Trainee Sales Negotiator Apprentice

Summary

This is a fantastic opportunity to begin your career in the Builders Merchant industry with a long-standing company who have over 100 years' experience. You will be supported to develop your skills and knowledge of our company, the products we offer and the industry, and we will help develop your future career based on your interests and skills.

Wage: £18,500 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Hours: 40 hour work week Monday – Friday. Saturday overtime availability on top of this. Training time to be within the work week Monday-Friday. Times to be confirmed.
40 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 7 April
Duration: 1 year 3 months
Positions available: 2

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

Assist customers in person, over the phone and via email
Selling building materials profitably to trade and retail
Acquire quotes, following them up and achieving orders
Ensure the highest standards of service to the customer, using strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with customers
Use company computer systems to organise transactions
Develop effective and efficient telephone sales techniques
Collaborate with team members to ensure efficient resolution of customer issues
Participate in training sessions to enhance customer service skills and knowledge of our services
Adhere to company policies and standards regarding Health and Safety, customer confidentiality, data protection and ethical conduct
Work to agreed targets

Where you’ll work

Shirley Branch

Haslucks Green Road

Shirley

Solihul

B90 2NG

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

SOLIHULL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTRE

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

Training will be provided by Solihull College and an assessor will be allocated to support you. Coaching will be provided in the workplace, on teams, as well as scheduled sessions at the Solihull campus (once per month) and time spent training will be part of the agreed working hours.

At the end of your training, you will complete a showcase and presentation of your work and a professional discussion to receive a Level 2 customer service apprenticeship. You may also study level 2 functional skills, maths /English.

More training information

A comprehensive training delivery plan has been developed by the employer and the college to ensure that you receive the best possible start to your career.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English & Mathematics (grade 4 or above)

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
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Personable
Engaging

About this company

As a family-run business we are proud to be one of the largest independent builders’ merchants in the UK, providing products and services to local tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts through 11 trading locations. With 100 years’ experience in the construction industry we are well established as specialists in bricks, timber and general building materials. We have a people first culture and are committed to supporting and developing our colleagues.

https://www.ehsmith.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• 23 days’ holiday + 8 bank holidays • Life assurance scheme • Health cash plan – salary sacrifice • Company workwear/ PPE provided • Mental Health First Aiders • EH Smith Employee Support Line

After this apprenticeship

We support our colleagues to develop their careers based on their interests and skills, and we are open to whichever direction you would like to progress your career in. Typically, for a Trainee Sales Negotiator, this could be continued within Sales at the Trade Counter or in the office at our branches, or you may be interested in other areas of the business such as logistics or specialist brick sales, for example.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOLIHULL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTRE

Elaine Reeves

Elaine.Reeves@solihull.ac.uk

01216787000

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000303933.

Apply now

Closes in 8 days (Monday 3 March at 11:59pm)

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