Business Development Executive

Location: London & surrounding areas

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday

Benefits: 20 days' holiday + Bank Holidays | NEST Pension | Annual Performance Bonus | Potential Shareholding Opportunity

My client is a successful and growing business operating within the commercial catering and hospitality sector
, and they are looking to appoint an experienced Sales & Business Development Manager to join their team.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a catering, chef, hospitality, food service or commercial kitchen background who is looking to utilise their industry knowledge in a commercially focused sales role.

You may currently be a senior chef, catering manager, hospitality manager or contract catering professional with excellent customer-facing and commercial skills, or you may already have experience in catering equipment or project sales.

The key requirement is that you understand the catering environment, can build strong relationships with clients and have the commercial ability to identify opportunities and convert them into profitable projects.

The role is predominantly London-based
, with the majority of clients located across London and the surrounding areas. There will also be regular attendance at the company's office, as well as client meetings and site visits.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will be responsible for developing new business, managing an established client portfolio and supporting projects from initial enquiry through to handover.

• Developing new business opportunities across London and surrounding areas.
• Managing and growing an existing portfolio of clients.
• Identifying opportunities to increase sales from existing accounts.
• Building long-term relationships with clients, contractors and industry contacts.
• Attending client meetings, site visits and project handover meetings.
• Preparing, presenting and following up quotations and proposals.
• Working closely with design, estimating, project coordination and installation teams.
• Ensuring projects are commercially viable and achieve the required company margins.
• Gathering accurate information from clients to ensure quotations are prepared correctly.
• Supporting the design process, including providing initial drawings or information where appropriate.
• Managing the sales pipeline and progressing opportunities from initial enquiry through to order.
• Ensuring payment terms and required deposits are agreed before projects are handed over.
• Supporting the wider team with outstanding payments where required.
• Identifying opportunities for additional works and related services.
• Developing opportunities through existing supplier, contractor and industry relationships.
• Responding to sales enquiries and leads promptly, with a target of responding within 24 hours.

A key part of the position will be identifying new markets and opportunities for growth.

• Hospitality
• Contract catering
• Public health
• Commercial businesses
• Other organisations requiring catering and kitchen solutions

You will be expected to take a proactive approach to business development rather than relying solely on inbound enquiries.

My client is particularly interested in speaking with candidates who have a strong catering or hospitality background
.

• Head Chef or Senior Chef looking to move into a commercial role
• Catering Manager
• Contract Catering Manager
• Hospitality Manager
• Food service professional
• Kitchen Designer / Project Sales professional
• Sales professional with strong experience within the catering industry

Chef experience would be particularly advantageous
, as a practical understanding of how commercial kitchens operate will allow you to understand clients' requirements and provide credible solutions.

Sales experience is beneficial, but my client is also open to candidates who have developed strong commercial and customer-facing skills within the catering industry and are ready to make the move into sales.

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Experience with in catering, hospitality, food service or commercial kitchens.
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills.
• A commercial mindset and understanding of profitability and margins.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Confidence dealing with clients at all levels.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• The…