Apprentice Business Developer

HOWDEN JOINERY LIMITED

Braintree, CM77 8YJ

Closes on Monday 6 January

Posted on 25 September 2024


Summary

We are seeking talented individuals to join our award-winning apprenticeship scheme and help drive our business forward. As a Business Developer, you will play a pivotal role in building relationships with new and existing customers, using telephone sales techniques to generate business and encourage new leads.

Annual wage
£15,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Generous Pension Scheme Paid holiday entitlement Team incentives and outings Staff discount on Howdens products

Training course
Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Hours
8am - 5pm / 7.30am - 4.30pm / Days to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Tuesday 7 January

Duration

1 year 5 months

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

At Howdens we invest in our people and provide thorough on the job training and excellent career progression opportunities, reflected in our placement at Number 17 in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers table 2022.

We are proud of our substantial growth and remain committed to success through the expansion of our local depot network. Despite its scale, Howdens remains a local business with traditional values and we are seeking talented people to help us continue to grow our business.

The Role

  • Provide potential and existing customers with the highest level of customer service and support the wider sales team in generating and chasing leads
  • Focus on effective customer account management, aiming to increase the company’s customer base and develop long term collaborative relationships within the building trade
  • Maintain up-to-date product and industry knowledge
  • Use creative marketing materials to promote Howdens products, depot events and sales periods to new and existing customers
  • Keep in touch with both depots lead banks regularly via the telephone and using our customer engagement messaging tool
  • Develop long-term collaborative relationships with customers
  • Proactively gain new accounts, repeat business and generate qualified leads for the team through outgoing sales calls
  • Process sales for customers using the in-store payment systems, quoting correct pricing, delivery date and stock requirements

Where you’ll work

Unit 1 Business Park

3 Charter Way

Braintree

CM77 8YJ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

INTEC BUSINESS COLLEGES LIMITED

Your training course

Customer service practitioner (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents
  • Use a range of questioning skills, including listening and responding in a way that builds rapport, determines customer needs and expectations and achieves positive engagement and delivery.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills, along with summarising language during face-to-face communications; and/or
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate communication skills, along with reinforcement techniques (to confirm understanding) during non-facing customer interactions.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use an appropriate ‘tone of voice’ in all communications, including written and digital, that reflect the organisation’s brand.
  • Provide clear explanations and offer options in order to help customers make choices that are mutually beneficial to both the customer and your organisation.
  • Be able to organise yourself, prioritise your own workload/activity and work to meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrate patience and calmness.
  • Show you understand the customer’s point of view.
  • Use appropriate sign-posting or resolution to meet your customers needs and manage expectations.
  • Maintain informative communication during service recovery.

Your training plan

  • Customer Service Practitioner Level 2 Apprentinceship Standard
  • End-Point Assessment 
  • Work-Based Training
  • Functional Skills (if necessary)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

Other in:

  • Personal and professional development (grade Desire)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • English (grade 9-4 (A*-C))
  • Mathematics (grade 9-4 (A*-C))

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Strong Relationship Builder
  • Target Driven
  • Planning
  • Proritise own Workload

Other requirements

Why work for us? Howdens Joinery, a trade only business with over 780 depots, has built a reputation that builders can trust through offering best local price and providing product from local stock. Our unbeatable service and product has led to us becoming a market leader, which is why we were awarded the Royal Warrant of Appointment by Her Majesty the Queen 2015 for our quality and excellence.

About this company

At Howdens we invest in our people and provide thorough on the job training and excellent career progression opportunities. We have been awarded a place in the top 25 Best Big Companies to Work for in recognition of excellence in the workplace. We are proud of our substantial growth and remain committed to success through the expansion of our local depot network. Howdens remains a local business with traditional values and we are seeking talented people to help us continue to grow our business.

https://www.howdens.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • At Howdens, there are great opportunities to progress into one of many key depot roles including sales and management

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

INTEC BUSINESS COLLEGES LIMITED

Ray Troy

01376 327472

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000278899.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 6 January

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.