AdminBusiness development is a thriving career path in the UK, with many opportunities for ambitious individuals from around the world. If you’re seeking a position that allows you to utilize your communication skills, maintain existing client relationships and generate new business leads, a career in business development may be well-suited. This guide provides an overview of business development roles available in the UK that offer visa sponsorship for non-UK nationals, even without prior work experience in the field.
Business development combines elements of sales, project management and client relations. Professionals in this space are responsible for identifying new prospects, presenting company service or product offerings, negotiating contracts and managing projects from start to finish. It’s a fast-paced career that requires adaptability, relationship-building abilities and strong communication skills – both written and verbal. Many companies value a candidate’s proven educational achievements and motivation over strict work experience qualifications for entry-level business development positions.
Common Business Development Roles Offering Visa Sponsorship
Account Manager/Key Account Manager
Account managers are the primary point of contact for important clients, overseeing all aspects of the customer relationship and acting as a liaison between the client and various internal teams. Account managers build trusted partnerships, understand client goals and pain points, and identify upsell opportunities to expand the business relationship over time. Annual salaries for junior account manager roles start around £25,000 in the UK.
Business Development Representative
Business development representatives play a sales-focused role, pursuing new partnership and sales opportunities through outbound outreach like cold calling, emails, events and networking. The goal is qualifying leads and moving them through the sales process. Starting salaries range from £22,000-£28,000. International graduates are well-positioned for these types of entry-level roles.
Partnership Manager
Partnership managers cultivate strategic relationships with complementary companies to drive mutually beneficial collaboration. This may involve negotiating joint marketing programs, content partnerships, referral agreements or other revenue-sharing deals. Salaries begin around £30,000 for a junior partnership manager. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills are key.
Navigating the Visa Process
Many technology, financial services and professional services companies in the UK offer Tier 2 visas for business development roles. Some key points about the Tier 2 (General) visa process:
- The job must have a minimum salary of £25,600 or meet one of the exceptions like new graduate roles.
- The employer must be a licensed UK sponsor with an active Sponsorship Management System (SMS) account.
- Candidates need a valid CAS (Certificate of Sponsorship) number from the sponsoring employer before applying.
- There is no residency requirement – these visas can be obtained from overseas.
- Visas are initially issued for 3 years but can extend up to 6 years total through extensions.
Once established, it may also be possible to transition to alternative long-term visas like the Innovator or Start-Up visa routes if pursuing an entrepreneurial endeavor. Moving to permanent residency/settlement is attainable after 5 years on a work visa.
Industries with Plentiful Business Development Opportunities
Several growing industries present many options for entry-level business development professionals seeking work visa sponsorship:
Technology
Leading UK tech hubs like London, Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh house thousands of tech companies constantly hiring business developers. Fields like SaaS, FinTech, adtech and cybersecurity provide variety.
Professional Services
Consulting, accounting, law and architectural firms all employ business developers to expand client portfolios. Recruitment continues in major business centers.
Financial Services
London’s financial sector remains vibrant despite Brexit, with banks, insurers, investment firms and asset managers recruiting worldwide for business roles.
Creative/Media Industries
Advertising, publishing, gaming and digital media firms offer various customer-facing business development opportunities.
Clean Energy
With the UK pushing renewable targets, expanding roles exist with solar, wind, hydro and energy efficiency companies based in England and Scotland.
Overall, London unsurprisingly hosts the largest concentration of multinational companies and startup scaleups providing ample business development career launchpads for global talent. However, opportunities exist nationwide as regional economies strengthen.
Developing the Right Skills and Experience
While prior business development experience isn’t always mandatory for entry-level UK jobs, developing certain in-demand qualifications and skills can boost a candidate’s competitiveness:
- Degree in a business, marketing or technical field from a reputable university shows educational achievement.
- B2B sales or client-facing internships showcase relevant aptitudes if limited work history exists.
- Business development or sales certifications demonstrate passion and expertise (e.g. Certified B2B Professional).
- Networking and community involvement builds an impressive professional profile and referral pipeline.
- Command of Microsoft Office suite and CRM systems like Salesforce signals technical proficiency.
- Accredited CFA, PRINCE2, Project Management or Digital Marketing courses complement studies.
- Fluency in additional languages opens more global opportunities, especially French or German.
Demonstrating a drive to continuously learn serves candidates well besides prior experience alone when competing for sponsored roles. Employers value motivated individuals committed to excelling in the business development profession long-term.
Relocation Considerations
For those relocating from abroad, several preparatory factors influence a smooth transition when transferring to the UK:
- Research affordable areas to live near target companies/industries based on salary expectations. Popular options include zones throughout London, Manchester, Edinburgh.
- Establish short-term accommodation like extended-stay corporate housing before finding permanent housing.
- Budget comfortably for one-time relocation costs like flights, deposits, furnishings and work wardrobe essentials.
- Apply for National Insurance and Unique Taxpayer Reference numbers upon arrival for payroll/HR onboarding.
- Open a UK bank account to manage finances and build credit history.
- Investigate public transportation options and consider driving rules if obtaining a UK license long-term.
- Look into health insurance options if not immediately covered under the National Health Service.
- Develop a social support system through professional networking, meetups or international communities.
With diligent planning, relocating for a sponsored business development role becomes much less stressful and more conducive to quick acclimation.
Industry-Recognized Qualifications
A few globally-recognized qualifications in business development, sales and project management carry prestige:
Certified B2B Professional (CBP)
This American certification validates proficiency in key B2B sales competencies like prospecting, needs analysis and proposal writing through an exam. Widely respected.
Professional Certificate in Sales Management (PCSM)
Developed by the Sales Management Association, this program involves self-study and exams to demonstrate sales leadership skills.
PRINCE2 Foundation
PRINCE2 is the UK government’s favored project management methodology certification. Ideal for roles with process-heavy clients and proves structured project acumen.
Digital Marketing Certifications
Certifications from Google, Facebook, and HubSpot in platforms like Analytics, AdWords and Inbound Marketing showcase technical understanding valued by modern companies.
Obtaining credentials beyond a degree exhibits passion, continuous learning habits and deep expertise to potentially place candidates above competition with equal qualifications on paper. Employers often cover costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some alternative visa options if I don’t find a Tier 2 sponsor right away?
An alternative like the Graduate Entrepreneur visa allows working for up to 3 years after studies to gain experience. The Scale-Up visa supports ambitious founders. The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa enables multinationals to transfer staff. And the Youth Mobility Scheme is ideal post-studies for working holiday seekers aged 18-30 from certain countries.
Can I work part-time while searching for a full-time Tier 2 job?
It is possible to work part-time (maximum 20 hours/week) without a work visa as long as the main purpose of stay remains job-hunting or studies and the permitted 90-day job seeking period after graduation is not exceeded. This can potentially provide helpful UK experience.
How challenging will it be to find housing in popular cities like London on my budget?
London and other major city housing markets are notoriously pricey, so it’s wise to allow a flexible budget, research affordable outer areas, consider flatsharing, and thoroughly vet landlords/lease details upfront to avoid issues. With some persistence, suitable options exist.
What industries or functions within business development are expected to grow fastest in coming years?
Emerging fields like renewable energy, blockchain, artificial intelligence and health technologies are poised for accelerated hiring. Roles emphasizing analytics, automation, demand generation and recruitment are expanding. Business development managers overseeing virtual teams will also be in demand due to digital transformation. Staying up-to-date on trends positions professionals for success.
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