Commercial Apprentice

Cranswick Fresh Poultry

Suffolk (IP23 8BW)

Closes in 16 days (Thursday 30 July 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 10 July 2026

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Summary

We are recruiting for a Commercial Apprentice to join our Sales team and be part of our exciting growth plans.

Wage

£24,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  • Pension – 3% employer contributions/5% employee contributions
  • Share of the profits with our discounted ShareScheme
  • Death in service insurance

Training course
Sales executive (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 7am - 4pm with flexibility to provide support on Saturdays if required.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

1 year 6 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

  • Support the trading function with daily/weekly orders
  • Spend time in the factory learning all the areas whilst improving product knowledge
  • Provide sales admin support
  • Liaising with customers regarding availability and demand
  • Provide support in managing overall customer accounts
  • Provide support for customers and factory visits
  • Provide support for the transport department

Where you'll work

Cranswick Fresh Poultry
Oaksmere Business Park
Yaxley
Suffolk
IP23 8BW

Training

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

Training provider

SWARM TRAINING C.I.C.

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

You will undertake the Sales Executive Level 4 Apprenticeship with Swarm Training. Your apprenticeship will be delivered through remote learning and regular tutor meetings. 

Requirements

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
  • Customer care skills
  • Analytical skills

Other requirements

  • Full driving licence and access to a car 

About this employer

Cranswick Country Foods Poultry is hiring at our state-of-the-art, purpose-built processing facility in Eye, Suffolk. 

Company benefits

  • Access to our Cranswick hub, with retail discounts and a range of other perks!
  • Potential opportunities to learn new skills and progress through one of the UK’s leading food manufacturing companies

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

After successfully completing the apprenticeship, we would expect you to continue learning and developing within our sales department. Cranswick have lots of opportunities to progress within the business.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Cranswick Fresh Poultry

Daniel Buzzard

Daniel.Buzzard@cranswick.co.uk

07425661607

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041922.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Thursday 30 July 2026 at 11:59pm)