Sales Apprentice

Established in 2003, we're proud to be one of the UK's leading independent providers of essential business technology. We're equally delighted to have been named one of 'The UK's Best 100 Companies To Work For 2021', to have scooped an impressive 6th placein the telecoms sector and to have been awarded a 3* accreditation by Best Companies - the highest level awarded Best Companies, the renowned employee engagement specialists.

Our teams are experts in their field, passionate about finding the right solutions for our customers and committed to supporting each other. We know the right people are the key to success. The energy, entrepreneurial spirit and expertise of our teams areat the heart of Focus Group. Our people make the difference.

What we are looking for

At Focus Group we are driven by excellence, and to be able to support our growth aspirations, we need to attract some of the best talent in the South East. Generating new business opportunities is at the top of our list. We have enviable customers such asMolton Brown, Brighton and Hove Albion, Sussex County Cricket Club and Honda and we're looking to continue this strength. Our own in-house sales academy can teach you to reach new heights and become an industry leader in your field.

We are looking for confident, well-presented people to learn and generate new business opportunities across various products for the entire Focus Group and in turn, be supported through an apprenticeship delivered locally by Vocate Training Ltd.

Your principal responsibilities & duties

A Business Development Executive Trainee (Apprenticeship) is a salesperson working in our Business-to-Business markets with responsibility to sell Focus Group's products and services. You will plan your sales activities with your mentor, lead the end-to-endsales interaction with the customer and manage your sales, with full support of the Focus Group sales team.

You will be responsible for retaining and growing several existing customer accounts, and generating new business by contacting prospective customers, qualifying opportunities, and bringing the sales process to a mutually acceptable close.

A Business Development Executive Trainee (Apprenticeship) will deal with a single point of contact for each sale and will present a pre-considered value proposition. The entire sales process may be completed during a single customer 'conversation', or overa series of interactions.

Full training will be provided to understand The Focus Group's products and services in detail and will become an expert at analysing customer needs and creating solutions by selecting appropriate products or services, linking their features and benefitsto our customer's requirements.

You will learn to develop customer relationships by establishing rapport and building trust and confidence in your own and Focus Group's capabilities through demonstration of detailed product knowledge, competitor knowledge and an understanding of the marketin which Focus Group is an industry leader.

The essential skills you will be able to demonstrate
- A can-do attitude
- Professional telephone manner
- Proactivity
- Self-Discipline
- Resilience and Self-motivation
- Have excellent customer service skills
- Be computer literate, particularly in Microsoft
- Drive and desire to learn new skills

Why would you want to work at Focus Group?

Focus Group value respect, teamwork, ambition and integrity and ask for a commitment to professionalism and excellence.

In return we can offer you some fantastic benefits, including a pension scheme, free financial advice, a discounted café and Cycle to work initiatives. We're a sociable bunch too Focus Group hold regular company gatherings and parties, get dressed up foraward ceremonies and enjoy getting stuck in at various sporting and charity events throughout the year.