Junior Business Development Executive

About Aetherbloom

Aetherbloom is a UK-led business process outsourcing and business support company. We work with UK organisations that need reliable administrative, customer service, operational and digital support. Our South African employees work remotely in roles aligned to UK business hours.

We are recruiting a Junior Business Development Executive to join our internal sales team and complete the Aetherbloom Sales Academy. The academy provides structured training, call practice, coaching and supervised live work during the first 12 weeks.

The role

You will research suitable UK businesses, contact decision-makers and create qualified sales opportunities for Aetherbloom. You will use phone, email and LinkedIn, keep accurate records in HubSpot and work closely with the founders and sales lead while you develop your skills.

Previous B2B sales experience can help, but we do not require it. We will assess how well you communicate,prepare, learn, handle feedback, follow through and continue working after setbacks.

Key responsibilities

• Research UK SMEs, charities, professional services firms and founder-led businesses that fit Aetherbloom’s target market.

• Identify and verify the appropriate decision-maker before making contact.

• Make outbound calls and open clear, professional conversations with UK prospects.

• Write concise, relevant prospecting emails and LinkedIn messages.

• Ask questions to understand the prospect’s current workload, operational pressure, priorities, and buying process.

• Qualify opportunities and book discovery meetings for the senior team.

• Prepare complete meeting handovers so the senior team understands the business, the contact, the problem and the agreed next step.

• Follow up prospects at agreed intervals and close inactive or unsuitable opportunities with a clear reason.

• Record calls, emails, meetings, notes, outcomes and next steps in HubSpot on the same day.

• Review your activity and conversion data with your manager and apply feedback to improve your performance.

What we are looking for

• Clear spoken and written communication.

• Good listening skills and the confidence to ask follow-up questions.

• A willingness to make outbound calls and speak to people you have not met before.

• Resilience when calls or messages do not lead to an immediate result.

• The ability to take specific feedback and use it in your next attempt.

• Curiosity about businesses and how they operate.

• Reliable follow-through and accurate record keeping.

• Self-motivation in a remote working environment.

• Comfort working towards measurable activity and sales targets.

• Professional judgement and honesty about what has and has not happened in the sales process.

Experience

We welcome applicants from sales and from other customer-facing or target-driven roles. Relevant experience may include:

• Customer service or contact centre work.

• Retail or hospitality.

• Recruitment or resourcing.

• Fundraising, membership sales, events or community outreach.

• Account management or client support.

• A role where you had to meet targets, influence people or generate your own opportunities.

A university degree, an existing UK client network and previous B2B sales experience are not required.

Training and development

The first 12 weeks include structured training and supervised live work. Training covers:

• Aetherbloom’s services, packages and target clients.

• UK business communication and professional standards.

• Prospect research and qualification.

• Cold calling and gatekeeper conversations.

• Email and LinkedIn outreach.

• Discovery questioning and listening.

• Objection handling and follow-up.

• Commercial value and package selection.

• HubSpot CRM and pipeline management.

• Data protection, opt-outs and sales compliance.

You will receive regular call reviews, role-play practice, weekly coaching and clear development targets. The leve of supervision reduces as you demonstrate consistent performance and sound judgement.

How we measure progress

During the academy, we review both activity and quality. We look at:

• Quality of prospect research and targeting.

• Outbound activity completed and recorded correctly.

• Decision-maker conversations.

• Qualified discovery meetings booked.

• Progress from first contact to qualified opportunity.

• Call and message quality.

• HubSpot accuracy and same-day record keeping.

• Application of feedback and improvement over time.

• Reliability, preparation and professional conduct.

Targets increase during the academy as your skills develop. We will give you the approved target schedule and commission terms in writing before you accept an offer.

Practical requirements

• Based in South Africa.

• Available to work hours aligned to the UK business day.

• Reliable internet connection.

• Quiet and professional environment for business calls.

• Suitable computer and headset for remote work.

• Comfort using video meetings, CRM software and online communication tools.

Career development

Employees who complete the academy and demonstrate the required sales capability can progress into the Business Growth Partner role. Further progression can include senior individual contributor roles or sales management, depending on performance, business need and the employee’s strengths.

Selection process

1. Application and CV review.

2. Online information session.

3. Short prospect research exercise.

4. Live sales exercise with feedback and a second attempt.

5. Final structured interview.

6. Reference checks and offer.

We use the same core assessment criteria for all candidates. We can make reasonable adjustments to the selection process where needed.

How to apply

Apply with your CV and the application questions listed in the vacancy. Please answer the questions using your own examples. We are interested in what you personally did, what happened and what you learned.

Equal opportunity

Aetherbloom considers applicants against the requirements of the role and the evidence provided during the selection process. The junior level describes the level of responsibility and development required for the role. It does not refer to age.