Looking For Someone to Handle Business Development

[EllisVM123]

I am looking for someone with excellent written and communication skills and some technical knowledge of the Microsoft 365 stack, to come onboard a Microsoft development agency as the business development manager. In exchange for your expertise, I am offering a percentage share in the company. This offer is for someone who is serious about giving a long-term commitment to grow the company into its objective of being a leading digital agency.

About the company

The company was registered as a limited company around two years ago, taking over from my personal limited company which I used for contracting projects. In those two years I have been setting up the company, creating a website, professional documents, business plan, organisation structure, proposal templates etc. At the beginning of the year, I hired a marketing agency to manage the companies SEO, which is now starting to take effect and project enquiries are beginning to come through the website. Last month the company took on its first project and have a few other proposals being considered. The technical aspect of projects is led by myself and sub-contractors who take on the bulk of the development work.

Who I am looking for

As my background is very technical, going forward I will manage that side of the business. I am looking for someone who can manage the client facing side of the business, you will mainly be in-charge of driving and seeking new business and developing ongoing relationships with clients.

Your responsibilities will be to:

• Manage enquiries that come through the website
• Setup meetings with prospective clients
• Prepare proposals
• Lead presentations
• Find and complete tender applications and requests for proposals
• Identifying market opportunities through meetings, networking and other channels
• Meeting existing and potential clients and building positive relationships
• Develop sales and marketing strategies
• Preparing sales presentations and participating in sales meetings

Required Skills

• Excellent communication and written skills are a MUST, should have experience writing proposals, applying for tenders and RFPs
• Confident leading meetings and presentations
• MUST have the time and availability to work during business hours, take on and arrange meetings and calls at short notice and during business hours
• A knowledge of the Microsoft 365 toolset Including SharePoint infrastructure, migration, software development, PowerApps development, company intranets and document management systems (you do not need to have the technical knowledge to complete these projects, but just an understanding of how they work)
• Passion and commitment to put in the effort required to drive a business to a successful standing
• Good business acumen

Please get in contact if you feel you meet the required skills

 

[fisicx]

Looks like a decent job. What’s the salary?

 

[Newchodge]

Looks like a decent job. What’s the salary?

In exchange for your expertise, I am offering a percentage share in the company.

There is no salary, so, if anyone takes it on it would be in breach of the National Minimum Wage, and a criminal act by the employer.

 

[NicoJ]

There is no salary, so, if anyone takes it on it would be in breach of the National Minimum Wage, and a criminal act by the employer.

Doesn't say it's an employed position....

 

[Newchodge]

Doesn't say it's an employed position....

No it doesn't, buty with those duties, what else could it be?

 

[japancool]

No it doesn't, buty with those duties, what else could it be?

Could be a director's position.

 

[Newchodge]

Could be a director's position.

A director is only exempt from receiving minimum wage for carrying out director's duties. They must be paid at least minimum wage for carrying out employee's duties.

 

[fisicx]

If it is a directors position then there will be an allocation of shares. And it seems that this director will be doing the lion’s share of the work so should be getting the majority of the shares plus remuneration for the actual work they do. Which means a salary.

 

[NicoJ]

No it doesn't, buty with those duties, what else could it be?

I would go with director.

A director is only exempt from receiving minimum wage for carrying out director's duties. They must be paid at least minimum wage for carrying out employee's duties.

Not correct, they are only entitled to NMW if they have a contract of employment. How many OMB's do you know who pay themselves NMW?

 

[Newchodge]

I would go with director.


Not correct, they are only entitled to NMW if they have a contract of employment. How many OMB's do you know who pay themselves NMW?

In the first palce this is not an OMB. Secondly there has been no mention of a directorship. Thirdly a person carrying out the duties listed above will be an employee, even if their employment contract is not in writing.

 

[NicoJ]

In the first palce this is not an OMB. Secondly there has been no mention of a directorship. Thirdly a person carrying out the duties listed above will be an employee, even if their employment contract is not in writing.

1) It sounds like an OMB to me.
2) it says you get a share of the company so you are a participator. Yes there is no explicit mention of directorship, but this is what I would be negotiating if I were going for this position.
3) Again, how many OMBs pay themselves NMW? It need a contract of employment for HMRC to successfully attack NMW in these circumstances.

I'm going to leave it there as this has derailed the thread but I see no illegality in the advert posted.

 

[Newchodge]

1) It sounds like an OMB to me.
2) it says you get a share of the company so you are a participator. Yes there is no explicit mention of directorship, but this is what I would be negotiating if I were going for this position.
3) Again, how many OMBs pay themselves NMW? It need a contract of employment for HMRC to successfully attack NMW in these circumstances.

I'm going to leave it there as this has derailed the thread but I see no illegality in the advert posted.

1. You just argued that the incoming person would be a director, so it can't be a OMB.
2. I am commenting on the proposal, not the potential for negotiation.
3. If the incoming person takes the employer to a tribunal for non-patyment of NMW, the lack of a written employment contract will be irrelevant.

 

[NicoJ]

1. You just argued that the incoming person would be a director, so it can't be a OMB.
2. I am commenting on the proposal, not the potential for negotiation.
3. If the incoming person takes the employer to a tribunal for non-patyment of NMW, the lack of a written employment contract will be irrelevant.

What do you think an OMB is? A sole director? It isn't.
I disagree Cyndy, as I said its not the question asked so I will leave it there.

 

[Newchodge]

What do you think an OMB is? A sole director? It isn't.
I disagree Cyndy, as I said its not the question asked so I will leave it there.

A One an Band

What do you think an OMB is? A sole director? It isn't.
I disagree Cyndy, as I said its not the question asked so I will leave it there.

It's a One Man Band. Which this will not be if the OP gets any takers.

 

[NicoJ]

A One an Band

It's a One Man Band. Which this will not be if the OP gets any takers.

No, its an Owner Managed Business.

 

[japancool]

1) It sounds like an OMB to me.

There'd be two of them.

 

[NicoJ]

There'd be two of them.

Yes, you can have more than one owner of a business. OMB = owner managed business, meaning that the owners run the business as opposed to a structure where management & ownership are distinct and separate.

 

[antropy]

To be fair to the OP, it's a very well-written requirement and it sounds like what they're after is a Business Partner.

However, having been at that stage myself, coming from a very technical background and having used the Limited Company initially as a contractor, I'm now very glad that I was able to grow the company with employees rather than giving away any equity.

I know it's scary, but in my view the OP should consider taking the risk and hiring a Sales Person on a freelance basis initially with a view to taking them permanent if it goes well.

Paul.

 

[Mark T Jones]

To be fair to the OP, it's a very well-written requirement and it sounds like what they're after is a Business Partner.

It's eloquent and gives a decent account of the role

What it is lacking is any kind of hook or attraction, anything that would make a person with those skills and ability actually want t
o apply

 

[antropy]

What it is lacking is any kind of hook or attraction, anything that would make a person with those skills and ability actually want to apply

You're right, the only benefit seems to be "In exchange for your expertise, I am offering a percentage share in the company" which we all seem to think is a bad idea.

Paul.