UPD
Business Development Manager

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Overview
UPD is a fast-growing logistics company based in Birmingham, providing nationwide same-day courier and transport services across the UK.
Over the past three years, we have grown from a small operation with two drivers into an expanding business managing approximately 40 vehicles nationwide. As we enter the next stage of our development, we are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Business Development Manager to help expand our direct client portfolio and generate sustainable revenue growth.
This is a key role for an ambitious sales professional with experience in freight forwarding, logistics, transport or same-day courier services. You will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, developing strong client relationships and securing profitable contracts with businesses requiring reliable transport and logistics solutions.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to play a significant role in shaping the company’s commercial strategy and long-term growth.
Responsibilities
- Proactively identify and pursue new business opportunities through prospecting, networking, referrals, industry events and market research
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of prospective direct clients
- Target businesses requiring same-day courier, dedicated transport, freight forwarding and nationwide logistics services
- Develop and execute business development strategies that increase revenue and expand the company’s market presence
- Contact prospective clients through telephone calls, email campaigns, LinkedIn and face-to-face meetings
- Understand each client’s operational requirements and present tailored logistics solutions
- Prepare professional quotations, proposals, presentations and service agreements
- Negotiate commercial terms while protecting company margins and service standards
- Secure new client accounts and support the onboarding process
- Develop long-term relationships with clients, decision-makers and industry partners
- Work closely with the operations team to ensure proposed solutions are operationally achievable
- Maintain accurate records of leads, opportunities, client activity and sales performance within the company CRM
- Monitor the sales pipeline and provide regular forecasts and performance updates
- Identify cross-selling and account-development opportunities within the existing client portfolio
- Maintain current knowledge of logistics market trends, competitor activity and emerging commercial opportunities
- Represent UPD professionally at meetings, networking events and industry functions
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Skills and Experience
- Proven experience in business development, sales or account management within logistics, transport, freight forwarding or same-day courier services
- Demonstrable track record of generating new business and achieving or exceeding sales targets
- Strong understanding of the UK transport and logistics market
- Ability to identify, approach and engage relevant business decision-makers
- Strong prospecting, relationship-building and account-development capabilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Confident presentation, negotiation and contract-closing skills
- Commercial awareness with the ability to balance revenue growth, operational feasibility and profit margin
- Ability to understand client transport requirements and develop suitable service solutions
- Experience using CRM systems to manage leads, pipelines and sales activity
- Strong organisational and time-management skills
- Self-motivated, proactive and capable of working independently
- Comfortable operating in a fast-growing and continuously developing business
- Existing industry connections or an established client network would be a major advantage


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What We Offer
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Uncapped commission structure
- Significant earning potential linked directly to performance
- Birmingham-based hybrid working arrangement
- Opportunity to work within a young, ambitious and growth-focused team
- Direct involvement in the company’s commercial development and expansion
- Autonomy to develop new markets, clients and business opportunities
- Long-term career progression as the company continues to grow
- Potential future equity or share opportunities for the right candidate, subject to performance and long-term contribution
About You
You are commercially focused, persistent and confident in developing new relationships from the initial introduction through to contract completion. You understand that successful logistics sales require more than generating leads. You can identify genuine client requirements, develop commercially viable solutions and build relationships based on reliability, responsiveness and consistent service delivery. You will be comfortable working within an ambitious business where your performance will have a direct and measurable impact on the company’s growth.
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