Member Article

Lack of skilled sales staff threatening North East growth

Some of the North East’s leading employers have warned that a lack of skilled salespeople is the greatest threat to the future growth of their businesses. Technology Services Group (TSG), the Vardy Group, Canon, Garlands Call Centres and Newcastle Building Society are collectively calling for action to be taken within the region to address the issue. The employers’ calls for improved levels of skilled sales people are backed by the North East’s two leading business membership organisations, the North East Chamber of Commerce and CBI North East. Nigel Wilson, business development manager at Canon, is working with leading employers to explore the possibility of establishing a business-led organisation to ensure that the region’s future needs for sales people are met and that these sales people are led and managed to achieve results.

Mr Wilson said: “There are many exciting, innovative companies in the North East that are growing not just nationally but internationally. However, unless they have the right number of salespeople that growth will struggle to reach its full potential. It’s simple really, If the region is to grow, it needs to sell more of what it makes. “This isn’t just an issue for the region’s largest companies, it is an issue for every firm that has a product or service to sell. “We need to hear from businesses in every sector whether or not they would benefit from a professional sales skills academy. Ask yourself, ‘How would this benefit my business?’”

A special feedback e-mail address has been set up via the North East Chamber of Commerce – sales-skills@necc.co.uk – where responses will be collated.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .