Business development executive
Most businesses have a group of account executives whose job it is to look after clients, although they might also be involved with the sales process too, as they have excellent knowledge of the way the company operates. That secondary role can be a full time position, however – the business development executive. This role is more strategic, as it’s taking the company’s overall business aims in the medium and long-term, and working to realise them, with a particular interest in winning new clients.
Typically, the business development executive will brief the accounts team on the clients they win, and then have little more to do with looking after them, unless they have a hybrid role (which is quite common in smaller companies). Most of the time, they will be looking out for new opportunities, contacting leads and following them up, which makes them have more in common with sales staff, except on a more strategic footing.
The skills required
Business development executive jobs go to people who can demonstrate a talent for identifying leads that will benefit the company long into the future, or which take the company in new directions. They will often be employed when a company has changed its core business model or has embarked on a new range of products and services.
With a strong emphasis on identifying leads and persuasion, business development executives are often drawn from the ranks of sales, and often no experience as a BDE is required as long as they have a proven long-term, strategic mindset.
Business development executive Jobs in South Yorkshire
Situated in the region of England known as Yorkshire and the Humber, South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county that was established in 1974. It shares borders with Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, as well as West and North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Those seeking Business development executive positions in the region will have various options to consider, as it is home to a number of large settlements, including Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham.
For much of the region's modern history, South Yorkshire has been known for its mining industry - particularly coal - and steel production. Innovations in the 17th and 18th centuries included crucible steel and stainless steel and during the Industrial Revolution, the region was extremely prosperous.
The local economy went into steep decline during the latter half of the 20th century, but over the last two decades it has seen a significant amount of redevelopment.
Today, South Yorkshire has a thriving retail and service sector, while a number of business parks, manufacturing facilities and innovation centres have also sprung up in recent years. Just some of the companies that can be found in the area include Ronseal, confectioners A.L Simpkin & Co, Plusnet and the Ardagh Glass Group.
What's more, a number of warehousing and distribution centres are located in the region - these are operated by firms like Next, IKEA, Tesco and Amazon.com.
Popular locations
Business development executives use Cast UK
At Cast UK, we have a steady stream of business development executive jobs coming up, so if you’re a BDE or want to take the leap from sales to this more strategic role, we’d urge you to follow the link below and register with us.
If your company needs to find some talent to put its business development plans into action, you’ve found your perfect recruitment partner. At Cast UK we know exactly what companies are looking for in operational-level positions such as this, and we can create a shortlist of interview-ready candidates in double-quick time. Call us on 0333 121 3345 to speak to a consultant.