including generating your own opportunities and meeting targets
Experience engaging senior decision-makers and managing consultative sales opportunities, including those involving multiple stakeholders
Confident communication and presentation skills, with the ability to ask thoughtful questions and explain the value of a learning solution
Strong research, organisation and CRM skills, with the ability to manage a pipeline and follow through on commitments
Self-motivation and resilience to work effectively remotely while contributing to a collaborative sales team
Desirable: experience selling apprenticeships, training or learning solutions to small and medium-sized employers
Desirable: understanding of apprenticeship funding for SMEs and how employers use apprenticeships to support workforce development
Right to work; pre-employment references and DBS checks where appropriate

Benefits

Comp & perks

Uncapped commission, payable once the monthly target is achieved
Travel expenses reimbursed for travel to London at least six times a year
5.6 weeks’ annual leave
Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
Dedicated monthly CPD days on successful completion of probation
Two weeks’ paid time off over Christmas and New Year on successful completion of probation
Company sick pay on successful completion of probation
Opportunities to contribute to cross-team projects and organisational growth
A remote-first environment with opportunities to connect in person