Commercial Apprentice
PORTAKABIN LIMITED
York (YO32 9PT)
Closes in 27 days (Monday 13 April 2026)
Posted on 17 March 2026
Contents
Summary
We’re looking for a motivated Commercial Apprentice who will bring energy, creative new ideas and a fresh perspective to our GB Hire Team in York. Your programme will combine industry‑recognised training with valuable on‑the‑job experience, giving you the skills and confidence to thrive in a commercial environment.
- Wage
-
£20,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Annual Salary Review
- Training course
- Sales executive (level 4)
- Hours
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Monday - Friday. Flexible approach to working hours (core hours 10.00am - 2.30 pm).
Specific working pattern to be determined - dependent on the apprentice and team requirements.
36 hours 15 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 14 September 2026
- Duration
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2 years
- Positions available
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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
- You’ll be hands-on, working as part of our commercial teams who are responsible for winning orders and maintaining customer relationships
- Receive in-house training to really understand the full range of Portakabin products and services
- Develop valuable skills such as effective communication, relationship building, presentation techniques and business development skills
- Create commercial proposals and deliver them in a format, style and technique suiting our customers
- Receive various channels of support including your line manager, Area Hire Managers, colleagues, and a mentor.
- You will also network with other apprentices across the business
Where you'll work
Portakabin Ltd
New Lane
Huntington
York
YO32 9PT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MERCURI INTERNATIONAL (UK) 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
- As an apprentice with Portakabin you will complete a Level 4 Sales Executive qualification supported through a blended learning approach with Mercuri International
- You will also carry out a structured in-house development programme to attain the relevant skills, knowledge and behaviours required to achieve your apprenticeship
- Throughout the duration of your apprenticeship you will be appointed a workplace mentor to support you with your learning
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- 3 x Non Specific (grade 4 - 9 (C - A*))
- English (grade 4-9 (C-A*))
- Maths (grade 4-9 (C-A*))
A Level in:
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
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Initiative
Other requirements
2 x A Levels or equivalent (essential)
About this employer
At Portakabin, we design and deliver high-quality modular buildings for organisations of all sizes, in various sectors including manufacturing, education, health, transport, utilities and construction. Delivering our products sustainably, and safely to our customers is of utmost importance.
Portakabin now employs more than 2,200 people across the UK and Europe. Our people are at the heart of business and the reason for our success. We offer career progression, support and development opportunities giving our employees space to grow.
Portakabin is a Disability Confident Committed and equal opportunities employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and to the fair and consistent treatment of all current and prospective colleagues.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and value the contribution that diverse experiences bring to our teams.
Reasonable adjustments will be made throughout the application, recruitment, and onboarding processes where required. If you need any additional support or experience any difficulty applying, please contact our recruitment team on resourcing@portakabin.com
http://www.portakabin.com (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
25 days annual leave + bank holidays
Health and Wellbeing Services
Employee Assistance Program
Volunteering Day
Cycle to Work Scheme
Discount at shops, gyms, restaurants and holidays!
After this apprenticeship
We have lots of fantastic success stories from previous apprentices who have gone on to achieve industry recognised qualifications through their apprenticeships and many of our past apprentices are still working within the business today or have gone onto have successful careers elsewhere. Our workplace culture will allow you to pick up not only the knowledge and skills to be used in your future career but also experience working in a professional but relaxed environment that will give you the confidence to excel in your role and develop as a professional.
We truly believe that we put our people at the heart of everything we do, and you will have the job security and development opportunities that are rare in the current climate, so why not join us, and be a part of our continuing growth and success? With exciting future ambitions, we couldn’t think of a better time for you to join us!
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
PORTAKABIN LIMITED
Jo Brownsword
apprenticeships@portakabin.com
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000021511.
Apply now
Closes in 27 days (Monday 13 April 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.