Corporate Sales Manager Review
at Whitbread plc
Degree Apprenticeship
Marketing
Dunstable
Review Submitted: March 2023
Overall Rating
4.6 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Corporate Sales Manager. I look after a portfolio of existing corporate clients and i am responsible for identifying new business opportunities. My Main responsibility is to maintain and grow Premier Inn Market share through building strong relationships and identifying right-fit solutions to support and enhance my clients travel policies. Overcoming challenges and objections. Adapting to change.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
Learning whilst studying was a great experience. I can put my theory into practice with immediate effect. This method allowed me to reflect on what went well, areas of improvement again to adapt my approach. I could also measure my success. Again a great reflection piece.
All subjects were very relevant to my role and i could use past and present experiences which helped me to understand the topic and what this could mean to my, my customer and employer.
All subjects were very relevant to my role and i could use past and present experiences which helped me to understand the topic and what this could mean to my, my customer and employer.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Yes. General Awareness of external changing factors (PESTLE Analysis) and how this may impact my clients and industry types. How to succeed in a modern day sales environment including modern day buyer trends. Importance of knowledge and insight to add value to clients. Psychology of sales, Strategic Account Management, Developing attractive proposals. Become and Agile seller and social selling. All topics were extremely relevant and useful increasing my ability as a sales professional.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Very well organised. My initial thought created doubts about managing my work and personal life whilst fitting in education. My employer was very supportive. I was provided a study day each week and my line manager and colleagues were very supportive. This enhanced my learning as I could discuss my projects with my peers helping me to reflect but also share new knowledge and insight to help my team.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My employer was very supportive. I was allocated a study day each week throughout my course. I was able to share, discuss my work with my line manager and colleagues which helped me to gain a different perspective for further insight. This was a great part of completing a work based learning degree as i have a world of expertise through my workplace.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
My Training provider offered a lot of support this included; Onsite module introductions, Microsoft Teams sessions and workshops. I was provided with related reading material (including professional literature, blogs, and papers. This was updated with each module. ) I was provided with a lot of feedback to suggest areas of strength and areas for improvement. This feedback enabled me to increase my grades throughout the course.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
All of the topics throughout the course were very relevant to my job role. Not only did it increase my ability as a sales professional in terms of my thought process and approach, but my confidence increased and i was able to handle difficult situations more efficiently to take lead/control. Also this gave me a good awareness of business relations and the ability to push back or to say NO should it not be a win-win scenario for both parties. In general, I have grown as a sales professional,, remaining ethical and integral throughout. Since completing the course i have a different mindset and view to sales.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Yes. Whitbread is a large organisation and there is various extra curricular activities to get involved with whether this be formal or informal. Networking is key and provides a great insight to other areas of the business and how they function. This has helped my career path to identify other areas of interest where my skill set could add value or to further enhance my skills. Whitbread is a great company with a great culture. Whitbread is a great place of expertise and diversity for me to learn.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Whitbread plc to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Whitbread is within the top 100 employers and for good reason. There is a great working culture and there are vast opportunities to learn and grow as a professional. The benefit of a large organisation is your career path can take you into different areas of expertise, some of which you may not know ever existed. Whitbread is very innovative through it hotel chain (Premier Inn) which has become one of Britain most loved and respected hotel chains. Whitbread's Force for Good policy includes various policies and goals including; charity work, ethical policies, environmental and sustainability. Not only is Whitbread a great place to work, their force for good programme makes me proud to say i work for Whitbread.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Whitbread plc?
Whitbread is a great place to work and can be very rewarding in terms of experience and job satisfaction. Whitbread is one of the largest companies operating within the hospitality industry with over 850 Hotels and Restaurants across the UK. There is plenty of support and resources allowing the opportunity to grow personally and professionally.
