Graduate Business Development Training Program

One of the fastest growing independent conference companies in Europe and North America: Last year, American Business Conferences grew by a staggering 72% and this year we’re on target to grow by over 42%.

Our profits are reinvested into the growth of our business, and in particular the development of our staff, all of whom have genuine opportunities for advancement into senior positions. We are looking for the most ambitious, driven and dynamic graduates who possess the raw skills that can be developed to produce the top performing sponsorship sales talent of tomorrow.

Your Responsibilities Will Be Exciting, Fast-Paced, Varied, And Challenging.

RESEARCH AND MARKET INTELLIGENCE: You will be helping senior decision-makers achieve their business opportunities at major corporations throughout Europe and North America  Your natural business acumen and flair for research will help you find the companies that will benefit from our services.

PROACTIVE CLIENT COMMUNICATION: You will be constantly engaging new companies on the vision for your initiatives. We will train you on the art of business engagement and conceptual selling. 

CONSULTANCY: Once engaged, you will interview prospects to uncover needs, evaluate problems and discover solutions. You will receive thorough training on all aspects of solution selling and how to authentically create value for clients.

NEGOTIATION: You will receive first-class training on all aspects of negotiation and creating win/win outcomes and long term business relationships.

COMMERCIAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT: You will eventually be accountable for 100% of the Sponsorship & Exhibition revenue on your event.

About You

• You are a high calibre graduate with a good degree (First or high 2:1), coupled with strong A-Levels

• You are driven to be the best - you want a reputation of being the best and you take pride in delivering quality results

• You are entrepreneurial, determined and driven with a real will to succeed

• You are an excellent communicator - you build genuine relationships easily and have an adaptive communication style

• You go the extra mile to achieve results and the best possible outcomes

• Ideally you will have 6 months B2B sales experience with a proven track record

• Goal and action orientated with ability and desire to work towards revenue targets within a team environment

• High level of comfort and determination when dealing with challenging situations, i.e. objection handling, overcoming gatekeepers etc

• Forward thinking and solutions orientated approach at all times

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written with the ability to engage a senior - level audience

Benefits

• Generous commission potential on top of salary 

• Training program designed and run by the best conference sales professionals in the market

• Flexible working hours – ability to choose between 0830 and 6pm or 1130 and 9pm

• A work hard – play hard environment – special staff events organized for summer and winter

• Regular international travel – you will be managing sponsors, networking with new prospects and hosting exclusive speaker dinners in 5 star venues throughout United States, Canada, Asia and Europe

• The office environment is an extremely vibrant one – our people are academically bright, energetic, enthusiastic and ambitious individuals who are highly motivated to succeed. Our staff retention is excellent – testament to the quality of our training and the consistent success of our recruits

This is what some of our customers have to say about ABC…

"This operator focused conference sets itself apart from all other trade-show events. The up-front research performed to identify the key issues facing operators makes this an extremely attractive conference to participate in. The quality of all the presentations was fantastic. No “infomercials” were seen here. This event was pure collaboration and knowledge sharing among all participants." Nalco, a headline sponsor, Oil Sands Water management, January 2011.

"This is the best conference I have been to” Ecowat, a sponsor at Shale Gas Water Management April 2011.

"We had so much learning and networking opportunities that I definitely put this as one of the best conferences I've been to”. Devonshire Investors at Tight Oil Canada, January 2011.

“Excellent conference, well organized and much better than others I have attended” Weatherford at Shale Gas July 2010.

This is what some of our sales people have to say about ABC’s business culture and events...

“City location, open plan office and brilliant culture. Hard work and well rewarded, fantastic promotion prospects.  Having worked in a corporate environment I would honestly say that being part of an innovative entrepreneurial company like ABC has been far more rewarding”. M.B Started with ABC, April 2010.

“Working at American Business Conferences provides the sales executive the ability to hone-in on consultative sales skills and experiences. Structuring commercially viable business opportunities to suit client needs and requirements is key to any effective sales process – focus on the client’s requirements in turn provides both personal and professional rewards. The opportunity to work on varied and diverse projects across, for example, Unconventional O&G and Environmental industries keeps sales professionals constantly challenged and well rewarded”. A.S. Started with ABC, May 2010.

“American Business Conferences have not only provided me with the opportunity to build on my own personal sales techniques, but also the chance to fast track my career rapidly through their internal development process. In my 7 months at the organization I have worked on a vast array of projects in a number of different vertical industries that have proven valuable in broadening my knowledge of business and specific industry sectors. Working at American Business Conferences has provided me with the perfect launch pad for my sales career and I look forward to be a part of the company's expansion plans moving forward”. T.C. Started with ABC, October 2010.

American Business Conferences has given me the tools to develop all the skills I require to be an entrepreneur.  It has provided me with a fast-track path to senior management positions and is unrivalled in this industry or any other and surrounded me with other people with a track record of success in the industry to learn from.  I would unequivocally recommend working at ABC to any graduate seeking an opportunity to accelerate their career in an intellectually stimulating environment that teaches people to be the best".  T.W. Joined August 2009.

“American Business Conferences is a truly dynamic place to work with learning and growth opportunities at every stage of the production process. Within one year of graduating, I have gained more commercial insight and responsibility than other graduates I know and have been able to work at an executive level with some of the biggest companies in the world from a very early stage. ABC  is a place where hard work is rewarded and is a fantastic opportunity for any graduate looking to gain fast paced and in depth exposure to the business world." L.R. Joined ABC, June 2010.

“Working for ABC is like starting your own business from scratch: find a niche, research it, get the best people, understand its commercial side and launch it.  ABC is different from other Conference companies as it allows you to create your own personal approach to Conference by providing the best training possible and giving guidance on every stage of a project. As an Event Producer I have already been a Researcher, a Copywriter, a Journalist, a Designer, a Sales Person, a Negotiator and a Host of a Summit which gave me an opportunity to develop a unique set of skills useful in any workforce market”. A.A. Started January 2011.

“My graduate position at ABC s highly enjoyable due to the nature of the role. I regularly speak with Senior Executives on a commercial and technical level, which allows me to develop my own commercial acumen each day.  In only 6 months I have produced events in Canada and America for the Oil & Gas and Water industries. The role requires me to analyse research and produce solutions to help drive business sectors forward.  “ABC  provides the environment for you to develop with a high level of responsibility immediately after University.  I am confident ABC provides the training, mentoring and empowerment for me to develop my skills in every one of my tasks”. B.J. Joined January 2011.

“Working for ABC straight out of university is a really good opportunity to understand the ropes of working for a fast moving and growing commercial business. The role itself allows you to understand the full lifecycle of conference production and with all the necessary support along the way. The best part of the job is being in complete control of turning an idea into a full scale two day conference. And of course the travel opportunities!” S.H. Joined January 2011.

To apply, please send in a covering letter and CV to the CEO, Steve Thomas:
[email protected]. The first stage of the selection process is a group interview where one-on-one interviews are also held on the same day for successful candidates.