Sales Development Representative

QA group; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading apprenticeship provider in Leeds is seeking a Sales Development Representative. You will focus on generating new business by engaging and converting prospects through outreach. Ideal candidates will exhibit strong communication skills, be tech-savvy, and highly organized. This role offers a hybrid work model with competitive salary and commission opportunities, supporting career progression into Account Management.

Benefits

Full training and onboarding

Clear career progression

Supportive team environment

Competitive salary plus commission

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills – confident in speaking with new people via phone, email and LinkedIn.
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools, processes and apprenticeship knowledge.
• Self-motivated and target-driven, with a desire to succeed in a sales environment.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify, engage, and convert new prospects through targeted outreach.
• Execute cold outreach campaigns via email, LinkedIn, and phone calls.
• Build and manage a robust pipeline in CRM, ensuring accurate tracking.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Tech-savvy

Highly organised

Resilient and persistent

Self-motivated and target-driven

Tools

CRM systems

LinkedIn

Job description

Sales Development Representative

Reports to: SDR Manager

Location and Working Pattern: Leeds Office, Hybrid – 3 days in the office & 2 days at home

Department: Sales

About The Role

This role sits within QA’s Business Development team and is focused exclusively on winning new apprenticeship customers across all business divisions – including SME (regional clients), large Enterprise customers, Public Sector, and Government. The primary responsibility is to generate new business, not to grow existing accounts. You will proactively identify, engage, and convert new prospects through targeted outreach, ensuring a strong pipeline of quality meetings and conversions.

Key Responsibilities

New Business Development

• Prospect and win new customers for QA’s apprenticeship solutions across SME, Enterprise, Public Sector, and Government.
• Execute cold outreach campaigns via email, LinkedIn, and phone calls to engage decision‑makers and influencers.
• Research and identify target accounts, key stakeholders, and decision‑makers using tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator and CRM data.
• Craft personalized outreach messages that resonate with client needs and QA’s value proposition.
• Book high‑quality meetings with prospective clients and drive conversions from meeting to signed opportunity.
• Maintain a strong professional presence on LinkedIn to expand your network and increase QA’s visibility.
• Prepare tailored proposals and quotes to support client meetings and presentations.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure smooth handover of new accounts for onboarding and delivery.

Pipeline Management & Reporting

• Build and manage a robust pipeline in CRM, ensuring accurate tracking, prioritisation, and reporting.
• Qualify leads through discovery calls to understand their apprenticeship needs and readiness.
• Update CRM with all activities, notes and next steps to maintain transparency and forecasting accuracy.
• Monitor and report on KPIs such as meetings booked, conversion rates and new customer acquisition.

Market Engagement & Intelligence

• Stay informed on apprenticeship market trends, competitor activity and sector developments to position QA effectively.
• Represent QA at relevant industry events, networking sessions, and virtual or in‑person meetings to generate new leads.
• Share insights from prospect conversations to help shape marketing campaigns and sales strategies.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Work to clear KPIs: number of quality meetings booked, conversion rates and new customer acquisition.
• Analyse outreach performance and continuously refine strategies for improved engagement and conversion.
• Participate in regular team meetings and training sessions to enhance sales skills and product knowledge.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently hitting or exceeding targets for new customer acquisition.
• Building strong initial relationships that convert into apprenticeship starts.
• Demonstrating persistence and creativity in cold prospecting and lead generation.

Essential (Skills & Experience)

• Strong communication skills – confident in speaking with new people via phone, email and LinkedIn.
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools, processes and apprenticeship knowledge.
• Resilient and persistent – comfortable with handling rejection and staying motivated.
• Highly organised with good time management skills to manage outreach and follow‑ups.
• Tech‑savvy – able to use CRM systems, LinkedIn and email tools (training provided).
• Self‑motivated and target‑driven, with a desire to succeed in a sales environment.
• Professional and proactive approach to building relationships.

Desirable (but Not Required)

• Previous experience in customer service, retail or any role involving communication.
• Familiarity with LinkedIn or social media for professional networking.
• Interest in apprenticeships, education, or workforce development.

What We Offer

• Full training and onboarding – no prior sales experience needed.
• Clear career progression into Account Management.
• Supportive team environment with coaching and mentoring.
• Competitive salary plus commission structure based on performance.

We are an equal opportunity employer, focused on promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. All applicants with a disability who fulfil the role criteria will be progressed to the next stage of the process. Please let us know what reasonable adjustment, if any, you require.