Business Development Partner

Job Title: Business Development Partner
Role Type: Hybrid
Location: Leeds/Sheffield/Hull/Newcastle
About First Intuition:
First Intuition is an award-winning specialist apprenticeship and commercial training provider within the accountancy sector. We pride ourselves on delivering a personal approach to training, where people are at the heart of everything we do. If you're a hard-working, motivated, and relationship-focused individual, FI is an ideal place to develop your career.
Job Overview:
We are seeking an enthusiastic and results-driven Business Development Partner to join our regional team. This role will play a key part in supporting the growth strategy of our northern centres by increasing student numbers, developing employer partnerships, and raising awareness of the opportunities available through apprenticeships and professional qualifications.
Working closely with the Client Engagement Manager, you will focus on building relationships with employers, schools, colleges, universities, and other stakeholders to attract new students and expand our reach across the region. The successful candidate will have a passion for education, apprenticeships, and helping individuals achieve their career ambitions.
This role will be based within the Newcastle region but will involve regular travel across all First Intuition centres, including Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Newcastle, to support regional initiatives, employer engagement activities, careers events, and networking opportunities.
Key Responsibilities:

• Generate leads with new employers to increase student numbers. This will include networking, B2B email campaigns, business development activity, and working with regional partners.
  
• Meet agreed student enrolment targets, with a primary focus on securing new employer relationships and opportunities.
• Manage a portfolio of regional employer clients and support their ongoing training requirements.
• Build strong relationships with employers to deliver workforce development solutions that support their talent and business objectives.
• Represent First Intuition at careers fairs, networking events, skills exhibitions, employer forums, and educational outreach activities.
• Develop relationships with schools, colleges, universities and careers services to promote apprenticeship and training opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with operations, compliance and apprenticeship teams to support the follow-up of new enquiries and maximise conversion opportunities.
• Undertake market research to understand regional employer needs and local market trends, helping to shape growth strategies and programme offerings.
• Support new employers through the onboarding process, acting as a point of contact where required and ensuring an excellent customer experience.
• Identify and develop strategic partnerships with external organisations that increase awareness of First Intuition and create new recruitment opportunities.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a business development, employer engagement, partnerships, recruitment, sales, or client-facing role is essential.
• A genuine passion for education, apprenticeships, skills development, and supporting learners to achieve their career goals.
• Experience within the education, training, apprenticeship, or professional services sector would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships across a variety of stakeholders.
• Comfortable representing the organisation at networking events, employer meetings, careers fairs, and public-facing events.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently, manage priorities effectively, and achieve targets.
• Results-driven with the confidence to identify and pursue new opportunities for growth.
• Knowledge of accountancy qualifications and apprenticeships would be beneficial.
• Willingness to travel regularly across our centres in Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Newcastle is essential, with occasional wider regional travel as required.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave (based on full-time hours) plus bank holidays.
• 3 FI Days per year.
• Flexible-working positive employer with a range of family-friendly policies.
• Employee Assistance Programme providing 24-hour confidential access to counselling and support services.
• Competitive pension scheme.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Training and development opportunities.
• Long-term career prospects within a growing organisation.
• Employee perks, including a range of lifestyle discounts.

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting young people and vulnerable adults and follow Safer Recruitment processes. All successful candidates will need to complete a DBS check, with some roles requiring an Enhanced check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All staff are expected to share this commitment and adhere to our Safeguarding and Prevent Policy, which can be viewed here.  

First Intuition does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, colour, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.