Freelance Business Development Specialists in EnglandFreelance Business Development Specialists in England
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Zara Makinta's avatar
Zara Makinta
London, UK
Brand, Strategy & Growth Partner for scaling businesses
New to Contra
Brand, Strategy & Growth Partner for scaling businesses
Cover image for Building a Scalable Education Partnership
Building a Scalable Education Partnership Model Driving £500k+ in Revenue Overview This project focused on designing and scaling a strategic partnership model within the education sector to create apprenticeship pathways while driving commercial growth. The objective was to align educational institutions with a technology provider in a way that delivered long-term value for both parties, rather than a one-off transactional relationship. The Challenge Education institutions often face barriers when adopting new technologies, including cost, integration, and demonstrating long-term value. At the same time, traditional sales approaches were not sufficient to drive adoption at scale. A more strategic, partnership-led model was required to: Create meaningful value for institutions Support skills development through apprenticeships Enable sustainable commercial growth Approach I designed a partnership framework that aligned commercial, educational, and operational value. This included: -Structuring partnerships around apprenticeship opportunities, creating a clear and compelling entry point for institutions -Positioning the offering as a long-term capability investment, not just a product sale -Designing a repeatable partnership model that could be adapted across multiple institutions -Tailoring each partnership to reflect the specific priorities and decision-making structures of each organisation Execution The model was initially implemented with Manchester College, where we: -Established apprenticeship pathways linked to immersive technology -Delivered a VR training environment, including hardware, learning modules, and accreditation -Created a structured framework that balanced institutional needs with commercial outcomes Following this, I refined and extended the model to: -Regent’s College London -Loughborough University -Each partnership was adapted to suit the institution while maintaining a consistent underlying structure, enabling scalability without losing relevance. Impact -Contributed to over £500,000 in VR system sales across partner institutions -Established long-term strategic partnerships rather than one-off transactions -Created a repeatable model for future education partnerships -Strengthened positioning within the education sector through value-led collaboration Additional Notes Due to client confidentiality and NDAs, detailed internal strategies and commercial agreements cannot be shared. This portfolio reflects my approach, structure, and key outcomes.
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18
Cover image for Luxury Brand Repositioning & Growth
Luxury Brand Repositioning & Growth Strategy Overview A jewellery brand with strong product quality was underperforming due to unclear positioning, low brand perception, and lack of targeted customer strategy. Objective -Reposition the brand as a premium luxury offering -Attract a higher-value customer base -Increase sales and brand visibility -Enable sustainable price growth Approach 1. Brand Repositioning -Redefined brand identity, tone, and visual direction -Shifted positioning from generic retail to luxury market 2. Audience & Market Strategy -Identified ideal customer profile and purchasing behaviour -Developed targeted messaging aligned with premium buyers 3. Growth & Engagement Strategy -Designed a new social media and content strategy -Introduced consistent brand storytelling and visual alignment 4. Customer Retention Focus -Built engagement approach to increase repeat customers -Strengthened brand loyalty through experience-led positioning Key Deliverables -Brand repositioning strategy -Visual and messaging direction -Social media and content strategy -Audience targeting framework -Customer engagement approach Impact -Significant increase in sales following repositioning -Successful transition to a higher price point -Improved brand perception and customer quality -Features in major publications including Vogue and Vanity Fair
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18
Cover image for Startup Brand Strategy & Funding
Startup Brand Strategy & Funding Enablement Objective Build a strong brand, clear positioning and compelling investor narrative to support funding success and long-term growth. Approach -Defined brand identity, story and unique value proposition -Developed a funding-ready business plan aligned with grant criteria -Identified and shortlisted relevant funding opportunities -Guided investor pitching and positioning -Trained founders on how to clearly communicate value and differentiate in competitive markets Key Deliverables -Brand positioning and messaging framework -Unique value proposition (USP) -Business plan and funding documentation -Investor pitch guidance and positioning strategy -Funding opportunity mapping Impact -Contributed to securing over £200,000 in grant funding -Improved investor readiness and clarity of proposition -Strengthened positioning and long-term growth potential Note Due to client confidentiality and NDAs, specific documents and funding materials are not disclosed.
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16
Cover image for Impact Events, Communications & Funding
Impact Events, Communications & Funding Strategy Objective Increase visibility, stakeholder engagement and funding for a community-focused organisation, while strengthening brand positioning and credibility. Approach -Planned and delivered high-impact events from concept to execution -Developed communications and social media strategy to drive awareness and engagement -Created all supporting assets and promotional materials -Led stakeholder engagement to attract high-profile attendees -Designed crowdfunding initiatives and supported bid writing -Strengthened overall brand positioning and public presence Key Deliverables -Event strategy and execution plan -Communications and social media strategy -Campaign assets and promotional materials -Stakeholder engagement approach -Crowdfunding initiatives and funding bids Impact -Secured over £500,000 through bids and funding initiatives -Attracted politicians, community leaders and key stakeholders -Increased visibility, engagement and community reach -Contributed to national recognition, including the Prince of Wales Award Note Due to client confidentiality and NDAs, specific materials and internal strategies are not disclosed.
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16
Business Development Specialist(1)
Joshua Lawrie's avatar
Joshua Lawrie
London, UK
🌍 Global Experience in Sales & Marketing 🚀
🌍 Global Experience in Sales & Marketing 🚀
Cover image for Vintage London Watches - Comms Director
Vintage London Watches - Comms Director
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7
Cover image for Article97
Article97
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4
Cover image for Abode
Abode
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7
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Business Development Specialist(2)
Marqen Marketing's avatar
Marqen Marketing
pro
London, UK
Growth systems, automation, and CRM for service businesses
$10k+
Earned
1x
Hired
5.0
Rating
2
Followers
Growth systems, automation, and CRM for service businesses
Cover image for CRM Architecture & Lifecycle Design Currently designing a Fr...
CRM Architecture & Lifecycle Design Currently designing a Freshsales-first CRM architecture where lifecycle, segmentation, and automation logic live in one system of truth. Work includes non-linear deal flows, lifecycle states, tagging frameworks, and automation-safe transitions to support service-based growth without manual intervention.
20
154
Cover image for System Stability & Ongoing Operations: Currently overseeing ...
System Stability & Ongoing Operations: Currently overseeing the ongoing operation of growth systems once they are live. This work focuses on system stability, decision integrity, and ensuring that changes to campaigns, automations, or channels do not create downstream issues in data quality, reporting, or lifecycle flow. The emphasis is on controlled iteration, clear ownership, and keeping the underlying system reliable as volume and complexity increase.
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42
Cover image for Growth Operating System Design: Designing growth operating s...
Growth Operating System Design: Designing growth operating systems that unify CRM architecture, lifecycle management, automation, email marketing, and channel strategy into a single decision framework. Work includes structuring how email, content, social, reputation, and acquisition channels support lifecycle progression and follow-through, rather than operating as disconnected activities.
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102
Cover image for Lifecycle-Driven Email Automation Designing lifecycle-driven...
Lifecycle-Driven Email Automation Designing lifecycle-driven email automation where journeys are triggered by system state rather than manual campaigns. Focus is on timing, suppression, and exit logic across key touchpoints such as follow-ups, onboarding, re-engagement, and renewals, with automation governed centrally rather than embedded in email tools.
11
95
Business Development Specialist(1)
Yogi Gnanavel's avatar
Yogi Gnanavel
Manchester, UK
Growth Connoisseur. Ex Canva
1x
Hired
1
Followers
Growth Connoisseur. Ex Canva
Cover image for Rockethub Launchkit
Rockethub Launchkit
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5
Cover image for Outbound Sales Campaign
Outbound Sales Campaign
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4
Cover image for House of Lara
House of Lara
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1
Cover image for Lead Partnership Marketing
Lead Partnership Marketing
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1
Business Development Specialist(1)
Craslyn Benjamin's avatar
Craslyn Benjamin
Birmingham, UK
Supply Chain Strategy | Market Entry | Scaling Food Brands
New to Contra
Supply Chain Strategy | Market Entry | Scaling Food Brands
Cover image for Provided strategic advisory across food
Provided strategic advisory across food and beverage businesses, focusing on market entry, supply chain structuring, and commercial growth. Worked across UK, Caribbean, and international markets to develop scalable distribution models, optimise sourcing strategies, and improve pricing and commercial positioning. Result: Enabled businesses to access new markets, improve operational efficiency, and build scalable, growth-focused commercial structures.
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18
Cover image for FMCG Turnaround & Margin Recovery
FMCG Turnaround & Margin Recovery
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0
Cover image for Led the commercial strategy and
Led the commercial strategy and market positioning for Benlar Foods, a premium Caribbean food brand focused on sauces, functional products, and export-ready SKUs. Defined the product portfolio, pricing architecture, and go-to-market strategy across UK and international markets. Structured an asset-light manufacturing model using certified co-packers to enable scalable production without heavy capital investment. Built the foundation for multi-channel distribution, including retail, foodservice, and D2C, while aligning the brand for premium positioning and international expansion. Result: Established a scalable, export-ready food brand with clear commercial strategy, supply chain structure, and distribution pathways for growth.
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20
Cover image for Led a revenue optimisation and
Led a revenue optimisation and operational restructuring strategy for a UK-based Caribbean restaurant and catering business. Focused on stabilising inconsistent revenue streams, improving pricing and cost control, and building systems to support scalable growth. Implemented a structured catering and corporate sales model, streamlined kitchen-to-service workflows, and improved operational efficiency across channels. Result: Increased revenue across catering and service lines, improved fulfilment efficiency, and established a more scalable, system-driven business model.
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25
Business Development Specialist(2)
Beriwan Ceren's avatar
Beriwan Ceren
London, UK
Creative Entrepreneur,Operator for Startups
Creative Entrepreneur,Operator for Startups
Cover image for Project managing with Psych: new business opportunities+ network
Project managing with Psych: new business opportunities+ network
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2
Cover image for Building a community: 2hearts
Building a community: 2hearts
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8
Cover image for Building the ed-tech marketplace: Tutorbloc
Building the ed-tech marketplace: Tutorbloc
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4
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Business Development Specialist(1)
Mike Howells's avatar
Mike Howells
London, UK
An advanced Excel user with over 20 years of spreadsheet exp
An advanced Excel user with over 20 years of spreadsheet exp
Cover image for Business Plans
Business Plans
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1
Cover image for Excel assistance
Excel assistance
0
0
Cover image for excel modelling
excel modelling
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0
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Business Development Specialist(1)