Business Development Manager

De Vere Wokefield Estate

De Vere Wokefield Estate set in 250 acres of rural Berkshire parkland is home to a historic Mansion House filled with traditional features and the contemporary Wokefield Place that offers state of the art facilities. It has 376 bedrooms and suites, 39 meeting rooms with large event space and a high tech dedicated conference building, an 18-hole PGA approved championship golf course and leisure club. Benedict's Bar, The 1560 Restaurant, The View Restaurant and our Summerhouse are some of our amazing food and beverage options at Wokefield Estate: there really is something for everyone.

Your commute: just outside Reading, we're 10 minutes from J11 of the M4, with fast and direct trains from London Paddington to Reading Train station. We also offer our colleagues a taxi shuttle service to and from Reading train station. 

At De Vere, we warmly welcome everyone and foster a sense of belonging, where each person is valued and appreciated. Join our team and become part of a passionate group of individuals who genuinely care about the experiences we create for our guests and colleagues.

Business Development Manager

Are you looking for your next Sales role?

We are recruiting for a Business Development Manager to join our proactive sales team at De Vere Wokefield Estate.

As the Business Development Manager you will report to the Director of Sales and create and maintain professional relationships with new and existing corporate clients, promoting the properties Meeting and Corporate Event facilities at all times to exceed targets and ensure maximum commercial success.

• You will conduct appointments, either on-site, at client offices or industry events, to showcase the hotel facilities and generate enquiries for future business.
• Research and pro-actively convert new corporate opportunities, focusing on residential conferences, training & day meetings
• Assist in the creation and implementation of a cohesive, ‘pro-active’ sales plan for the conference, events, corporate and local & UK markets
• Assist the Director of Sales with key projects and campaigns

Your Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years proactive sales experience in the hospitality and events industry
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to be able to positively represent De Vere
• Although based at De Vere Wokefield Estate a Full UK Driving Licence & own transport are essential as this role involves regular national travel
• The flexibility to host FAM trips and appointments on evenings and weekends
• Great planning and organisation skills; Planning your diary to maximise your time and achieve a set KPI target
• A basic knowledge of Opera and Salesforce is an advantage but training will be provided
• An understanding of commercial awareness and be able to understand the links between sales and profit.

Benefits:

The Pay & Benefits:

At De Vere we pay attention to the thoughtful details that inspire the loyalty of our permanent colleagues. That’s why we are proud to offer the following benefits for the role of Business Development Manager.

• £40,000 per year
• Car allowance of £4,000 per year
• Sales Bonus Incentive Scheme with the opportunity to earn up to 10% of your salary based on business performance
• Free meals on duty in our colleague dining facilities
• Stay in shape with complimentary use of the Leisure Club facilities saving you money on costly gym memberships
• We believe in celebrating your special moments too, which is why we offer an extra paid day off for your birthday, along with a £20 love to shop voucher.
• As a token of our gratitude for your loyalty, we'll treat you to an annual complimentary 2-night stay with dinner in a De Vere property of your choice, plus additional monetary rewards for reaching long service milestones
• Discover exclusive perks with our £50 colleague rates for overnight stays at De Vere properties, accompanied by a fantastic 50% discount on Food & Beverage.
• 31 days holiday each year (increasing annually up to 33 days)
• Venue closure over the Christmas period allowing you time off to enjoy the festive season
• Explore our Exclusively Yours Benefits portal, unlocking hundreds of discounts on retail, travel, and leisure activities.
• We are committed to your growth and offer excellent career progression opportunities, including access to our Apprenticeship programmes and study support.
• Take advantage of our Employee Assistance Programme, Hospitality Action, providing 24/7 health and wellbeing support, including free counselling.
• Experience the flexibility and convenience of Wagestream, our financial wellbeing platform, granting you instant access to your pay when you need it.
• We value your hard work and recognise your achievements through our monthly colleague recognition programme, You Are De Vere, culminating in an exciting annual colleague recognition event.
• Join a supportive team that knows how to have fun with regular team appreciation events, including memorable Christmas and Summer parties.
• Gain peace of mind with our Company Life Assurance scheme, ensuring financial security for your loved ones.