Links Development

What Links Development does

Links Development (legal entity Links Business Development Ltd.) is a UK-registered, founder-led specialist B2B sales training, consulting and coaching firm operating from Bookham, Surrey. The business is built around founder Steve Hoyle, whose career progressed from individual sales contributor through sales manager, sales director, and general manager roles at Data General, Digital Equipment, Apple, and 3Com, and who is positioned as the author of 'Real Account Planning', described as the definitive guide to account planning in complex B2B. The firm serves enterprise clients operating in complex B2B sales environments where it delivers custom-configured training, one-on-one and group coaching, and high-impact interactive sales simulations. Its stated specializations are threefold: account planning, sales leadership development, and sales simulations that close the gap between training and field implementation.

The company has no proprietary technology platform; revenue is generated entirely through professional services engagements plus a modest layer of productized IP. Three branded offerings structure the portfolio: (1) the Real Sales Manager program (online on-demand training, 1-1 coaching, and a supporting podcast), (2) Real Account Planning (training and coaching workshops built on the published book), and (3) general sales training modules augmented by interactive simulations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; all work is custom-configured and sold under multi-year contracts via direct contact.

Demand generation is lightweight and consistent with a solo-practice model: website content and downloadable articles, Steve Hoyle's LinkedIn profile, conference speaking, and direct inquiry through the website. The firm claims delivery across 47 countries without disclosed local entities or partners. There are no funding rounds, no disclosed customers, no patents, no certifications, and no stated headcount beyond the founder, leaving the business structurally dependent on a single principal's time and reputation.

Name

Links Development

Legal name

Links Business Development Ltd.

Website

https://linksdev.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Links Development is a UK-based, founder-led specialist B2B sales training, consulting, and coaching firm run by Steve Hoyle, delivering custom-configured programs in account planning, sales leadership, and simulations to enterprise clients across 47 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sales Training & Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDABABAC

Consultative Selling & Discovery

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Sales & Customer Success Training

SECONDARYEDABAAAA

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Leadership & Management Development

SECONDARYEDAGAKAC

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Instructional Design & Content Development Services

Keywords

• Sales training services
• Sales leadership coaching
• Account planning consulting
• B2B sales simulations
• Sales management development

Headquarters

HQ city

Great Bookham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sales Training Services: Custom-configured sales training programs for sales teams operating in complex B2B markets, including general skills training and specialized solutions.
2. Sales Leadership Development: The Real Sales Manager program (realsalesmanager.com) provides online, on-demand training intertwined with 1-1 individual coaching, backed up by a podcast - delivered as professional coaching services.
3. Account Planning Training & Coaching: Real Account Planning training and 1-1 or group coaching workshops supporting implementation of professional account planning.
4. Sales Simulations: High impact, highly interactive and practical sales simulations often used to complement and finalise general skills or solutions training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Links Development is a specialist sales and sales leadership training, consulting, and coaching company operating in complex B2B sales environments. The company delivers custom-configured solutions for clients covering general sales skills training for all experience levels, with three specializations: account planning, sales leadership development, and high-impact interactive sales simulations used to bridge training to practical implementation.

Product overview

Links Development offers a portfolio of sales training, consulting and coaching services for complex B2B sales environments. The core offerings include: (1) Real Sales Manager program for sales leadership development with online training, 1-1 coaching, and podcast support; (2) Real Account Planning for account planning training and workshops; and (3) Sales Training & Simulations including practical sales simulations. The company also provides general sales training for all levels of experience, 1-1 and group coaching workshops, and specialist consulting services. All work is custom-configured for individual clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Real Sales Manager: A complete programme designed to help aspiring and new sales managers in complex B2B to become effective immediately. Consists of online, on-demand training intertwined with 1-1 individual coaching, backed up by a podcast.
• Real Account Planning

Products and services

• Real Sales Manager (Sales Leader Development)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RAIN Group: B2B sales training and consulting firm delivering customized sales programs, sales coaching, and sales leadership development to enterprise clients — a close functional peer to Links Development's bespoke consulting model.
• Sandler Training: Global B2B sales training franchise with structured methodology, coaching, and certification programs targeting sales professionals and managers. Directly comparable offering to Links Development's sales training and sales leadership development focus, but at much larger scale.
• Richardson: Sales training and performance improvement company selling customized B2B sales programs, sales coaching, and sales leadership development to enterprise clients — a close analogue to Links Development's core offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Dale Carnegie & Associates: Long-established global training provider offering sales, leadership, and professional development programs across many geographies. Overlaps with Links Development in B2B sales and sales leadership training, but operates at much greater scale and breadth.
• GP Strategies: Large workforce performance solutions provider offering sales training, sales coaching, and leadership development as part of a broad corporate learning portfolio. Adjacent incumbent competitor to Links Development.
• BTS: Large professional services firm specializing in sales force effectiveness, leadership development, and simulation-based learning for global enterprises. Comparable to Links Development on the sales simulation and leadership dimensions but at significantly larger scale.
• Mercuri International: Global sales performance consultancy delivering customized B2B sales training, sales coaching, and sales leadership development. A relevant incumbent peer in the same core category as Links Development.

Emerging players

• Winning by Design: B2B sales training and enablement company specializing in SaaS sales methodology, sales coaching, and sales leadership programs. A more niche but rapidly scaling peer competing for similar enterprise B2B clients.
• JBarrows: B2B sales training provider focused on outbound prospecting, sales management, and sales coaching workshops. Comparable to Links Development's sales training focus but with a narrower methodology emphasis.
• Sales Gravy: Sales training and recruiting company offering sales coaching, sales management training, and B2B sales programs. A peer operating in the same sales training and sales leadership niche as Links Development.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/links-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Links Development