How to Find Business Development Jobs with Visa Sponsorship in the UK in 2025

Business development is a key driver of growth for organisations across sectors, from tech startups to global enterprises. In the UK, the demand for international business development professionals is rising in 2025, as companies expand into new markets and seek multilingual, globally minded talent. If you’re looking to secure a visa-sponsored business development job in the UK, strategic preparation and a strong understanding of the visa process are essential.

This guide will help you navigate the UK business development job market, understand visa routes, identify key employers, and improve your application success.

 

The UK Job Market for Business Development in 2025

The UK continues to be a global hub for innovation and commerce, offering fertile ground for business development professionals who can generate leads, build partnerships, and support sales strategies.

Current Trends:

• Tech and SaaS Growth: High demand for B2B business development roles in SaaS, fintech, and cybersecurity.
• Global Expansion: Companies looking to scale internationally need BD professionals with international networks and language skills.
• Hybrid Selling: Shift toward remote client engagement and digital lead generation tools.
• SMEs Hiring International Talent: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) increasingly sponsor visas to bring in business development experts.

Salary Range:

• Entry-level: £28,000–£40,000
• Mid-level: £45,000–£60,000
• Senior/Managerial: £65,000 to over £90,000, depending on industry and performance bonuses

 

Key Career Paths in Business Development

Business development roles vary by industry, size of company, and sales cycle. Popular paths include:

1. Business Development Executive - Prospecting and qualifying leads, managing CRM systems and supporting sales closures.
2. Partnerships Manager - Building long-term relationships with external partners and managing joint ventures.
3. Sales Development Representative (SDR) - Initial outreach to potential customers via email, phone, and LinkedIn.
4. Account Executive - Managing inbound leads, giving product demos, and closing deals.
5. Business Development Manager - Developing strategic growth plans, overseeing regional sales, and expanding market share.

 

Typical Responsibilities

While responsibilities vary by title and sector, common day-to-day tasks include:

• Lead Generation: Identifying potential clients through market research, networking, and inbound channels.
• Client Outreach: Initiating contact via email, cold calls, and social platforms.
• Relationship Management: Building rapport with prospects and maintaining client accounts.
• Sales Strategy: Analysing market trends and crafting campaigns to boost outreach and revenue.
• CRM Management: Using tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho to track pipeline activity.
• Reporting and Analytics: Monitoring KPIs like conversion rates, lead response time, and ROI.

 

Skills and Qualifications Needed

Successful candidates combine commercial acumen with communication and digital proficiency.

Technical Skills:

• CRM platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Sales outreach tools (LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Apollo.io)
• MS Excel, PowerPoint, Google Workspace
• Data analytics basics for tracking sales metrics

Qualifications:

• Degree: Business, marketing, communications, or economics degree preferred but not essential.
• Certifications: Google Digital Garage, HubSpot Sales, LinkedIn Sales Academy
• Experience: Previous sales, telemarketing, or startup internships are highly valued

Soft Skills:

• Communication and persuasion
• Resilience and adaptability
• Cultural intelligence and global mindset
• Organisation and multitasking

 

Top Companies Offering Visa Sponsorship for BDMs

1. Amazon UK

Industry: Information Technology

Amazon is one of the world’s largest e-commerce and cloud computing companies. Its UK operations span logistics, advertising, retail, and AWS services. Business development roles at Amazon often focus on B2B partnerships, advertising solutions, and strategic initiatives.

Apply for visa-sponsored jobs at Amazon UK here.

2. Revolut

Industry: Fintech

Revolut is a leading British fintech company offering digital banking services including international money transfers, cryptocurrency trading, and financial planning. The company frequently hires for growth and partnership roles as it expands its footprint across Europe and beyond.

Apply for visa-sponsored jobs at Revolut here.

3. Wise (formerly TransferWise)

Industry: Fintech

Wise is a UK-based fintech firm focused on low-cost international money transfers and borderless banking. Known for its transparency and customer-centric model, Wise hires business development professionals to scale its services into new regions and partnerships.

Apply for visa-sponsored jobs at Wise here.

4. SumUp

Industry: Fintech/Payments

SumUp is a global financial technology company providing mobile point-of-sale systems, card readers, and business tools to small businesses. Headquartered in London, SumUp continues to expand its UK team with roles in strategic partnerships, sales, and market development.

Apply for visa-sponsored jobs at SumUp here.

5. PwC UK

Industry: Professional Services

PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) is one of the "Big Four" professional services firms offering consulting, audit, and tax advisory. PwC UK employs business development professionals across various practices to support client engagement, sales enablement, and strategic growth.

Apply for visa-sponsored jobs at PwC here.

You can also explore business development roles through UK Visa Jobs and Workbeyond.

 

Visa Options for Business Development Professionals

1. Skilled Worker Visa

• Requires a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor. You can find jobs from those employers easily on ukvisajobs.com.
• Minimum salary: £38,700 (or lower for new entrants under 26 or recent graduates)
• Valid for up to 5 years and extendable

Learn more about the Skilled Worker Visa here.

2. Graduate Visa

• For international graduates from UK universities
• Work up to 2 years (3 for PhDs) without employer sponsorship
• Allows you to work without visa sponsorship while on this visa.

Find out more about the Graduate Visa here.

3. Global Talent Visa

• For exceptional talent in innovation or entrepreneurship (rare in BD roles).
• Leads to a faster settlement.

Learn about the Global Talent Visa here.

 

Job Application Strategy

If You Are a Current Student:

• Apply for internships or campus ambassador roles
• Join career events and engage in student enterprise activities

If You Are a Recent Graduate:

• Use the Graduate Visa to gain UK experience
• Target graduate programmes and sales development roles
• Entry-level Business Development roles rarely sponsor work visas

If You Have Experience:

• Focus on mid-level or senior roles that meet salary requirements, as work experience and a proven track record in a specialised industry are almost necessary to secure a job in business development
• Showcase previous sales results and partnership wins

 

Steps to Find Business Development Jobs with Visa Sponsorship

Step 1: Identify Sponsoring Employers

Focus on fast-growing firms, multinationals, and tech scale-ups. You can find up-to-date visa-sponsored business development roles on UK Visa Jobs.

Step 2: Optimise Your CV

Use UK formatting, highlight deal wins and metrics-driven success. If you do not know how to write a UK standard CV, join our live webinars here.

Step 3: Prepare for Interviews

• Sales Roleplay: Practice mock calls, pitches, and objection handling
• Performance Metrics: Prepare to discuss past KPIs and client acquisition efforts
• Behavioural Questions: Use the STAR method to explain problem-solving and resilience

UK Visa Jobs has plenty of resources that help you get ready for your interview. Check out our resources and events page for more information.

 

Extra Tips for Success

• Learn about UK business culture and customer expectations
• Consider volunteering or freelance outreach to gain UK-relevant experience
• Join communities like Enterprise Nation, Sales Confidence, or Business Development UK
• Join LinkedIn groups, attend webinars, and connect with UK sales professionals
• Follow trends in digital sales, customer behaviour, and B2B outreach

 

Resources at UK Visa Jobs

At UK Visa Jobs, we offer:

• Curated BD Job Listings: Visa-sponsored opportunities across sectors
• Expert Webinars: CV writing, sales role interviews, and career planning
• Career Advice: Tools and templates tailored for international professionals

 

Summary

The UK business development job market in 2025 offers excellent opportunities for skilled international candidates. With the right mix of preparation, strategy, and networking, you can secure a rewarding role with visa sponsorship. Use UK Visa Jobs to take the first step toward building your business development career in the UK today.