Business Development Executive

Howden – Commercial & Schemes are on the hunt for a Business Development Executive to join our highly successful team and develop your experience and career within the insurance market. This is a lead-generation focused role to identify opportunities, generate pipeline, and support new business growth.

You will be responsible for engaging with potential clients using telephone and e-mail. Developing early-stage relationships that convert into high-quality opportunities for our account brokers. The Business Development Executive will demonstrate strong communication skills, resilience, and the ability to build rapport quickly while maximising new business opportunities.

Overview:

• Proactively generate new business opportunities through outbound telesales activity across the Schemes teams.
• Research, identify, and contact prospective clients to create a consistent and high-quality new business pipeline.
• Qualify prospects effectively before passing warm opportunities to the relevant Account Brokers
• Effectively communicate with prospects to secure commitment, including return of proposal forms
• Accurately record all prospect activity, outcomes, and next actions on Acturis, ensuring pipelines are always up to date.
• Positively engage with marketing campaigns, projects and initiatives
• Work closely with Account Brokers and Team Leaders to align prospecting activity with specific strategies and targets.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of competitors, market activity and positioning
• Monitor competitor activity and recommend tactical actions where appropriate
• Plan and manage workload and diary to maximise productivity
• Build initial rapport with prospective clients and deliver a strong first impression of Howden.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of Commercial Insurance is desirable but not essential.
• Acturis knowledge is preferred but not required (training will be provided).

Skills:

• Strong telephone-based sales and prospecting skills.
• Confident, professional, and engaging communication style.
• Ability to handle objections and remain resilient.
• Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage volume activity while maintaining quality conversations.
• Strong time management and the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Results-driven mindset with a proactive approach to meeting targets.
• Ability to build rapport quickly with a wide variety of clients.
• Competent IT skills, including CRM systems and Microsoft Office.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience in telesales, lead generation, or a sales-based role is preferred.
• Insurance experience is advantageous but not essential.
• Willingness to work towards professional insurance qualifications (Cert CII desirable).

What do we offer in return? A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond