Commercial Sales Executive Apprentice

Summary

As a Commercial Sales Apprentice, you'll work alongside our sales team to gain hands on experience in a fast paced, customer focused environment. This role combines practical work experience with academic learning, enabling you to achieve a recognised qualification while building a foundation for a successful career in sales & business development.

Wage

£20,000 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Starting salary is £20000, with an increase after 1 year.

Training course

Sales executive (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Friday - flexible hours between 8.30am and 5.30pm (TBC)

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 July 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

4

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

Are you ready to lead commercial success in an established but growing business that blends business development, customer management, and strategic growth?

As a Commercial Sales Apprentice, you’ll be just that! You’ll be at the forefront of driving commercial strategy for Aggregate Industries' Eco-Readymix division.

Sales Support: You’ll be the face of Eco-Readymix for our key clients, nurturing relationships that ensure we’re always delivering exactly what they need
Customer Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential customers to understand their needs and deliver tailored solutions
Market Research: Conduct research to identify new business opportunities and market trends
Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams such as marketing, product development, and finance to ensure customer satisfaction and smooth sales operations. You’ll work alongside cross-functional teams to align our services with market and customer needs, making sure everyone’s on board with where we’re headed
Data Analysis: Analyse sales data and performance metrics to support decision-making and strategy development. You’ll play a big role in developing a diverse portfolio of clients, helping our business stay strong and adaptable no matter what’s happening in the market
Learn Full Sales Cycle: You’ll oversee contracts from tender to handover, keeping quality, compliance, and safety at the forefront of every step
Learning and Development: Attend a program of training to support your daily activities through various levels up to a degree (paid for by us!)

What role will I have?

Initially, shadowing and supporting the Sales Manager alongside other key stakeholders with customer facing activities to get a full understanding of the business and its operations
Act as the primary contact for customers, handling inquiries, taking orders, and managing the entire customer journey, including pricing, planning, and after-sales support
Build strong relationships with customers and internal teams, positioning our business as a trusted partner in construction and sustainability
Oversee daily logistics, working with transport and operations to ensure orders are fulfilled efficiently while meeting customer expectations
Leverage technology to manage customer orders proactively, utilising tools like sensor and optimisation systems to enhance service delivery
Proactively handle challenges, such as supply issues or delivery changes, while keeping customers informed and satisfied

Who are we seeking?

Passion for Sales: You know how to connect with clients, making them feel valued and confident in the service you provide
Problem-Solving Skills: You’re skilled at spotting potential growth areas, and you bring these ideas to life with ease
Excellent Communication: You work well with others, communicating seamlessly across teams to align strategies and keep things moving forward smoothly
Ambition: Motivated to achieve personal and professional growth within a structured apprenticeship program
Team Player: Collaborative mindset with the ability to build strong working relationships

Where you’ll work

Ellesmere Port Eco-Readymix Ltd
Garth Road
Ellesmere Port
CH65 4ET

Training

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

College or training organisation

DERBY BUSINESS COLLEGE LIMITED

Your training course

Sales executive (level 4)

Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)

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.

Your training plan

In addition to gaining practical experience in the role, you will also attain an NVQ 4 Sales Executive qualification which will help start your career and give you an insight into the business processes and procedures
Our training is all completed remotely via teams with a development coach, who will be available for support
You receive 20% off the job training during this apprenticeship, which is included in your weekly working hours

More training information

DBC Training are a multi award-winning employment and skills training provider
We offer high-quality employer solutions to improve productivity and learner solutions to support individuals to fulfil their potential
https://dbc-training.co.uk/

Requirements

Essential qualifications

Other in:

Any Subject (grade Pass)

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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative

Other requirements

Career progression and growth, being part of Holcim, who have a 60,000 worldwide workforce means there are continuous opportunities to train and develop. Be valued and supported, working as part of a highly respected team in a business that has a huge focus on Health & Safety. Fully Funded Qualifications. Mentorship: Dedicated support from experienced professionals to guide your career development. Free 24/7 remote GP service for you and your household, offering medical advice, prescriptions, referrals, and same-day appointments. Staff discounts including special rates for garden landscaping products. 25 days holiday plus usual bank holidays.

About this company

Holcim is a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation committed to delivering exceptional value to our customers. We are at the heart of construction, committed to building progress and transforming the industry to deliver a more sustainable future for all. We are recognised as one of the safest, most customer-focused companies in this space and we are looking for you to be part of our movement to grow, innovate and develop together to create continuous value.

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

After this apprenticeship

Further development and progression within the business

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DERBY BUSINESS COLLEGE LIMITED

Heather Duffield

heather@dbc-training.co.uk

07375919487

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000314938.

Apply now

Closes in 10 days (Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 11:59pm)

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