Apprentice Business Development Manager
CPI
Stockton-on-Tees (TS21 3FG)
Closes in 6 days (Thursday 7 May 2026)
Posted on 29 April 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you ready to take the first step in building your career? Our apprenticeship opportunities offer a great way to earn while you learn, gaining real hands‑on experience alongside industry‑recognised qualifications
- Wage
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£25,947.47 a year
- Training course
- Business to business sales professional (integrated degree) (level 6)
- Hours
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Monday to Thursday 8:30am - 5pm and Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm.
37 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
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3 years
- Positions available
-
1
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
- Embrace and role model the desired behaviours to exemplify our company's values, promoting an ethical, positive company culture
- To maintain consistent and documented compliance with all relevant Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Data Integrity (DI), quality and best practice requirements
- To support the BDM team in executing business development plans in focus areas (private income; collaborative R&D; strategic) in alignment with CPI and key target metrics
- To support the BDM team to develop sustainable collaborative partnerships (companies, universities, innovation centres) to enable the effective delivery against technical and business development strategies
- To understand public funding and networks to enable efficient and proactive identification and prioritisation of project opportunities (such as grant subcontract work)
- To support the development of compelling project proposals/briefs/quotes via accurately following CPI business processes
- To input to relevant business development data/reports to support various internal management activities (to include portfolio management, business performance) and external stakeholder reporting/monitoring (grant funding bodies)
- Utilisation and accurate data entry in CPI’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. To accurately record key performance data to support CPI’s Impact assessment programme
- To contribute to the continuous development and improvement of CPI’s business development processes
- To follow up upon the status of actions
- To carry out business development administration tasks
- To support business development compliance requirements
- Upon completion of the apprenticeship, be proficient in managing a small account portfolio with associated order intake and revenue targets
Where you'll work
CPI, The Neville Hamlin Building
Thomas Wright Way
Sedgefield
Stockton-on-Tees
TS21 3FG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY
Training course
Business to business sales professional (integrated degree) (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Working with others: Influential, able to conduct stakeholder analysis and develop strong relationships at all levels, internally and externally, to build trust. Interacts professionally and ethically maintaining a positive and flexible attitude. Demonstrates emotional intelligence.
- Consultative Selling: Works with customers to identify new business and market challenges, utilising insights and good questioning and listening techniques. Identifies strategic & innovative solutions integrating products and excellent service solutions, to meet customer needs.
- Pitching: Leads a confident, clear and compelling sales pitch in front of a customer, which builds rapport, establishes credibility and delivers commercial benefit. Handles questions, objections and demonstrates the value of the proposal in a clear, quantifiable way.
- Negotiation and Closing: Applies the principles of negotiation, develops strategies and tactics to a mutually agreeable outcome, ensuring both customer and supplier leave committed to the outcome.
- Psychology of Sales: Critically reflects on the different psychological needs of customers and other key stakeholders in the buying/selling process. Takes into account strategic and organisational context when adapting their sales approaches, by using the psychological models pertinent to developing positive and ethical buyer and seller relationships.
- Leveraging Digital Business: Adopts different approaches to social selling & digital technologies which aid the sales process. Develops a digital selling strategy that leverages social selling to support lead generation, nurturing and customer engagement. Develops digital networks and drives insight-led engagements. Measures results and return on investment.
Training schedule
Requirements
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
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
About this employer
At CPI we work with our partners to translate inventions into products and processes that enhance health and well-being, protect and improve our environment and increase productivity across industries. With a deep understanding of innovation processes and funding, outstanding technical expertise and industry relevant assets, we enable products and processes to be quickly and cost-effectively brought to market.
After this apprenticeship
1. Business Development Executive / Junior BDM
After completing the apprenticeship, most individuals move into a full-time Business Development Executive or Junior BDM role.
Focus:
- Managing your own sales pipeline
- Prospecting and lead generation
- Supporting or owning smaller accounts
- Hitting individual sales or growth targets
Business Development Manager (Fully Qualified)
This is the most common next formal step.
Focus:
- Full ownership of key client accounts
- Negotiating and closing larger deals
- Developing strategic partnerships
- Revenue, growth, and retention responsibility
- Mentoring junior sales or apprentices
- At this stage, your role becomes more strategic and commercially accountable.
Senior Business Development Manager / Account Manager
Progression here depends on performance and business size.
Focus:
- Managing high-value or enterprise accounts
- Leading complex negotiations
- Influencing pricing and commercial strategy
- Coaching other BDMs
- Cross‑selling and long‑term client strategy
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000029054.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Thursday 7 May 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.