Job Title:Business Development Manager

Location: Maidstone, with occasional travel to Gatwick

Role Type:Hybrid

About First Intuition:

First Intuition is an award-winning specialist apprenticeship and commercial training provider within the accountancy sector. We pride ourselves on delivering a personal approach to training, where people are at the heart of everything we do. If you're a hard-working and dedicated individual, FI is an ideal place to support your career.

Job Overview: We are seeking an experienced and results driven Business Development Manager to join our regional team. Your role will be to drive forward the growth strategy of the South East region by working to increase student numbers in all three of the region’s centres, but with a specific focus on Gatwick and Canterbury. You will work jointly with the Head of Faculty and Head of Apprenticeships to promote our courses to new clients and will be promoting both apprenticeship and commercial programmes. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in business development, preferably in the education or training sector, and a passion for helping students succeed. This role will primarily focus on attracting new students and expanding our student base across the region.

Key Responsibilities:

• Generate leads with new employers to increase student numbers. This will include networking, B2B email campaigns, and working with regional partners.
• Meet, and exceed, agreed targets around student enrolment, with a primary focus on new clients.
• Build strong relationships with employers to deliver workforce development solutions for their business.
• Proactively monitor commercial student progression to ensure students are completing their qualifications, with the aim of maintaining engagement and retention between programmes.
• Work collaboratively with the administration and apprenticeship teams to support the follow up of new enquiries. This will include reaching out to users who have started but not finalised a booking.
• Undertake market research to fully understand local markets and employer requirements. You will then work with the Senior Management Team to tailor strategies and programmes ensuring they continue to meet student and employer needs.
• Support new employers through full onboarding of their students, acting as a point of contact where required, ensuring we provide the best possible service and smooth enrolment experience.
• Identify where partnerships can be formed with external bodies to increase our reach, and further promote our programmes, leading to an increase in student enrolments.
• The role will require collaboration with all areas of the organisation, and you will be required to provide management information, in line with KPIs, to the SMT.

• Proven experience as a Business Development Manager or similar role, is essential. Ideally this would come from within the education or training sector, with experience in accountancy, and/or apprenticeships, being a plus.
• Strong understanding of sales strategies and lead generation techniques.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively while achieving targets.
• Proficiency in CRM software and Excel is essential.
• You will need to have a results-driven mindset with the ability to think creatively to drive growth.
• Knowledge of accountancy qualifications is a significant advantage.
• Full UK driving license and willingness to travel within the Kent and Sussex region as required.

In delivering these targets, the candidate will need to ensure that students on programme are in line with First Intuition’s mission, providing employers with ‘qualified, motivated, well- rounded employees’.

• 25 days annual leave (based on fulltime hours) PLUS bank holidays
• 3 FI Days per year
• Hybrid working available, equipment provided for homeworking
• Flexible-working positive employer with a range of family-friendly policies
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24-hour confidential access to counselling and support services
• Competitive Pension
• Private Medical Insurance
• Training and development opportunities
• Long term career prospects in a growing company
• Employee perks including a range of discounts to suit your lifestyle

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting young people and vulnerable adults and follow Safer Recruitment processes. All successful candidates will need to complete a DBS check, with some roles requiring an Enhanced check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

As a disability confident employer, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and are dedicated to ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. In line with our commitment, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. If you require any reasonable adjustment s during the interview process, please let us know, and we will be happy to support you.