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 the West Midlands
Home to a number of cities and towns, including Birmingham - often called Britain's Second City - as well as Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton, the West Midlands has long been a centre of industry and commerce for the UK and it's an ideal location for anyone seeking Business Development Manager jobs.
During the Middle Ages and throughout the Industrial Revolution, Coventry was known for producing wool and cloth. Meanwhile, other parts of the region were known for their metalwork - Birmingham for its small arms and Wolverhampton for locks, ironmongery and brass work.
In addition, the West Midlands region was a prime source of raw materials like coal and iron ore, something that became increasingly important throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
As time moved on, the focus of the region shifted and car manufacturing overtook the other industries, while bicycle production was also a large part of the local economy for many years.
Today, the West Midlands area is home to a number of tech companies, as well as food and beverage manufacturers, with Nikon, Hitachi maxell, Fujitsu, Muller Dairy Ltd, Bulmers Cider, Cadbury UK, Marmite, Coors Brewers and Bird's Custard just a few examples.
Other brands that call the area home include Michelin Tyres, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, Volvo Group UK and the National Express Group.
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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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