Business Development Apprentice

Union Business Finance

Hemel Hempstead (HP2 7TE)

Closes on Sunday 31 May 2026

Posted on 23 April 2026

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Summary

Start your career in sales with Union Business Finance. You’ll gain hands-on experience in cold calling, client management and structuring business finance deals, with uncapped earning potential and fast career progression in a high-performing, ambitious team.

• Wage:

  £16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age

  National Minimum Wage

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  In addition to the base salary, this role offers uncapped commission, providing strong earning potential as you develop in the role.

  OTE Year 1: £50,000; OTE Year 2: £70,000; OTE Year 3: £100,000+

• Training course: Sales executive (level 4)
• Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm No weekends

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 1 June 2026

• Duration:

  1 year 6 months

• Positions available:

  4

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Make a minimum of 100 outbound cold calls per day to prospective clients
• Research and identify new business opportunities using online tools, news and social media
• Speak with business owners to understand their finance needs and requirements
• Build and manage a pipeline of prospects and opportunities
• Update and maintain accurate records on the CRM system daily
• Work with a panel of lenders to source suitable finance solutions
• Assist in preparing and presenting funding options to clients
• Manage inbound enquiries via phone and email
• Build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing clients
• Support the sales team in closing deals and achieving targets
• Upsell additional finance products where appropriate
• Ensure a high level of customer service and client satisfaction

Where you'll work

Unit 2
Grovelands Business Centre, Boundary Way, Hemel Hempstead Industrial Estate
Hemel Hempstead
HP2 7TE

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

BMS PROGRESS LLP

Training course

Sales executive (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Sales planning and preparation: Set effective targets using sales forecasts. Prioritise customers and activities to grow account value and maximise return-on-investment in line with your organisation’s strategy. Formulate or refine customer plans and objectives. Create efficient territory plans where appropriate.
• Customer engagement: Effectively communicate and interpret customer information exchanged through written, verbal and non-verbal communication. Develop a customer engagement style that effectively opens sales conversations, builds rapport, enhances customer relationships, and adapts to different customer’s social preferences.
• Customer needs analysis: Be highly skilled at effective questioning and active listening techniques to understand the customer’s needs, guide the sales conversation appropriately, create mutual understanding, and build trust and affinity with customers.
• Propose and present solutions: Develop sales proposals and deliver them using a presentation style and technique appropriate for your customer. Present relevant products and/or services, explain features and their advantages, and clearly articulate the value and benefit of the solution for the specific customer. Use and adapt a range of techniques to draw-out and overcome common sales objections.
• Negotiate: Research the customer’s likely desired outcomes and negotiating stance. Develop responses to likely objections. Identify your own organisation’s needs, such as minimum price and acceptable terms. Negotiate or trade variables effectively.
• Closing Sales: Be attuned to verbal and non-verbal buying-signals andmove to close at an appropriate point in sales conversations. Develop ethical techniques to close sales and confirm customers’ purchase agreement.
• Gathering Intelligence: Collect, analyse and interpret market intelligence and share it appropriately and effectively within your organisation.
• Time Management: Use and adapt appropriate tools and techniques to prioritise and manage your time effectively.
• Collaboration and team work: Contribute effectively within a team environment. Work collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders. Manage communications with the cross-functional team in relation to the effective delivery of your sales, such as finance and service delivery. Support continual business improvement by sharing best practice with sales team colleagues and assist the marketing team to develop new marketing collateral.
• Customer experience management: Deliver a positive customer experience. Manage customer enquiries and issues effectively. Take proactive action to prevent and minimise customer concerns and complaints. Handle all customer interactions professionally to the customer’s satisfaction.
• Digital skills: Effectively use digital tools to conduct research and target customers in line with the overall sales strategy. Able to deliver presentations and meetings using digital communication. Complete accurate records and process sales in accordance with your organisation’s policies, procedures and digital CRM systems.

Training schedule

The apprentice will receive the majority of their training in-house at our Hemel Hempstead office, working closely with experienced sales professionals.

Training will focus on real-time learning through daily tasks, including cold calling, client management and understanding business finance products.

Structured training and mentoring will be provided on an ongoing basis, with regular feedback sessions to support development. The apprentice will also complete off-the-job training (approximately 20% of their time) as required as part of the apprenticeship programme.

More training information

The apprentice will complete two dedicated training days at our Hemel Hempstead office, focusing on shadowing experienced sales team members and gaining an understanding of our internal processes and systems.

Ongoing on-the-job support and mentoring will be provided to ensure continuous development within the role.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade Grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience

Other requirements

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
A credit check will also be carried out as part of our compliance process, to ensure suitability for working within a financial services environment.

About this employer

About Union Business Finance

Union Business Finance is a fast-growing UK-based finance brokerage dedicated to supporting businesses with tailored funding solutions. We work closely with a wide panel of lenders to help business owners access the right finance products to support growth, expansion and day-to-day operations.

Our mission is to build long-lasting relationships with our clients by delivering a professional, transparent and results-driven service. With a highly experienced team and a strong focus on performance, we pride ourselves on exceeding client expectations and creating real value for the businesses we support.

We offer a dynamic and ambitious working environment, providing individuals with the opportunity to develop their skills, grow their career and achieve high earning potential within the financial services industry.

http://www.unionbusinessfinance.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Company Days Out 

Incentives to earn more/ prizes 

Bank holidays off 

After this apprenticeship

This apprenticeship offers a clear and rewarding career path within sales. Successful candidates can progress into a Sales Executive role, followed by Sales Account Manager and then Senior Account Manager positions.

With strong performance, there is significant earning potential through commission, alongside opportunities to take on greater responsibility and manage key client relationships.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Union Business Finance

Keertan Balaruban

keertan@unionbusinessfinance.co.uk

01442617799

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000018295.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 31 May 2026