Sales accounts and business development managers — SOC 2020 3556
Sales accounts and business development managers plan, organise and undertake market research to meet the requirements of an organisation’s marketing and sales policies.
Also calledSales managerE-commerce managerOnline trading managerMerchandising managerManagerAccount managerand 86 more titles
Recruitment from abroad. 1,358 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from United States, India, Japan, ranking it 13th of 313. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
17%aged 55 or over
54%hold a degree
37%women
Age of business development managers
Age profile of business development managers
n/p
26%
30%
25%
15%
2.1%!
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publishShow as table
16–24
Not published
25–34
26%
35–44
30%
45–54
25%
55–64
15%
65+
2.1% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by business development managers
Degree or equivalent54%
Higher education below degree6.1%
A levels or equivalent24%
GCSEs or equivalent14%
Other qualifications!2%
No qualifications!0.4%
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
Degree or equivalent
54%
Higher education below degree
6.1%
A levels or equivalent
24%
GCSEs or equivalent
14%
Other qualifications
2% (small sample)
No qualifications
0.4% (small sample)
Main employers: computer consultancy activities (5.4%), business and other management consultancy activities (2.5%), engineering activities and related technical consultancy (2.3%), computer programming activities (2.3%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
54%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
None
none leads directly into this work
Routes in
Business development manager
You can get into this job through:
University
You can study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:
business management
business development
accountancy
economics
marketing
international business
Employers may want you to have some experience in sales, marketing or business management.
Work experience, internships or year in industry placement during your course can help you gain commercial skills. Your university careers service can help you to find opportunities like these.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You may be able to join a business development team as an assistant after completing a relevant college course.
For example:
business administration
sales and marketing
sales and account management
T Level in Marketing
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do an apprenticeship with an organisation, such as:
Sales Executive Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
Marketing Executive Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
Business to Business Sales Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
You could also apply for a place on an apprenticeship aimed at a specific industry, like an IT Technical Salesperson Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Other ways in
Work your way up
You could start in a sales, finance or marketing role with a company and move into business development through training, certification and promotion.
Apply directly
You could apply directly to become a business development manager, as there are no formal entry requirements. Employers may ask for:
GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in maths, English and IT
sales, marketing, account management or business management experience
industry certification
Other routes
Some companies offer places on a graduate training scheme in business development. You'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification to apply.
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
In job vacancies, the advertised salary may include on-target earnings (OTE), which depend on meeting individual or company targets. It's important to check what proportion of the salary is made up of OTE.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Business Development Association, for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for business development manager. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Sales manager
You can get into this job through:
University
You could do a degree before joining a company as a graduate sales management trainee. Employers recruit graduates from most subjects. Particularly relevant ones include:
sales and marketing management
business management
retail marketing
digital marketing
For some jobs, like selling hi-tech scientific or engineering equipment, employers may prefer you to have a qualification in that field.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Sales Executive Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship to join a company as a trainee manager.
For management roles selling to businesses, you could do a Business to Business Sales Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
These can take between 2 and 3 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Other ways in
Work your way up
You could work as a sales supervisor or assistant manager and complete professional qualifications, whilst you work. This could help you to move into sales management positions.
Qualifications cover all aspects of sales at different levels of responsibility, and include:
market research and sales planning
managing team performance
strategic sales leadership
Apply directly
You'll need experience in sales and a record of achieving targets. Employers will often consider your sales and management experience, market knowledge and track record to be more important than your academic qualifications.
You could also apply for jobs in specialist sales management, if you have a background in designing or manufacturing the products your team is selling, for example, medical technology or construction equipment.
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
The ability to speak a second language may be useful if you're employed by an international sales company, or one that requires overseas travel to meet clients.
Further information
You can find out more about careers in sales management from the Institute of Sales Professionals.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for sales manager. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
E-commerce manager
You can get into this job through:
University
Companies recruit from a range of degree subjects. You may have an advantage with a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:
business management
digital marketing
business enterprise
retail management
It's important to get experience during your degree through work shadowing, internships or year in industry placements. Your university careers service can help you to find opportunities.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, for example:
Digital Marketer
Express Delivery Manager
Retail Leadership
These degree apprenticeships can take between 3 and 4 years to complete. They combine on-the-job training with time spent with a learning provider.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
Other ways in
Work your way up
You could start working as an assistant in a retail buying or marketing department. You could then become an e-commerce manager through training and promotion.
Apply directly
You can apply for e-commerce manager jobs directly if you've got experience and qualifications in:
digital marketing
social media management
business and project management
web analytics and search engine optimisation (SEO)
Other routes
You can apply for a graduate training scheme with an e-commerce company if you have a degree.
If successful, you'll spend time in different departments, learning about:
digital marketing
product development processes
brand management
leadership
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
When you work might differ depending on the location of your clients, for example if they're based overseas.
Further information
You can find out more about working in e-commerce from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for e-commerce manager. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The work
ONS · ESCO · O*NET
Typical tasks
liaises with other senior staff to determine the range of goods or services to be sold, contributes to the development of sales strategies and setting of sales targets
discusses employer’s or client’s requirements, carries out surveys and analyses customers’ reactions to product, packaging, price, etc.
compiles and analyses sales figures, prepares proposals for marketing campaigns and promotional activities and undertakes market research
handles customer accounts
recruits and trains junior sales staff
produces reports and recommendations concerning marketing and sales strategies for senior management
keeps up to date with products and competitors
Skills
build business relationships
implement marketing strategies
perform market research
align efforts towards business development
analyse consumer buying trends
coordinate marketing plan actions
create annual marketing budget
define measurable marketing objectives
develop professional network
follow company standards
liaise with managers
manage contracts
manage staff
plan health and safety procedures
Knowledge
corporate social responsibility
financial management
market analysis
market pricing
product comprehension
project management
sales strategies
e-commerce systems
Suits people who like
Leading and persuading
Organising and following procedures
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business and public service associate professionals, a group of 26 jobs that includes business development managers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 1.2%about 26,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
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