News
Pictured ( left to right ): Michael Kirkpatrick , Jonathan Young , Grace Matthews , Rebecca Mann and Lindsay Marshal .
ADVICE
SALES ACADEMY
£ 150k investment to train staff
One of the region ’ s leading home improvement specialists has invested more than £ 150,000 into a new training academy for its staff .
Pennine Home Improvements , which operates a showroom in Durham , is looking to build on a record year that brought in £ 10m of orders by taking a different approach to selling .
The launch of the Pennine Way Sales Academy is a new way of dealing with customers and will look to create employees that are focused on listening and having conversations that deliver real value to the homeowner .
Salespeople are now employed directly by the company and will all complete a 14-module course that covers product knowledge , building regulations , codes of conduct , softer selling skills and how to use digital tools to provide an enhanced customer experience .
This ‘ syllabus ’, which has been designed by the best and most experienced people at Pennine Home Improvements and parent company the Conservatory Outlet , will create experts that can guide the client through the home improvement journey and help bring their visions to life .
“ Covid-19 has been a very difficult period , but it has taught us many different lessons ,
FINANCE ACADEMY LAUNCHED some of which gave us food for thought on how we could deliver even better levels of service ,” explained Jonathan Young , the firm ’ s managing director .
“ We had switched the sales process from face-to-face to virtual , carrying out initial consultations by video call and using our own specially designed app to bring the homeowner ’ s vision into reality .
“ Despite not having the showrooms for a long period of time , we still managed to break our record order intake .”
He continued : “ This gave us the confidence to press the button on the Pennine Way Sales Academy , a new way of selling that could transform our sector forever .
“ The emphasis is on creating salespeople who take an even greater consultative approach , have excellent product knowledge and are employed by us from the start , meaning we have the best possible chance of nurturing talent and they have access to excellent training and mentoring from experienced staff .”
Pennine Home Improvements has enjoyed a strong start to its new academy .
Six members of staff have been recruited and are completing the 14 modules , with one of the newcomers using their initial knowledge and training to secure a £ 40,000 sale for a major living space extension .
County Durham-based Anglo Scottish Asset Finance has announced the launch of a training academy , after identifying a skills gap in the financial services industry .
The academy , open to those with no experience other than a ‘ can-do ’ attitude , will train the next generation of Anglo Scottish business development managers .
The academy is looking to initially attract focused and self-motivated individuals , in areas such as Manchester , Birmingham and London .
GATEWAY TO BUSINESS SUPPORT
If three words would best reflect DBOP – they would be ‘ flexible , agile and impartial ’. The DBOP programme has a team of three business advisors based in North , East and South-West Durham who are dedicated to understanding business needs , and to provide a gateway for support and advice based on the goals , objectives and ambitions of each and every company we meet .
In this challenging and rapidly changing world we are here to help businesses develop new and innovative solutions , overcome barriers to growth , secure funding , discover new supply chain opportunities and recruit the best staff .
DBOP has been running for five years and has another year to run . To date we have assisted hundreds of businesses directly through our intensive support programmes , designed to help businesses take advantage of opportunities in sectors identified as being high growth . Currently we have three intensive support programmes :
Construction – helping construction businesses win more public and private sector contracts .
Covid Recovery – supporting micro and small businesses get back on track .
Engineering and Manufacturing – helping businesses in the sector overcome barriers to sales and win new contracts .
Essentially , we are here to simplify the business support landscape , saving time and helping companies achieve their goals .
Our motto is “ if we can ’ t help directly we will know someone who can .” # DBOPItsWhatWeDo
How do I contact DBOP for a meeting or call ?
Either contact us via our website ( businessdurham . co . uk ) or email DBOPEnquiries @ durham . gov . uk and one of us will be in touch .
Guy Bashford Business engagement officer , Business Durham ’ s Durham Business Opportunities Programme ( DBOP )
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