Entrepreneurship and Business Development Professional Credentials
Why develop your career in Entrepreneurship and Business Development?
Entrepreneurship and business development are essential to the creation, growth and long-term success of businesses. Entrepreneurs identify opportunities, develop innovative products and services, establish new ventures and turn ideas into commercially viable businesses. Business development professionals help organisations expand into new markets, build strategic partnerships, attract customers and identify new sources of revenue. Together, these disciplines support innovation, competitiveness and sustainable business growth.
Global Management Academy’s Entrepreneurship and Business Development courses help learners develop the knowledge and practical skills required to identify opportunities, mobilise resources, develop business strategies and convert commercial potential into measurable results.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, this field provides a foundation for launching and managing a business. For professionals pursuing a management career, it offers opportunities to contribute directly to organisational growth, innovation and commercial performance.
Entrepreneurship and business development professionals perform a range of activities to identify commercial opportunities, establish new ventures, develop markets and achieve sustainable business growth.
- Identifying and evaluating business opportunities: Research market trends, customer needs, competitor activities and emerging technologies to identify opportunities with commercial potential.
- Conducting market research and analysis: Gather and analyse information about target customers, market size, industry conditions and competitors to support informed business decisions.
- Developing business plans and strategies: Prepare business models, value propositions, operational plans, financial forecasts and growth strategies that establish how a business will achieve its objectives.
- Developing products and services: Coordinate the design, testing, refinement and launch of products or services that address identified customer needs and offer a viable commercial proposition.
- Managing innovation: Encourage new ideas, evaluate opportunities for improvement and oversee the introduction of innovative products, services, processes and business models.
- Sourcing finance and managing venture funding: Identify suitable sources of funding, prepare financial proposals, approach potential investors or lenders and support the financial planning required to establish or expand a business.
- Mobilising business resources: Secure and coordinate the people, equipment, technology, suppliers, premises and other resources needed to implement business plans and achieve operational objectives.
- Developing markets and acquiring customers: Identify target markets, develop market-entry plans, establish sales channels and implement activities designed to attract and retain customers.
- Building strategic partnerships: Identify potential business partners, negotiate mutually beneficial arrangements and develop relationships that improve market access, capabilities or commercial performance.
- Managing sales and commercial negotiations: Develop business proposals, negotiate prices and contractual terms, manage prospective customer relationships and convert business opportunities into commercial agreements.
- Managing business risks: Identify financial, operational, market and competitive risks and develop practical measures to reduce their potential impact on business performance.
- Monitoring business performance: Establish performance indicators, analyse sales and financial results, evaluate progress against business objectives and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
- Leading business development projects: Coordinate teams, budgets, timelines and activities to implement new initiatives, launch products, enter markets or deliver planned business expansion.
- Supporting business growth and continuous improvement: Evaluate business performance, identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability, and adapt strategies in response to changing market conditions.
Skills and Knowledge required in Entrepreneurship and Business Development
Entrepreneurship and business development require a combination of commercial awareness, analytical capability, creativity and practical management skills. Key areas of knowledge include:
- Opportunity identification and market research: Assessing customer needs, market trends, competitors and emerging business opportunities.
- Product and service development: Translating customer requirements into commercially viable offerings and managing the development process.
- Innovation management: Generating ideas, evaluating new business models and introducing improvements that create customer and organisational value.
- Business planning and strategy: Developing business models, value propositions, revenue strategies, operational plans and growth objectives.
- Venture finance and funding: Understanding start-up costs, cash-flow requirements, financial projections and potential funding sources, including loans, investors, grants and venture capital where appropriate.
- Resource mobilisation: Securing and coordinating the people, technology, equipment, finance and external expertise required to establish or expand a business.
- Sales, marketing and market development: Building customer relationships, developing market-entry strategies, promoting products and services, and expanding commercial reach.
- Partnerships and negotiation: Establishing supplier relationships, strategic alliances and other arrangements that support business development.
- Risk management and performance evaluation: Assessing commercial risks, monitoring business performance and adapting plans in response to results and changing conditions.
These capabilities help professionals evaluate opportunities systematically and make informed decisions throughout the business development process.
Example Entrepreneurship and Business Development Jobs
Training in entrepreneurship and business development can support entry into a range of commercial, managerial and venture-development roles, depending on an individual’s experience, qualifications and industry knowledge.
- Entrepreneur or Business Owner: Establishes and operates a business by identifying market opportunities, developing products or services, securing resources, managing operations and pursuing profitability and growth.
- Business Development Manager: Identifies and develops opportunities for organizational growth through new customers, markets, partnerships, commercial proposals and revenue-generating initiatives.
- Business Development Executive: Supports business expansion by researching prospects, generating leads, contacting potential customers, preparing proposals and maintaining relationships with prospective clients.
- Start-up or Venture Development Manager: Coordinates the development of new business ventures by assessing opportunities, validating business models, preparing plans, mobilizing resources and supporting commercial launch.
- Innovation Manager: Leads initiatives to develop and implement new products, services, processes or business models that improve competitiveness and create business value.
- Product Development Manager: Oversees the development of products or services from initial concept through research, design, testing, launch and subsequent improvement, coordinating commercial and technical teams.
- Commercial Development Manager: Develops strategies to improve commercial performance through new revenue streams, pricing initiatives, customer opportunities, partnerships and the evaluation of business propositions.
- Strategic Partnerships Manager: Establishes and manages relationships with external organizations to create opportunities for collaboration, market access, shared resources and mutual commercial benefit.
- Market Development Manager: Develops plans to expand into new geographic areas, customer segments or industry sectors through market research, positioning, distribution strategies and customer acquisition.
- Growth Manager: Identifies and tests initiatives to accelerate business growth by improving customer acquisition, conversion, retention, sales performance and the effectiveness of marketing channels.
- New Business Manager: Identifies and converts new commercial opportunities into business by developing prospect relationships, preparing proposals, negotiating agreements and coordinating the acquisition of new accounts.
- Business Consultant: Advises organizations on business planning, market opportunities, growth strategies, operational improvements and commercial challenges, helping clients develop and implement practical solutions.
These roles exist across start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporations, consulting firms and organizations developing new products, services or markets. Some positions require substantial prior experience, while entry-level business development roles may provide a starting point for progression into more senior commercial and management positions.
Global Professional Credentials for Entrepreneurs and Business Development Professionals
Professional Certificates – which comprise 3 to 4 CPD certified courses in specific skill sets, offered at different levels levels of management, to support your career development plans. Assessment is based on multiple choice quizzes. On completion, participants are awarded Digital Credentials on Global’s blockchain verified digital platform – share your skills and expertise on social media, and with employers.
Professional Diplomas – which comprise 8 CPD certified courses in specific skill sets, offered at different levels levels of management, to support your career development plans. Assessment is based on multiple choice quizzes. On completion, participants are awarded Digital Credentials on Global’s blockchain verified digital platform – share your skills and expertise on social media, and with employers.
Global Professional Credentials – assure employers of your professional competence in specific Sales and Marketing Management specialisms and roles. GMA courses have been developed based international best practice international competency standards and international best practice in sales and marketing management, and are trusted by educational partners and industry worldwide.
Digital Credentials – On completion, participants are awarded Digital Credentials on Global’s blockchain verified digital platform – share your skills and expertise on social media, and with employers.
Verify your Skills and Expertise with Global Professional Credentials!
A Global Management Academy Professional Credential provides recognition and verification of your skills and knowledge in a key career skill set. Select your Level of Management and the Skill Sets you need to develop to fast track your career.
Business Development
- Level: First-Line Manager
- Courses: 4
- CPD Hours: 80
- Duration: Up to 6 months (avg. time to complete 3 months)
- Certification: Global Professional Credentials
Leading Innovation
- Level: Middle Manager
- Courses: 4
- CPD Hours: 80
- Duration: Up to 4 months (avg. time to complete 2 months)
- Certification: Global Professional Credentials
Entrepreneurship
- Level: Senior Manager
- Courses: 8
- CPD Hours: 160
- Duration: Up to 6 months (avg. time to complete 4 months)
- Certification: Global Professional Credentials
Business Development
- Level: Middle Manager
- Courses: 8
- CPD Hours: 160
- Duration: Up to 6 months (avg. time to complete 4 months)
- Certification: Global Professional Credentials
Key Features of Certified Professional Credentials
Fast Track your Career
Global Professional Credential programs offer the most cost efficient and time effective career development programs for busy managers and professionals.
Online | On-Demand
Global courses use best practice online learning technologies, and are accessible on all devices 24/7. Assessment is through online examinations for each competency domain (see below).
Assessment
Assessment in Global Professional Programs comprises 3 to 4 Online Multiple Choice tests in each course. The pass-mark is 70% for all tests and re-sits permitted at no charge.
Professional Credentials
On successful completion of the program, you will be awarded your Global Professional Credential, comprising digital certificate and badge and skills profile.
Share your Credentials
Your credentials are accessed on the Global blockchain secure (Hyperstack) credential platform and you can share your achievements on social media, and with current and prospective employers.
FAQs
A Global Management Academy Professional Credential is awarded for completion of a series of courses within a specific business or management skill set. On completion of a set number of courses, candidates will qualify for the Professional Management Credentials. Professional Certificates typically contain between 3 and 4 courses, and diploma programs between 6 and 8 courses. Assessment is based on multiple choice quizzes in each course.
On completion, participants are awarded Digital Credentials on Global’s blockchain verified digital platform – share your skills and expertise on social media, and with employers
Global Management Academy professional credentials are not higher education awards such as degrees or master’s qualifications, and they are not part of nationally regulated academic frameworks.
Instead, our programmes are built around internationally relevant management and leadership competencies aligned with current global workplace expectations and industry best practice, such as the U.K’s National Occupational Standards’, and the EMSI skills framework. This ensures the skills you develop are practical, transferable, and applicable across a wide range of countries, sectors and organisational contexts.
Each Global Management Academy course and credential includes a detailed competency profile that clearly outlines the specific knowledge, skills and behaviours learners are expected to develop. These competency profiles form an integral part of our digital credentialing process and are issued alongside your Global digital credential, providing transparent, verifiable evidence of your professional capabilities.
Ultimately, Global Management Academy credentials are designed to demonstrate applied competence, strengthen professional credibility, and support career development in an increasingly global and interconnected labour market.
A Global Management Academy Digital credential is the acknowledgement that you have invested time in developing your skills. Global Digital credentials comprise digital badges and certificates, and the technology to promote your achievements, and showcase your knowledge and skills across social media platforms, and with your employer and recruitment platforms.
Global credentials are verifiable using secure blockchain technologies.
On completion of all Global courses, you will be able to download and print a completion certificate. The Course Completion Certificate will also detail your acquired CPD hours from the course of study.
On completion of your Professional Credential Program, you will receive Digital Certification and a Digital Badge from Global Management Academy on the Hyperstack Blockchain verified digital certification platform. The Credential profile will also list the courses completed, and detail the skills and knowledge (competencies) you will have aqcuired. You will be able to share you achievements on multiple social media and career sites.
Keeping your skills current and continuing your professional development is essential in today’s fast-changing business environment. However, balancing work, family and personal commitments can be challenging.
Global Management Academy’s professional certificates and diplomas are designed specifically for busy professionals. Our flexible online learning model enables you to study at a time, place and pace that suits your lifestyle, allowing you to fit learning around your existing responsibilities.
Our programmes are practical, accessible and supported by a user-friendly online learning environment, helping you build confidence without becoming overwhelmed. If you are currently employed, you can immediately apply your new knowledge and skills in the workplace, reinforcing your learning and delivering real value to your organisation.
Whether you are seeking career progression, preparing for greater responsibilities or exploring new opportunities, a Global Management Academy credential can help you develop the skills, confidence and professional recognition needed to advance your career while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Learners are free to complete their learning at their own pace. On average, learners take 2 months (at 6 to 8 hours per week) to complete a Certificate Program, and up to 4 months to complete a Professional Diploma Program.
All Global Management Academy courses and programs are delivered through Online Learning through the Global E-Learning Portal. Each course comprises:
- Online Lectures and interactive learning
- Online Videos
- Online Quizzes
- Downloadable Learning Manuals (80 pages +)
- Additional downloadable workbooks, articles, and case studies.
GMA is committed to providing learners with the most complete learning experiences, to enable both online an offline learning. In addition to the online learning, you will have access to downloadable learning manuals (normally 80 to 100 pages for each course). In addition, you will also have access to associated case studies, workbooks and management resources for each course.
You will receive continuous email support from your tutor throughout your program. You tutor will be available to answer your questions, and may be able to provide additional free resources on request.
Choose your currency in the currency selector, or pay in US Dollars. You can pay for courses through a single payment, or by monthly installments. See the fees for each course / program when you view program details.
On payment, you will receive a confirmation email and shortly thereafter you will receive an email with a link to the Global E-Learning Portal. Your tutor will also be on contact with you within 24 hours.
Depending on your course / program, you will have access to the e-learning portal for between 3 months and 12 months. Single course access is typically for 3 months, and access to courses in credential program for between 4 and 6 months. Please see course details for exact access durations.
If you are not satisfied with your Academy within the first 7 days of purchase, we will refund your money (no questions asked).
Why develop your career with Global Management Academy?
Because today's managers need practical skills, flexible learning, and credentials that deliver real value. Global Management Academy offers hundreds of affordable online courses and professional credential programs across leadership, management, finance, human resources, marketing, operations, and strategy. Study anytime, anywhere with self-paced learning designed for busy professionals, and earn verifiable digital credentials and CPD certificates that showcase your growing expertise. Whether you are preparing for your first leadership role, seeking promotion, or building executive capabilities, Global Management Academy provides a flexible, cost-effective pathway to achieve your career go achieve your career goals.