Business Development Associate (EMEA)

The Role

We are looking to hire a driven, target-focused Business Development Associate to join our EMEA Sales team in Holborn, London. Following our acquisition by WGSN, IWSR is combining world-class beverage alcohol data with global design and consumer forecasting, creating an unprecedented intelligence platform for the industry.

This is an on-site role based out of our London office.

Together, we create tomorrow.

IWSR is the global benchmark for beverage alcohol data and intelligence. Recently acquired by WGSN, we combine deep, data-driven market insight with world-leading trend forecasting. As part of this expanded family, your work will empower the world's leading drinks brands, distributors, and investors to make data-backed strategic decisions.

We are a highly data-focused organization. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where rigorous data analytics, market intelligence, and consumer insights intersect, we want to hear from you.

Role Overview

We have ambitious growth plans for 2026 and are looking for a dynamic, target-focused Business Development Associate to join our London team as part of our core Sales function.

Based out of our Holborn office on a hybrid model (3 days in-office), you will be a key driver of top-of-funnel pipeline growth within the EMEA market. You will focus on identifying potential clients, qualifying inbound interest, and executing strategic outbound prospecting across the global beverage alcohol and broader FMCG sectors.

You will not be phased by high-volume prospecting or cold outreach. Using expert data insights, you will help prospective clients understand the commercial value IWSR's data platform brings to their strategic planning.

The Team

At IWSR and WGSN, our sales teams are made up of Business Development Associates, Account Managers, and Enterprise Directors who work collaboratively to achieve ambitious performance goals.

We are diverse, tenacious, resilient, and deeply target-driven. We sell specialized market intelligence and quantitative data to top-tier global beverage brands, emerging spirits start-ups, and institutional investors.

Key Accountabilities

• Pipeline Generation & Targets: Consistently hit and exceed outbound outreach, meeting booking, and pipeline generation targets.
• Data-Driven Outbound Prospecting: Develop and execute strategic prospecting plans via phone, email, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator to reach senior decision-makers in the beverage alcohol space.
• Inbound Lead Qualification: Rapidly follow up on and qualify high-intent inbound leads, acting as the primary point of contact for prospective customers.
• Market Intelligence Research: Use sales tools to build highly targeted lists of decision-makers across spirits, wine, beer, and low/no-alcohol sectors.
• Sales Handoff: Ensure seamless research briefing and handoff to senior Account Executives to set them up for successful discovery and demo meetings.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with marketing and IWSR data analyst teams to leverage industry reports, event leads, and regional trend data for targeted outreach.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications Required

• Language Skills: Full fluency in English is required. Fluency in French or Italian is a strong advantage (nice-to-have).
• Drive & Mindset: Highly target-focused, resilient, and competitive with a proactive approach to cold prospecting and phone outreach.
• Data & Commercial Aptitude: Comfortable working in a data-focused environment, translating market intelligence and data capabilities into clear business value.
• Communication: Exceptional written, verbal, and listening skills with the ability to navigate initial objections.
• Sales Experience: Prior experience in B2B outbound prospecting or tech/data sales is an advantage, though comprehensive training is provided.
• Tech Stack: Familiarity with CRM and sales enablement tools (e.g., Salesforce, SalesLoft, LinkedIn Sales Navigator) is a plus.

What we offer

Our benefits and wellbeing package offers flexible benefits you can tailor to your own personal needs, including:

• 25 days of holiday per year - with an option to buy/ sell up to 5 days
• Pension, Life Assurance and Income Protection Flexible benefits platform with options including Private Medical, Dental Insurance & Critical Illness
• Employee assistance programme, season ticket loans and cycle to work scheme
• Volunteering opportunities and charitable giving options
• Great learning and development opportunities.

More about WGSN

WGSN is the global authority on consumer trend forecasting.

We help brands around the world create the right products at the right time for tomorrow’s consumer.

We Are Everywhere

The future is everything, it happens everywhere. WGSN is the world-leading forecaster because we track and analyse consumer behaviours, product innovation, design and creativity, everywhere.

We Are Future Focused

We utilise our global resources and intelligence to research, source and analyse quantitative and qualitative data to produce our forecasts. Everything we do is focused on working with our customers to create a successful and positive tomorrow.

We Are Rigorous

We source, review and assess quantitative and qualitative data to produce robust, actionable forecasts. To provide credible insights and design solutions for our clients, it is essential that rigour runs through everything we do.

Our culture

An inclusive culture is one of our key priorities. We want our people to truly be themselves and thrive. We love having a diverse team of people who bring new ideas, different strengths and perspectives & reflect the global audience we work with.

Inclusive workforce

We are committed to supporting the environment and sustainability , including ensuring our pension plan defaults to sustainable options and striving to be net zero by 2030. ** **

Recognising great performance is a key part of our culture. Our Awards schemes recognise and reward the brilliant achievements of our people.

We offer a flexible working environment with a wide range of flexible, hybrid and agile working arrangements. Conversations about flexible working have always been - and will continue to be - actively encouraged here, but we do not offer full remote working.

We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to perform their best when interviewing, so if you require any reasonable adjustments that would make you more comfortable during the process, please let us know so that we can do our best to support you.

A Note for Applicants

We use AI to help our team screen applications and identify candidates whose skills and experience match the role. This technology removes personal information to promote a fair and unbiased process. We believe this tool helps us find the best talent while maintaining transparency and fairness.

A Note for Recruiters

Thank you so much for your interest in working with us at WGSN! Our internal Talent Acquisition team takes care of all our recruitment efforts. When we need some extra help, we partner with agencies on our Preferred Supplier List (PSL) that truly understand our business, culture and ways of working together. Since we focus on these established partnerships, we’re unable to respond to unsolicited contacts or CVs from outside our PSL. But don’t worry! If we decide to explore new partnerships, we’ll be sure to reach out.