Trainee Showroom Sales Designer

Hours: 30 per week - days and hours negotiable but will include alternate Saturday mornings

Putting people at the heart of what we do

With 185 years' trading experience, the Howarth Timber Group has grown to provide not only the widest range of products, but expertise, service and knowledge you can rely on.

With a nationwide network of branches supplying timber, building and plumbing materials, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms and a dedicated manufacturing division supplying timber engineering services, the Howarth Timber Group is focused on providing market leading choice, quality, service and value.

Built on a passion for service and people, we strive to set the highest standards in the quality of our products, in the continuity of supply and in every aspect of customer service and support. Quality products and processes are what drive our passion, but people are central to everything we do and it's thanks to our loyal workforce that we've built a strong and successful business.

What does it mean to be a Howarth Timber Trainee Showroom Sales Designer?

We are looking for a Trainee Showroom Sales Designer to join our busy kitchen, bedroom and bathroom showroom in Newcastle under Lyme.

You will perform a variety of administrative tasks, including managing phones and e-mails, scheduling appointments and planning meetings. You will also be meeting and greeting customers and offering help and advice to ensure they have a great experience within our branch.

You will be fully trained by the Company on the designing and pricing of customer kitchens and the preparation of and checking of quotations, processing sales and purchase orders, whilst ensuring the smooth running of customer projects.

For this position, you should be able to use your organisational skills to manage your office space and your time effectively, as you will collaborate with clients and colleagues in an exciting and constantly evolving industry. You should also have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Ultimately, you will be able to support our Showroom Sales Designer to ensure our day-to-day showroom operations run smoothly.

Training will be provided for the showroom products and design using ArtiCAD, as well as on all internal systems and customer finance software.

Initial Trainee Showroom Sales Designer Role Responsibility

• Answer phone calls, provide information to callers
• Schedule appointments and update calendar
• Monitor design/sales funnel and update
• Written or verbal correspondence to leads provided, with branch information and/or invitations.
• Develop and maintain a filing system
• Create spreadsheets
• Greet and provide general support to showroom visitors
• Deal with customer complaints or issues calmly and efficiently/effectively
• Monitor schedules and deadlines
• Attend promotional showroom events (some will be out of normal office hours)
• Attend all training, both internal and external, deemed appropriate to the nature of the job role

What are the requirements to become part of our team?

• A flair for interior design and a keen eye for detail
• Understanding of and experience in office operations
• Hands on experience with Microsoft Office, in particular Excel
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Be comfortable dealing with people in a sales-based environment
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• Full UK driving licence

Why choose Howarth Timber & Building Supplies for your next role?

Howarth Timber is a family-owned company valuing all colleagues, with a desire to provide colleague benefits that are truly valuable. Benefits include but are not limited to:

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience
• 31 days' holiday, inclusive of Statutory Bank Holidays
• Opportunity to buy up to an additional 5 days' annual leave or sell up to 3 days' annual leave
• Length of service awards
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Death in service benefit
• Company sick pay
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Online Benefits Hub (inc discounts on gift cards, travel, cinema tickets, to name a few)
• Employee Assistance Programme, (24/7 helpline, counselling sessions, legal, debt and life management advice line)
• Generous colleague Merchant Branch discount
• Opportunity to participate in a volunteering role for one working day per year – fully paid by the Company
• Excellent training and development opportunities

Job Type: Permanent

Pay: From £12.50 per hour

Expected hours: 30 per week

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free flu jabs
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Paid volunteer time
• Referral programme
• Sick pay
• Store discount

Application question(s):

• In your application, please detail what interests you about this role and whether you have any relevant experience in design and/or interiors.
• Please confirm that you are available to work 30 hours per week, to include every other Saturday morning

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 21/11/2025