Sales Representative Apprentice

Podium Pet Products

Reading (RG10 9SB)

Closes on Monday 19 January 2026

Posted on 12 December 2025


Summary

We are looking for a motivated apprentice to join our team and build the foundations of a career in sales. As a Sales Apprentice, you’ll gain hands-on experience in business development and customer service while working towards a Level 4 Sales Apprenticeship. You would work as a part of our sales team.

Training course
Sales executive (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm 30 minute unpaid break.

38 hours a week

Start date

Monday 26 January 2026

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Your duties will include:

  • Speaking with new and existing customers by phone and email
  • Supporting the sales team with enquiries and quotations
  • Building and maintaining customer relationships
  • Assisting with order processing and follow-ups
  • Helping to identify new sales opportunities
  • Supporting promotional campaigns and events
  • Helping with trade shows and pop-up stalls
  • Driving around to local shops to promote the product
  • Market research
  • Pack and ship orders, and update inventory

Where you'll work

Podium Pet Products the Barn LAD Ds Garden Village
Bath Road Hare Hatch
Reading
RG10 9SB

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

SR APPRENTICESHIPS LIMITED

Training course

Sales executive (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Sales planning and preparation: Set effective targets using sales forecasts. Prioritise customers and activities to grow account value and maximise return-on-investment in line with your organisation’s strategy. Formulate or refine customer plans and objectives. Create efficient territory plans where appropriate.
  • Customer engagement: Effectively communicate and interpret customer information exchanged through written, verbal and non-verbal communication. Develop a customer engagement style that effectively opens sales conversations, builds rapport, enhances customer relationships, and adapts to different customer’s social preferences.
  • Customer needs analysis: Be highly skilled at effective questioning and active listening techniques to understand the customer’s needs, guide the sales conversation appropriately, create mutual understanding, and build trust and affinity with customers.
  • Propose and present solutions: Develop sales proposals and deliver them using a presentation style and technique appropriate for your customer. Present relevant products and/or services, explain features and their advantages, and clearly articulate the value and benefit of the solution for the specific customer. Use and adapt a range of techniques to draw-out and overcome common sales objections.
  • Negotiate: Research the customer’s likely desired outcomes and negotiating stance. Develop responses to likely objections. Identify your own organisation’s needs, such as minimum price and acceptable terms. Negotiate or trade variables effectively.
  • Closing Sales: Be attuned to verbal and non-verbal buying-signals andmove to close at an appropriate point in sales conversations. Develop ethical techniques to close sales and confirm customers’ purchase agreement.
  • Gathering Intelligence: Collect, analyse and interpret market intelligence and share it appropriately and effectively within your organisation.
  • Time Management: Use and adapt appropriate tools and techniques to prioritise and manage your time effectively.
  • Collaboration and team work: Contribute effectively within a team environment. Work collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders. Manage communications with the cross-functional team in relation to the effective delivery of your sales, such as finance and service delivery. Support continual business improvement by sharing best practice with sales team colleagues and assist the marketing team to develop new marketing collateral.
  • Customer experience management: Deliver a positive customer experience. Manage customer enquiries and issues effectively. Take proactive action to prevent and minimise customer concerns and complaints. Handle all customer interactions professionally to the customer’s satisfaction.
  • Digital skills: Effectively use digital tools to conduct research and target customers in line with the overall sales strategy. Able to deliver presentations and meetings using digital communication. Complete accurate records and process sales in accordance with your organisation’s policies, procedures and digital CRM systems.

Training schedule

On-the-job training.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4/C)
  • Maths (grade 4/C)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Friendly & professional manner
  • Enthusiastic
  • Eager to learn
  • Driving licence

Other requirements

Must have a driving licence and a car.

About this employer

Podium Pet Products are dedicated to you and your pet’s lifestyle together, we bring to you trusted, innovative and, wherever possible, natural products. Our team are all pet-parents themselves and are always here to answer any queries you may have.

Company benefits

28 days holidays (inclusive of bank holidays)

After this apprenticeship

Potential offer for full-time position afterwards and career progression within the company.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SR APPRENTICESHIPS LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000005102.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 19 January 2026

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