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 Colchester
One of the UK's fastest growing towns, Colchester is located in Essex, approximately 60 miles from London and 30 miles from Stansted Airport. A popular choice for those who choose to commute to the capital for work, Colchester also offers a variety of Business Development Manager opportunities within its local area.
Colchester is often called the oldest town in Britain, and its market is also one of the oldest in the country. It was granted its first royal charter in 1189 and by the end of the 14th century, it had become an important location for the manufacture of woollen cloth.
Further growth of the textile industry occurred in the late 16th century when Flemish weavers immigrated to the area, bringing with them new methods of cloth making.
With the start of the Industrial Revolution, Colchester's economy began to expand and was no longer based on textiles alone. In 1865, Standard Ironworks was started by James Noah Paxman - this would later become Paxman Diesels.
From the beginning of the 20th century, the textile industry began to decline. These days, the town's economy has shifted away from agriculture and industry, and has moved towards the service sector, although a number of manufacturing facilities still exist in the area.
Many of the top employers in modern Colchester are in the public sector, including Colchester Borough Council, the University of Essex and the local NHS trust.
The IT sector also provides a number of jobs and so does the financial industry. Meanwhile retail is one of the fastest growing sectors in the area.
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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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