FE Recruitment BDM | £30k–£45k + Commission | Nottingham

Business Development Manager – Further Education Recruitment

Location: Outskirts of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Salary: £30,000–£45,000 basic, depending on experience, plus commission

Commission: 2.5%–25% with no threshold

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm

Working arrangement: Initially office-based, with hybrid working available following proven performance

Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with service

Further Education Recruitment Business Development Manager – Nottingham

Fox Search is recruiting for an established Further Education recruitment agency looking for an experienced Business Development Manager to help expand its national FE recruitment business.

This is an opportunity for somebody who knows the Further Education recruitment sector, enjoys winning new business and wants the flexibility to decide how they manage and earn from the clients they bring on board.

The agency supplies temporary and permanent staff to colleges across the UK. It operates on the major Further Education recruitment frameworks, including the GCA, and holds first-tier supplier relationships with colleges. The business is also REC Gold audited and accredited.

With a basic salary of £30,000–£45,000, commission of up to 25% with no threshold, additional financial incentives and a genuine focus on work-life balance, this is an attractive opportunity for an experienced FE recruitment professional.

The Role – Two Ways to Work

One of the biggest attractions of this position is the flexibility to choose how you develop and manage your business.

Option 1 – Pure Business Development

Focus entirely on identifying opportunities, winning new clients and developing relationships with colleges across the UK.

Once you’ve secured new business, you can hand the clients over to recruitment consultants in the branch, who will take ownership of the relationships, manage vacancies and fill the positions.

You’ll still receive commission on the business you generate without having to manage the day-to-day recruitment process.

This option would suit an experienced FE recruiter who particularly enjoys business development and opening doors with new clients.

Option 2 – Business Development and 360 Recruitment

Alternatively, you can develop your own client base, retain ownership of those relationships and manage the full recruitment process yourself.

You’ll win the business, service your clients, manage vacancies and retain the full commission entitlement on your own business under the agreed structure.

This option would suit an experienced 360 FE recruiter who enjoys both winning and managing their own accounts.

The choice is yours. The business is open to discussing which approach best suits your experience, strengths and preferred way of working.

Commission – 2.5% to 25% With No Threshold

The commission structure is designed to reward performance from the outset, with no minimum billing threshold before commission becomes payable.

• Commission rates starting at 2.5% and increasing to 25%.
• No commission threshold.
• Commission available on business generated and handed over to other consultants.
• Full commission entitlement for business you win and manage yourself, under the agreed structure.
• Weekly, monthly and annual financial incentives.
• Additional bonuses for achieving individually agreed targets.

Weekly Bronze, Silver and Gold Incentives

Alongside the commission structure, the agency operates a weekly financial incentive scheme.

• Bronze Award – £50
• Silver Award – £100
• Gold Award – £200

Rather than imposing identical KPIs on every consultant, weekly targets are agreed individually at the start of each week.

These targets could include:

• New clients or colleges to contact.
• Business development activity.
• CV submissions.
• Achieving an agreed margin percentage.
• Other individual recruitment or business development objectives.

Targets are agreed together, displayed on the board and reviewed against your performance. Achieve your objectives and you can earn an additional financial reward on top of your commission.

The business also operates monthly and annual incentives, providing further opportunities to be rewarded for your achievements.

Established FE Recruitment Agency With National Framework Access

You’ll be joining an established Further Education recruitment business supplying colleges throughout the UK.

The agency has access to major FE recruitment frameworks, including the GCA, and holds first-tier supplier relationships with colleges for both temporary and permanent recruitment.

Being REC Gold audited and accredited, the business has established recruitment and compliance processes to support its operations.

This provides a strong foundation for an experienced Business Development Manager looking to develop new relationships and expand the agency’s national FE client base.

The Team and Working Environment

You’ll be joining a relatively small, close-knit team of six people, including dedicated resourcing and compliance support.

The business has ambitious plans to grow the team to ten, creating further opportunities for career development as the company expands.

The Director is also a hands-on biller who remains actively involved in recruitment. They are approachable, supportive and understand the realities of developing and managing a successful recruitment desk.

You’ll have the support of an established team capable of delivering on the business opportunities you generate.

Working Hours, Hybrid Working and Work-Life Balance

The standard working day is 8:30am–5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

The role is initially based in the office five days a week. Once you’ve demonstrated your performance and billings, there is the opportunity to work from home for up to two days per week.

The office is located on the outskirts of Nottingham rather than in the city centre, with on-site parking and convenient access to local shops, amenities and a gym.

The business places genuine importance on work-life balance, particularly recognising that many members of the team have families and commitments outside work.

There is no expectation to regularly work beyond your contracted hours, and staying late is not treated as a measure of performance.

If your work is completed and everything is up to date, there is flexibility to finish early without it being frowned upon.

The emphasis is on achieving results, supporting colleagues and maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life.

Career Progression and Salary Development

Every employee receives an individually tailored career progression plan.

You’ll know exactly what objectives and performance levels you need to achieve to secure your next salary increase, promotion or career milestone.

Rather than following a generic progression structure, your development plan will be agreed around your individual role, ambitions and performance.

With plans to expand the team, there is genuine scope to progress alongside the business.

Salary, Commission and Benefits

• £30,000–£45,000 basic salary, depending on experience.
• Commission from 2.5% up to 25%.
• No commission threshold.
• Weekly Bronze, Silver and Gold bonuses of £50, £100 and £200.
• Additional monthly and annual incentives.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• One additional day’s annual leave for every year of service, increasing to 30 days.
• Potential hybrid working of up to two days from home after demonstrating performance.
• On-site parking.
• Nearby shops, amenities and gym.
• Dedicated resourcing and compliance support.
• Individual career progression and salary development plan.
• Supportive, hands-on management.
• Strong emphasis on work-life balance.
• Opportunity to develop business nationally across the FE sector.

Who We’re Looking For

Previous Further Education recruitment experience is essential for this position.

You’ll also need to be a confident and proven business developer who understands how to identify opportunities, develop relationships and win new clients within the FE sector.

Experience supplying colleges, working with FE recruitment frameworks or developing temporary and permanent Further Education recruitment business would be particularly relevant.

The position could suit an experienced:

• Further Education Recruitment Consultant.
• Senior FE Recruitment Consultant.
• FE Recruitment Business Development Manager.
• Education Recruitment Business Development Consultant.
• Experienced 360 FE Recruitment Consultant.
• FE Recruitment Account Manager with strong business development experience.

Whether you prefer pure business development or managing your own 360 recruitment desk, the business is open to discussing how your experience could fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for this FE recruitment job?

The basic salary is £30,000–£45,000 depending on experience, plus commission from 2.5% to 25% with no threshold. Additional weekly, monthly and annual incentives are available.

Do I need Further Education recruitment experience?

Yes. Previous experience working within Further Education recruitment is essential, alongside a proven track record in business development.

Can I focus entirely on business development?

Yes. You can focus on winning new clients and hand the recruitment and account management responsibilities over to consultants in the branch while still earning commission on the business you generate.

Can I manage my own clients and vacancies?

Yes. You can operate as a 360 recruiter, developing your own clients, managing their vacancies and retaining the agreed full commission entitlement on your business.

Is hybrid working available?

The role is initially office-based five days per week. Once you’ve demonstrated your performance and billings, there is the potential to work from home for up to two days per week.

Does the agency operate on FE recruitment frameworks?

Yes. The agency operates on major Further Education recruitment frameworks, including the GCA, and holds first-tier supplier relationships with colleges across the UK.

Where is the office based?

The office is located on the outskirts of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, rather than in the city centre. On-site parking is available.

What are the working hours?

The normal working hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm. The business encourages a healthy work-life balance and does not expect employees to routinely work beyond their contracted hours.

Apply for the FE Recruitment Business Development Manager Job

If you’re an experienced Further Education recruiter who enjoys business development and wants to join an ambitious agency offering flexibility, support and genuine earning potential, we’d be interested in speaking with you.

Contact Aaron at Fox Search for a confidential discussion about this opportunity.

Call or WhatsApp: 07838 126647

Email: aaron@foxsearch.co.uk

Click here to enquire via WhatsApp

Fox Search specialises in recruitment-to-recruitment opportunities across education, healthcare and social care recruitment.

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