Business Development Manager Jobs
Companies that settle into a comfortable place with their existing clients can quickly find themselves overwhelmed by a fast-changing world, especially when those clients move on. The business development manager (BDM) is there to identify potential openings and chase them up to win new, sustainable business for the company.
In many ways, business development manager jobs have similar responsibilities to regular sales jobs, but there are some subtle differences. Sales is a little more short-term, for example, following leads up responsively with an aim to closing the deal. The BDM, on the other hand, has more of a long-term, strategic approach to identifying new opportunities that includes, but is not limited to, individual customers.
The business development manager might therefore be involved with assembling an internal team that’s ready to face emerging challenges before they arrive so they can hit the ground running. That can be through recruitment or training, but with the overall strategic mindset, it can bear fruit for the company in the medium term.
Business Development Manager skills required
Business development managers are strategic thinkers – they are not just thinking about the next client win but are looking months and years ahead to how the industry and the company will look, and how best to manage it.
BDMs will also need to put their sales hat on quite regularly, however. Part of the business’s development is of course winning new contracts, so they will need to be able to communicate to other businesses the benefits of partnering with their company, so they will frequently be part of sales pushes and wooing new customers.
Business Development Manager Jobs in Bedfordshire
Bordering Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county in the East of England. Its southernmost point is around 25 miles from central London and it offers a number of opportunities for those seeking Business Development Manager roles.
The region comprises prominent towns and cities like Bedford, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. Until the late 19th century, Bedfordshire's economy was mainly based in agriculture - particularly sheep farming, while the textile industry and lace manufacture were also important.
In the mid-1800s, as the Industrial Revolution took hold and the railways improved across the county, some heavy industry came to the area, but this was mainly brewing and the manufacture of farm instruments. On the whole, the region remained mainly agricultural.
During the 20th century, the population of towns like Bedford grew rapidly. Today, an array of well-known companies have headquarters or large facilities in Bedfordshire. These are based in a number of sectors and include Autoglass, Kingspan Off-site, Jordans Cereals and Vauxhall Motors.
London Luton Airport is located in Bedfordshire and airlines operating from this transport hub include EasyJet, Monarch Airlines and Thomson Airways.
As well as having millions of passengers pass through its gates every year, Luton Airport also processes a significant amount of cargo for companies like DHL Express, Varig Logistica and Atlantic Airlines.
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Talk to Cast UK if you’re a BDM (or if you need one)
Great Business development managers have never been in such high demand, as competition for clients and a rapidly changing workplace is driving all industries in new directions. If you’ve been looking for a BDM but have been disappointed with the calibre of candidates, you need to talk to Cast UK.
We specialise in managerial roles across sectors, and can get you a fantastic shortlist drawn from all over the UK. Call 0333 121 3345 to speak to a recruitment expert.
Are you a talented BDM looking to fill a position with a great employer? Register with Cast UK by following the link below. We’ve got the contacts you need to make that step.
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