Research‑Led Business Development
London (Hybrid, 2–3 days per week)
A specialist consultancy working at the heart of the UK innovation ecosystem is looking for a Senior Associate to join their commercial team. This is an opportunity to work with some of the most exciting high‑growth and technology‑led businesses in the UK, helping them unlock value from their R&D and innovation activity.
This role suits someone who enjoys thoughtful, well‑researched outreach, understands the scale‑up landscape, and thrives in a complex, intellectually engaging environment. You’ll be part of a small, collaborative, high‑performing team where curiosity, commercial intelligence, and resilience are genuinely valued.
What you’ll be doing
* Building and managing a targeted pipeline of 300–400 R&D‑rich UK businesses
* Researching trends across the scale‑up and future‑unicorn space to identify new opportunities
* Engaging founders and senior leaders through well‑timed, personalised outreach across phone, email, events, and social
* Immersing yourself in the UK innovation and tech ecosystem to understand client challenges and growth drivers
* Attending relevant events, seminars, and exhibitions to build relationships and market insight
* Managing your pipeline through a modern tech stack (SalesLoft, MS Dynamics)
* Collaborating closely with technical and delivery teams to shape and close opportunities
* Developing strong working knowledge of R&D tax and Patent Box (full training provided)
* Preparing pitch materials and presenting proposals with confidence
What we’re looking for
* Experience in business development within professional services, consultancy, or a solutions‑led environment
* Understanding of scale‑ups and high‑growth businesses
* A naturally curious mindset with genuine interest in innovation, technology, and commercial growth
* Someone who prefers thoughtful, well‑researched outreach over high‑volume selling
* Strong communication skills and the ability to engage senior stakeholders
* Resilience, self‑motivation, and enjoyment of building something from the ground up
* Comfortable working in a small, sociable, collaborative team
* Willingness to travel for client meetings and work from the London office 2–3 days per week
* Background in engineering, software, manufacturing, finance, or professional services is beneficial but not essential