Account Manager
The Growth Company’s (GC) Education and Skills team have an exciting new opportunity for an Account Manager To account manage new and existing large accounts, apprenticeship levy paying clients allowing strengthening of existing relationships whilst identify new opportunities for growth within those employers and to identify and secure new business activity in line with the business plan.
As one of the largest providers of skills and training in the UK, we are dedicated to supporting businesses and individuals with apprenticeships, higher education, and commercial training. We help people to develop their skills across a diverse range of sectors and levels, with our work with leading businesses to ensure our curriculum boosts the career prospects of individuals and productivity of businesses.
A Driving licence is required for this role.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Develop strategic relationships with circa 35 companies with an existing presence to maximise their apprenticeship growth opportunities and allow understanding of and influence in their skills strategy.
2. Proactively engage with new accounts to establish new relationships and operate as primary point of contact for assigned clients.
3. Grow the presence of the Growth Company in the regions that you operate and to create new opportunities for business development.
4. Identify and develop expansion and apprenticeship opportunities from your account managed companies.
5. Work with colleagues in The Growth Company to develop tailored packages of assistance to support growth opportunities.
6. Update & maintain regular notes via the company CRM system and develop account plans for complex accounts.
7. Achieve an annual target of account management interaction and company meetings.
8. Adopt a co-operative and positive style of working with the Director of Business Development and The Growth Company colleagues to share sector intelligence.
9. Maintain an up to date understanding of sector trends at a national level and at a local level to ensure your discussions are relevant.
10. Able to work independently and manage own time and diary management.
About you:
11. Ambitious, tenacious and client focused - able to manage time effectively and efficiently, in order to succeed in a target driven environment.
12. Entrepreneurial, innovative, and adaptable approach to generating ideas in order to sell and promote the Growth Company attributes to specific clients.
13. A natural ability to inspire trust and confidence in potential partners, through a mature approach, demonstrating an understanding of the bigger picture.
14. Naturally inquisitive, with a desire to develop a thorough knowledge of subject matter.
15. A team player, with experience of working with and through others to achieve results.
Skills Required:
16. At least 5 years of B2B “consultative” sales or account management experience, within in a highly commercial environment, and evidence of market and network development.
17. Previous experience of account management and comfortable instigating brand-new relationships with clients.
18. Good understanding of the full sales cycle, from research and planning to marketing and lead generation; through to project management; closing the deal and aftercare.
19. Experienced and skilled negotiator, able to influence at the most senior level.
20. Ability to manage multiple projects and relationships simultaneously.
21. An organised, motivated individual that is comfortable working alone to get the job done.
22. Strong commercial awareness to garner credibility and influence among senior business leaders.
23. Knowledge of the apprenticeship sector, ideally with an established network.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone including vulnerable adults and young people, we expect all staff to share this commitment. All Education and Skills appointments will be subject to Safer Recruitment Procedures which include a DBS check and a professional social media check. These checks will be conducted by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd) on behalf of GC. Please note that the successful candidate will not be required to pay for this.
If you are on the Barred List, it is against the law to apply and to be hired for a role that includes regulated activity with the concerned group.
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, we provide a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential requirements for a role. This commitment applies to candidates who have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.
As part of our application process, you can ask to be considered under this scheme if you are from an ethnic community or have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. Providing that you meet the essential criteria for the role, you will then be invited for an interview. Your guaranteed interview application will only be shared with the Hiring Manager and our Internal Recruitment Team.
We are a member of the national campaign Ban the Box; this campaign aims to open opportunities for people with convictions to compete for jobs. We’re supporting the campaign by removing conviction questions at the applications stage.
GC aims to promote a culture of flexibility and agile working. Going forward we will be transitioning to a culture where full agile working will be a feature of many of our roles. We also recognise that there may be a need for more permanent flexibility in your working arrangements and in such cases, we encourage you to have these discussions at the interview stage, to enable your flexible working request to be considered as early as possible.