Business Development Intern Job Description and Role Overview

The Business Development Intern role is designed for individuals seeking practical experience in sales and commercial growth. Candidates who are organised, curious about market opportunity and keen to learn sales processes should apply.

Business Development Intern Job Profile

This internship supports the business development and sales function by assisting with lead generation, research and initial client engagement. The role provides exposure to standard commercial workflows and opportunities to develop communication and negotiation skills under supervision.

The intern will work with a range of stakeholders to help identify prospects, prepare materials and maintain accurate records while building practical experience in sales cycle activities and business outreach.

Business Development Intern Job Description

The Business Development Intern contributes to the early stages of the sales process through research, outreach and administrative support. This includes qualifying potential leads, preparing concise briefings and supporting the team with follow up activities to move prospects through the pipeline.

Work takes place in a structured environment with regular guidance from the business development manager or assigned mentor. The intern is expected to manage time effectively, maintain clear documentation and respond professionally to internal and external enquiries.

Performance is measured by accuracy of prospect information, quality of engagement and ability to meet assigned tasks and learning objectives. The role is practical and task focused, offering a blend of routine administration and exposure to commercial strategy activities.

Business Development Intern: Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct market research to identify industry trends and potential target sectors.
• Compile and qualify prospect lists based on defined criteria and lead profiles.
• Initiate contact with prospects by telephone and email and record outcomes.
• Schedule and confirm meetings or calls between prospects and sales staff.
• Assist in the preparation of standard proposals, presentations and briefing notes.
• Maintain accurate prospect and activity records and update databases regularly.
• Support the preparation of sales reports and simple performance dashboards.
• Prepare and distribute client facing materials and internal communications.
• Shadow sales calls and meetings to observe techniques and capture action points.
• Follow up on outstanding enquiries and ensure timely responses to leads.
• Coordinate with marketing and product teams to align outreach activities.
• Assist with event preparation and logistics for trade shows or client events.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of outreach templates and scripts.
• Adhere to organisational policies on data management and client confidentiality.

Business Development Intern: Requirements and Qualifications

• Pursuing or recently completed a degree in business, marketing, economics or a related discipline.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English with professional telephone manner.
• Organised approach to work with good attention to detail and accurate record keeping.
• Basic numerical literacy and ability to interpret simple sales metrics.
• Ability to prioritise tasks, manage time and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Analytical mindset with an interest in researching markets and consumer behaviour.
• Comfortable working collaboratively within a small team and taking direction from senior staff.
• Proactive attitude with a willingness to learn and take on varied responsibilities.
• Experience in a customer facing role or previous internship is desirable but not essential.
• Proficient with standard office software and confident in preparing documents and presentations.
• Professional conduct and the ability to represent the organisation in external communications.
• Availability for the full internship period and flexibility to attend meetings as required.