If you’re the kind of person who can shape relationships, spots opportunities before others do, and genuinely enjoys connecting with people, this role has your name all over it.
We’re looking for a Business Development Manager who thrives in the creative world of design and architecture. Someone who can build relationships with ease, represent a brand with confidence, and isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to grow a thriving client network.
This is a role for a natural connector, someone who loves conversations, ideas, and the buzz of bringing people together.
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll be the face, voice, and energy behind the business development efforts. Expect to:
• Build relationships with interior designers, architects, developers, landscape architects, retailers, and end users.
• Be the first point of contact for new clients — whether that’s through networking, cold outreach, LinkedIn, or email.
• Attend industry events (yes, some evenings), and host early‑morning breakfast sessions that get people talking.
• Keep their CRM up to date and ensure their lead pipeline is always fresh and active.
• Support marketing activity. From eshots to brochures to press releases.
• Prepare and deliver engaging presentations that showcase the studio are and what they do.
• Work closely with the team to support project management and keep communication flowing.
• Produce monthly reports on forecasts, pipelines, and tenders.
You’ll be the person who always has their “finger on the pulse” of what’s happening in the industry and knows how to turn that insight into opportunity.
You’ll thrive in this role if you’re:
• An experienced business developer within the built environment - Architects, Designers, Interiors, Lighting
• Confident, adaptable, and able to read the room, a true “chameleon” when it comes to client styles.
• Self‑driven, motivated, and comfortable attending events or travelling independently.
• A strategic thinker who sees the bigger picture and can communicate it clearly.
• Organised, intuitive, and great at managing your own time.
• Confident in public speaking and producing high‑quality written reports.
• Experienced with Pipedrive or bid writing (a bonus, not a deal‑breaker).
If you love the idea of being out in the industry, meeting people, and building something meaningful, you’ll fit right in. You won’t be stuck behind a desk. You’ll be out in the design community, building relationships, spotting opportunities, and helping shape the future of a growing business. You’ll join a supportive, collaborative team that values initiative, creativity, and personality. Your ideas will matter. Your relationships will matter. And your impact will be visible.
At Fourteen People, we are committed to offering equal opportunities to all candidates regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, age or any other protected characteristics. We understand there is still much to be done as we partner with our clients to create and improve robust recruitment processes that will improve diversity equity and inclusion in the workplace.
Fourteen People Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.