How Daisy Jones Is Redefining Business Development at MATCHUP

By Emily Holloway, PA at MATCHUP 

From Cold Calls to Meaningful Connections 

When Daisy first stepped into a full-time sales role at the Knowledge Academy straight after her A-levels, she quickly discovered that constant cold calling and the relentless "get the sale, get the sale" mentality wasn't for her. "It was too harsh," she recalls. "I just didn't enjoy that transactional approach to sales." But instead of continuing down the same path, Daisy pivoted her career and in doing so, discovered her true calling in relationship-driven business development.

After her experience at the Knowledge Academy, Daisy moved into recruitment at Chancellor's Estate Agents, where she found her sweet spot. "There's still the sales element and targets," she explains, "but it's more focused on client and candidate relationships, which I really enjoyed." Driven to take on a new challenge, she transitioned to MATCHUP in the summer of 2025.

A Surprising Career Turn

Initially joining MATCHUP as a recruiter, Daisy managed candidate relationships and matched top talent to client roles. From here, MATCHUP founder, Zoe, recognised Daisy’s potential and approached her with the opportunity to step into the Business Development Manager role in 2026. "I was surprised at first," Daisy admits, "because of my background, I had that negative perception of sales from my early experience." But she embraced her strengths and stepped right into the opportunity.

Over the past months, Daisy has invested in her own development, completing training courses focused on business development strategies, client engagement, and lead qualification. Her initial hesitation has transformed into genuine excitement. "The nerves are gone," she says. "I'm really excited about what’s ahead!”

A Different Kind of Sales

What makes Daisy's approach to business development distinctive is her understanding that professional services require an entirely different mindset than transactional sales. Instead of aggressive cold-calling, she's embracing what industry veterans call the "farming" approach - planting seeds, nurturing relationships, and allowing trust to develop over time.

Her current focus is on qualifying security companies that align with MATCHUP's services, understanding their needs, and determining whether MATCHUP can genuinely help them. It's consultative rather than pushy, relationship-focused rather than quota-driven. This shift in philosophy has energised her approach to the role.

"Business development in professional services is about networking and building genuine connections," Daisy explains. "It's about being open to conversations and meeting people without the upfront hard sell. I really enjoy understanding what clients actually need and whether we can help."

Building the Foundation

As Daisy settles into her new role, she's working closely with the MATCHUP team to integrate marketing efforts with business development activities, and in April she will be helping to launch and roll-out new screening software to clients.

Furthermore, by sharing frequent questions and themes she encounters in client conversations, Daisy is helping shape content that addresses real industry pain points and positioning MATCHUP as a knowledgeable, responsive vetted personnel solutions partner rather than just another recruitment firm.

Looking Ahead

Daisy's journey from reluctant cold caller to confident business development professional illustrates an important truth. Namely, the right role can transform how we view our work. Her background in both sales and recruitment, combined with her genuine interest in client relationships, positions her perfectly to build MATCHUP's client base in a way that's both effective and authentic.

As she continues to develop her LinkedIn presence and prepare for a deeper dive into business development strategy, Daisy is clear about her approach: "It's about building meaningful relationships, truly understanding a clients challenges and positioning solutions that deliver a real impact”

For companies in the security sector looking for vetted personnel solutions, Daisy provides a welcome alternative to traditional sales, focusing on understanding your requirements and ensuring MATCHUP is the right partner to help.

Daisy Jones is Key Account Manager at MATCHUP. Connect with her on LinkedIn to discuss your security recruitment needs - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisy-jones-1953a3284/