Network Plus
Head of Business Development
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Department: Littlewood
Location: Battle
Description
Lead the growth strategy for Littlewood Group across the South East, maximising revenue and market share from existing regulated utility fencing frameworks while building sustainable positions in adjacent security-critical infrastructure markets. The role will develop senior client relationships, create opportunities ahead of formal procurement and position Littlewood as a partner of choice for fencing, perimeter security and related infrastructure across defence, custodial/prisons, data centres and other SEMD and Critical National Infrastructure environments.
Geographic and Market Scope
The role will have a primary geographic focus on London, the Thames Valley, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Essex, Oxfordshire and the M4 corridor, together with relevant East Anglia and national opportunities where the client relationship or strategic ownership sits within the region.
The role will have:
- Primary business development ownership for:
- The growth of existing regulated utility fencing frameworks.
- Market expansion of physical perimeter protection, fencing, gates, barriers and associated security solutions.
- Development of Littlewood' position in adjacent markets including data centres, defence, custodial facilities and other CNI/SEMD environments.
- Strategic relationships and opportunities where Littlewood are the principal route to market.
- Wider portfolio responsibility for:
- Identifying opportunities across water and wastewater, electricity transmission and distribution, gas and wider energy infrastructure, highways and transport, data centres, defence and other infrastructure markets.
- Developing relationships which have the potential to create opportunities for the wider business.
- Bringing relevant Group capabilities into client discussions where this strengthens the overall proposition.
- Working collaboratively with existing central Business Development, sector and account leads where established ownership already exists.
- Ensuring opportunities are transferred into the appropriate business development and governance process rather than establishing duplicate pursuit activity.
Business Development Governance
The role is intended to complement, rather than replicate, the central Business Development function. Where sector, customer or strategic account ownership already exists, the Head of Business Development - South East will work in partnership with the relevant lead, contributing regional relationships, market intelligence and opportunity development while maintaining a single coordinated approach to the client.
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Key Responsibilities
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Maximise existing regulated utility frameworks
- Develop account growth plans for each priority framework, identifying addressable spend, current share, forward programmes and competitor positioning.
- Build relationships beyond operational contacts into procurement, commercial, asset management, capital delivery, security and senior client stakeholders.
- Increase share of wallet, geographical coverage and service penetration, with particular focus on opportunities identified before work packages are released.
- Monitor framework pipeline, tender activity, win rate, revenue and margin, and implement recovery plans where performance is below potential.
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Develop strategic client relationships and create opportunities
- Own key account plans and stakeholder maps for strategically important clients, with structured engagement and regular account reviews.
- Understand client investment priorities, security and resilience challenges, procurement strategies and unmet needs, moving engagement from transactional tendering toward earlier strategic dialogue.
- Create opportunities through early contractor involvement, solution development and relationships with consultants, designers, Tier 1 contractors and delivery partners.
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Diversify into adjacent high-security markets
- Develop targeted market-entry plans for defence estates and critical facilities, custodial/prison estates, hyperscale and colocation data centres, and wider CNI/SEMD infrastructure.
- Prioritise markets where Littlewood has a credible right to win by leveraging its fencing, security, utility and infrastructure delivery track record.
- Establish relationships with asset owners, developers, principal contractors, facilities management providers and strategic supply-chain partners.
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Own pipeline, capture and conversion
- Build and maintain a robust South East opportunity pipeline, categorised by value, probability, timing and strategic importance, with clear weighted and unweighted visibility.
- Lead qualification and win strategy for priority opportunities, including client drivers, competitor positioning, commercial approach, pre-tender engagement and bid/no-bid recommendations.
- Work with estimating, commercial, operations, bids and HSEQ from opportunity identification through tender, negotiation and award, ensuring growth is both profitable and operationally deliverable.
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Provide market intelligence and growth strategy
- Maintain insight into customer investment programmes, framework renewals, government and regulatory investment, competitor activity, emerging security requirements and routes to market.
- Translate intelligence into clear recommendations on where Littlewood should compete, invest, partner or choose not to pursue.
- Develop annual and three-to-five-year South East growth plans aligned with the wider business strategy.
- Develop potential M&A pipeline and support the execution of acquisitions.
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Experience and Qualifications
Candidate Profile
- Significant business development, key account or commercial growth experience within infrastructure, utilities, security, construction or an adjacent sector.
- Demonstrable success developing senior client relationships, creating opportunities before formal procurement and converting them into sustainable revenue.
- Strong understanding of framework contracting, infrastructure procurement and commercially disciplined pipeline management.
- Exposure to regulated utilities and/or secure infrastructure is highly desirable; experience in fencing is advantageous but not essential.
- Strategic, entrepreneurial and collaborative, with strong commercial acumen, credibility and the ability to influence both customers and internal delivery teams.
Initial 12-Month Priorities
- Complete a review of all South East utility frameworks, including addressable market, current performance, stakeholder mapping and top growth opportunities.
- Implement strategic account plans for priority customers and establish measurable framework growth and pipeline targets.
- Develop market-entry plans for defence, custodial/prisons, data centres and wider CNI/SEMD opportunities, creating a credible pipeline in at least two adjacent sectors.
- Demonstrate increased utility framework pipeline and secure initial contract wins that broaden Littlewood’ South East customer base.
Salary and Benefits
We offer a competitive salary based on experience along with a full benefits package.
Network Plus is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.
We are Armed Forces-friendly. We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, armed forces veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.
We understand that privacy and the security of your personal information is extremely important. By applying for this role, you agree to the terms of our privacy policy.
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