Building a customer service team using apprenticeship training

Apprenticeship training provides a cost-effective way of recruiting new talent into your business, nurturing that talent, and providing progression routes to help grow your business. 

The varying levels of apprenticeships mean a progression route can be planned out, showcasing a pathway for young people and your existing employees to develop, grow and add value to your business. 

Added-value of apprenticeships

In this post, we talk to the Cerris Homes Sales team who have progressed through several apprenticeship pathways with PM Training to become essential members of a growing business and team providing excellent customer service and new build homes across Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Hannah Smith, 24, is a New Home Sales Advisor for Cerris Homes who started her journey with Aspire Housing in 2016 as a business administration apprenticeship within the Resident Development team.

Hannah says: "My day to day role involved following through with customer satisfaction surveys, making phone calls and general administration tasks. I stayed in this role for over 2 years and then worked with the customer services team for a short while then found the position where I am today". 

One of the many benefits of apprentices within businesses is their ability and willingness to learn and develop quickly. A forward-thinking business often provides apprentices with opportunities across several departments, not only helping other teams, but fast-tracking apprentices to learn about an organisations culture and values.

* Photo taken prior to social distancing. (L) Megan Horn (M) Hannah Smith (R) Helaina Beech

Apprenticeship progression

Hannah has completed her Level 2 business administration apprentice and Level 3, alongside a Level 3 in IT - demonstrating the career progression and learning that apprenticeships can offer.

Hannah continues: "I'm so proud of what I have achieved. I have recently bought and moved into my own shared ownership property.

The people I work with are amazing. I'm so glad I went down the apprenticeship route when I finished school, Working at Aspire has opened up lots of opportunities for me." 

Progressing from apprenticeships into full-time roles 

Helaina, 23, also works alongside Hannah as a Sales Team Leader. She started as a facilities apprentice spending time shadowing other departments including marketing and HR. Whilst working towards her Level 2 business administration apprenticeship she progressed into a full-time role within facilities. 

Helaina says: "I quickly progressed into a role with the development team. which helped to grow my career and I landed a fantastic role within the Cerris Homes team. Giving someone keys to their new home is such an amazing part of the job."

Recruiting new apprentices

Megan Horn, 19 became a New Homes Sales & Marketing Trainee this year, completing her business administration Level 2.

Megan says: "I never expected to be in this type of role, it's really helped to push me out of my comfort zone and my confidence has grown so much. This role has changed me and I'm so excited to see myself grow even more."

A vibrant, qualified, and dedicated sales team has been built at Cerris Homes, as a result of progressing through apprenticeship training and nurturing apprentices into full-time job roles.

To discover how apprenticeships can grow your business, book a meeting below with a member of the partnerships team today.