Business Development and Work Winning Graduate - Borehamwood or Stockport - 2027

You'll play a key role in supporting OCU's growth by helping to identify, secure and win new business opportunities across our infrastructure, utility and energy sectors. Working as part of our Business Development and Work Winning team, you'll help develop client relationships, support strategic growth initiatives and contribute to the successful preparation of bid and tender submissions that drive the future success of the business.

You'll gain exposure to the full business development and work winning lifecycle, from market research and opportunity identification through to client engagement, bid coordination and contract award. Working alongside experienced business development professionals, bid managers, operational teams and senior leaders, you'll help identify new opportunities, gather market intelligence and support the development of winning strategies that align with OCU's growth ambitions.

As part of the role, you'll assist with the preparation of pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs), tender submissions, client presentations, capability statements and supporting documentation. You'll help coordinate information from across the business, analyse market trends, maintain customer relationship management (CRM) systems and contribute to the development of compelling proposals that showcase OCU's expertise and value proposition.

You'll work closely with operational, commercial and technical teams to gain a strong understanding of the sectors in which OCU operates, developing insight into client requirements, procurement processes and competitive positioning. As your knowledge and confidence grow, you'll take on increasing responsibility, develop strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, and become an important contributor to securing opportunities that support the long-term growth of the business.

Graduates who are passionate about business, relationship building and driving growth. You'll be proactive, organised and commercially minded, with excellent communication skills and an interest in understanding how businesses identify opportunities, build client relationships and win new work. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working collaboratively, developing persuasive communications and engaging with a variety of stakeholders.

You'll be keen to develop your commercial awareness, strategic thinking and business development skills while gaining exposure to client engagement, bid management and growth strategy. You'll enjoy balancing research, relationship management and proposal development, helping to secure opportunities that support business success and create long-term value for clients and communities.

You'll need (or be on track to achieve) a degree in Business Management, Marketing, Economics, Project Management, Commercial Management or a related discipline with a minimum 2:2 classification. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, along with the ability to work collaboratively, manage multiple priorities and present information clearly and effectively.

Experience gained through placements, internships, university projects or part-time employment involving customer engagement, research, sales, marketing, bidding or business analysis would be advantageous. Our 2 year Graduate Programme combines structured training with hands-on experience, giving you real responsibility from day one.

You'll learn directly alongside industry experts in a collaborative, supportive environment. We invest in your continuous professional development, giving you the tools, confidence and clear progression path to build a long term career within OCU.