Northern Building Plastics (NBP) has strengthened its sales team by appointing two new sales apprentices at its Bolton and Leeds Super Depots as part of a training programme to bring fresh ideas to the company’s team.
The appointments of Matthew Bilton, 24, and Mackenzie Chantry, 19, also gave the business a chance to try out a new streamlined recruitment style. The ‘speed-dating’-inspired interview format gave candidates a 15-minute slot to sell themselves, allowing sales director Steve Jones and his team to quickly prioritise those he felt had the right attitude and mindset to be the future of the NBP sales force.
Steve said: “In the building industry, what it takes to be a great salesperson is massively underestimated. Our customers know as much about the trade as their suppliers and we want to make sure that our salespeople are here to support them.”
Speaking more on why they’ve chosen to employ younger apprentices in the roles, Steve added: “A lot of people are keen to get into sales but often don’t have the opportunity or experience. We want to give young people the chance to bring their unique talents to our industry, as well as their drive and enthusiasm. We want to keep young people coming through into sales roles.”
“So much is changing in our industry, from the ways we buy and sell to how we approach sales and customer relationships. We’re always trying to make things more convenient for NBP customers, like the addition of WhatsApp ordering and our next-day delivery service, but we know that the old ways still work the best.”
Matthew said: “Sales has always been a career I was interested in, but I’d never found the right opportunity before, so it’s been great to get involved with NBP. So far, my training has been very much hands-on, allowing me to work closely with my line manager and the rest of the sales team, which has helped me settle in quickly. I’ve been getting to grips with the industry, our business and how we run our depots, learning everything I can along the way.”
Mackenzie added: “Sales is something I have always wanted to explore as a career, so I couldn’t pass up this opportunity, and everyone at NBP has made me feel welcome since day one. Ultimately, I aim to keep learning to work my way up.”
