Business Development Manager

Starting Salary: £36,849 per annum

Job Type: Permanent

Working pattern: 35 hours per week. Monday-Thursday in our Head Office in Lancaster, work from home on Fridays (flexible working options will be considered)

We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven Business Development Manager (BDM) to join our team, reporting to the Head of School Partnerships and International Engagement. In this role, you will be responsible for growing our IDL provision across UK and international markets while working collaboratively with internal teams to maintain and expand existing customer relationships. You will play a key role in driving commercial success, maximising income opportunities, and delivering against ambitious sales targets.

As BDM, you will take ownership of a designated region, managing both new and existing customer accounts. You will proactively identify business development opportunities, build strong stakeholder relationships, and act as a trusted advisor to clients. With a focus on strategic growth, you will develop and implement regional sales plans to increase market penetration and brand presence.

A core responsibility of the role is delivering against income targets through effective sales activity and pipeline management. You will maintain a strong understanding of the product portfolio, market trends, and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities and shape innovative sales strategies. This includes presenting solutions, delivering product demonstrations, and negotiating commercial terms to secure new business.

You will also be responsible for growing existing accounts by identifying opportunities for up-selling and cross-selling, ensuring long-term partnerships and customer retention. Collaboration with marketing and customer experience teams will be essential to enhance the customer journey, strengthen engagement, and support successful campaign delivery, events, and promotional activities.

The role requires strong organisational and analytical skills, including the effective use of CRM systems to manage leads, track performance, and support forecasting and reporting. You will provide valuable market insight to support strategic decision-making, contribute to product development feedback, and help shape pricing and positioning strategies.

This is a flexible and fast-paced role requiring regular UK and occasional international travel. You will be expected to contribute to wider organisational goals, uphold high standards of customer service, and actively support a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and achievement.

The full Job Description can be found by clicking here.

So, what are you waiting for?

If you like the sound of the role and the organisation, and you think the below attributes describe you well, then we would love to hear from you.

• Proven Sales Expertise:Demonstrable track record of delivering sales results both independently and as part of a team.
• Results-Driven:Strong ability to achieve targets and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent Communication Skills:Confident in delivering clear, engaging written, verbal, and presentation communication to a variety of audiences.
• Organised and Proactive:Highly effective at prioritising workload, managing time, and maintaining a structured approach.
• Customer-Focused Mindset:Committed to delivering high standards of customer service and building strong, lasting relationships.
• Flexible and Positive Approach:A motivated, ‘can-do’ attitude with willingness to travel, adapt to change, and work flexibly when required.

Further information

Closing date: 19 June 2026

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Sarah Hyslop, Head of School Partnerships and International Engagement at Sarah.Hyslop@idlsgroup.com.

We reserve the right to close the job vacancy early if we find an appointable candidate or receive a high volume of applicants.

This job may meet the eligibility requirements to qualify for visa sponsorship.

About us

We are proud to be one of the UK’s leading educational charity groups, encompassing an awarding organisation, a provider of dyslexia intervention software. Our enthusiastic people bring genuine passion and natural energy to everything that they do and through their infectious energy they transform the lives of thousands of people each year through the power of education. It has never been a more exciting time to join Ascentis as we continue our journey of growth across the UK and overseas.

We are market leading in the education sector and the specialist areas we operate within, maintaining the #1 provision for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in the UK as well as being a leading Access Validating Agency. We are based in Lancaster but we have a national reach, with a significant customer base in London. We have recently secured two major achievements, winning the Innovation of the Year and Awarding Organisation of the Year at the 2024 Federation of Awarding Bodies awards.

In addition to working with Colleges, Training Providers and Local Education Authorities, Ascentis also operates within the Primary and Secondary school sector in the UK and International schools, using our specialist IDL software that provides multi-sensory programmes in literacy, numeracy and phonics. Today the software is used by thousands of children across the world.

Ascentis is made up of brilliant people, unique in terms of background, personality, characteristics, experience and skill. We value our people for the differences they bring to the table and believe this diversity is powerful. We are an equal opportunities employer, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

To find out what our employees have to say about working at Ascentis watch the video found here.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays, birthday day off, closure days gifted during the Christmas period, increased annual leave with long service and an Annual Leave Purchase Scheme (up to a maximum of 43 days)

• Competitive pension benefits, including a salary sacrifice scheme

• Access to Informal Flexibility, allowing you to flex your working times and location where viable

• Incremental service benefits as a family-friendly employer, including enhanced Maternity, Neonatal, Paternity, Shared Parental, Adoption Leave and Pay, Sick Pay, Life Insurance, and Paid Compassionate Leave

• Access to state-of-the-art office and break facilities, such as bean-to-cup coffee machine, vending machine, pool table, Xbox, outdoor seating, dressing room (with access to hair dryers, straighteners, airers, shower facilities), Harry Potter reading room, employee library and more

• Free parking, locked bike storage shed

• Access to car electric charging points (charges payable by employee)

• Tailored learning and development opportunities

• Discounted gym membership at

  3-1-5 Health Club

• 24-hour employee helpline and a proactive focus on wellbeing

• Aviva DigiCare+health app with access to virtual GP appointments, annual health check and more

• Reward and recognition scheme, regular team building and communication activities

Do you like the sound of Ascentis, but think your skills might suit another role?

We also have other vacancies available. Take a look at our website for more! www.ascentis.co.uk/jobs

Department

IDLS

Locations

Ascentis

Remote status

Hybrid

Yearly salary

36,849