Business Development Executive

Location: Southampton with occasional travel to Andover HQ
Hours: Full Time, 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday – Friday
Salary: £35,000–£40,000 + Bonus/Commission
About the Company
Our client is a specialist supplier of premium timber products, supplying customers across the UK for playground, landscaping and outdoor construction projects. The business has built an excellent reputation for quality products, exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships.
Having grown organically through repeat business, referrals and an excellent reputation within the industry, our client is now looking to appoint its first dedicated Business Development Executive to support the next stage of the company’s growth.
The Opportunity
This is a hands-on new business sales role for a confident and proactive salesperson who enjoys picking up the phone, identifying opportunities and turning prospects into customers.
You will be responsible for proactively developing new business across the UK, with outbound calling and lead generation forming a significant part of the role from day one. You will build relationships with prospective customers, qualify opportunities, generate quotations and manage the sales process through to completion.
The role would suit someone who enjoys a target-driven environment and is comfortable making a high volume of outbound calls, following up leads and creating opportunities rather than waiting for enquiries to come in.
Industry experience is not essential. While experience within timber, construction, landscaping, building products or a related sector would be advantageous, we are equally interested in strong business development and outbound sales professionals from other industries who can demonstrate a proven ability to generate new business over the phone.
Although this is the first dedicated Business Development Executive role within the business, you’ll work closely alongside a sister company, benefiting from the support of an experienced sales team and a proven sales approach.
Key Responsibilities
* Generate new business through proactive outbound calling, lead generation and prospecting.
* Make a high volume of outbound calls to identify, qualify and develop new sales opportunities.
* Research prospective customers and identify potential business opportunities.
* Build strong relationships with new and existing customers.
* Qualify leads, understand customer requirements and identify suitable solutions.
* Manage enquiries, prepare quotations and follow opportunities through to completion.
* Develop and grow existing customer accounts.
* Identify new markets, customers and sales opportunities.
* Maintain regular contact with prospects and follow up opportunities consistently.
* Manage and maintain an accurate CRM and sales pipeline.
* Work closely with the Directors and wider sales team to support business growth.
* Represent the business professionally at customer meetings, site visits and industry events where required.
* Provide excellent customer service throughout the sales process and build long-term client relationships.
What We’re Looking For
We are open to candidates from a wide range of sales and commercial backgrounds. The key requirement is proven experience in outbound business development and high-volume telephone prospecting.
You will ideally have:
* Previous experience in a B2B sales, business development, telesales, recruitment, account development or similar role.
* Proven experience making a high volume of outbound calls to prospective customers.
* Confidence with cold calling and starting conversations with new prospects.
* A track record of generating leads, appointments, opportunities or sales through proactive outreach.
* Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
* Resilience and the ability to handle rejection without losing motivation.
* A proactive, target-driven and commercially minded approach.
* The ability to identify opportunities and confidently ask questions to understand customer needs.
* Good organisation and follow-up skills, with the ability to manage a sales pipeline.
* The confidence to work independently while contributing to a wider team.
* A full UK driving licence.
Industry experience is not essential. Experience within timber, construction materials, landscaping, building supplies or another related sector would be advantageous, but we are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong outbound sales skills and a genuine ability to win new business.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be someone who is comfortable spending a significant part of their day on the phone, making outbound calls and creating new opportunities.
You won’t be someone who simply waits for inbound enquiries. You’ll be proactive, persistent and confident approaching potential customers who may have had no previous contact with the business.
You should be comfortable making a high volume of calls, handling objections, following up prospects and working towards clear sales targets. You’ll enjoy the challenge of turning a cold prospect into a genuine business opportunity and ultimately a customer.
We are not necessarily looking for someone from the timber or construction industry. We’re looking for a strong salesperson who understands outbound prospecting and can demonstrate that they know how to generate new business.
Experience from sectors such as recruitment, telecoms, business services, technology, logistics, financial services, media, facilities management or other B2B environments could be equally relevant.
Most importantly, you’ll be confident on the phone, commercially driven, resilient and motivated by winning new business.
Why Join?
Join a respected and established business with ambitious growth plans.
Become the company’s first dedicated Business Development Executive.
Have a genuine opportunity to shape and grow the sales function.
Work closely with the Directors and alongside an experienced sales team.
Receive support through a proven sales model.
Competitive salary with bonus/commission potential.
Opportunity to make a genuine contribution to the future growth of the business.
Build and develop a new customer base across the UK