Business sales jobs rocket in the UK

Boosted by Sir Alan's apprentices, interest in businessevery sector - from financial and insurance markets
services sales jobs has rocketed in the UK.to retail, publishing, telecoms, energy, utilities,
1. The industrymarketing, healthcare and many, many more - it's
Business services sales jobs involve selling servicesdifficult to establish what effect the recession may
from one business to another, rather than sellinghave had.
products directly to consumersHowever, in terms of the skills set required for
A career in business services sales spans a hugebusiness sales jobs, much has changed over the last
variety of sub sectors, including accountancy,decade.
recruitment, legal services, management consultancy,Traditional face-to-face selling and scripted sales
marketing, property, office services and facilitiespitches have all but vanished thanks to the Internet
management to name a few.and eCommerce. Taking their place are direct mail
The business services sales industry in the UK isand eMarketing tools, CRM databases and websites.
enormous. Management consultancy is one of theIt's also now more important than ever to build a
fastest growing sectors in the UK and is the largestrelationship-repetition with a client so they know who
outside of the US, estimated at £10billion. There areto turn to if they need something.
also 20,000 accountancy firms in the UK, and ourRecent reports do suggest however that the
recruitment industry is the oldest in Europe (valued atfranchises in the business services sales sector has
£3.51billion in 2007.)been largely unaffected by the recession. The
What's more, the UK is one of the premier locationsindustry as a whole contributed £11.4bn to the UK
in the world for contact centres and shared serviceeconomy last year according to statistics from
centres. It's estimated that by 2012 there will beNatWest and the British Franchise Association, and
over a million people employed in this industry.the number of franchises trading profitably has
2. What does a business sales job involve?remained at 90%.
Business sales jobs can involve selling a conceptual4. What do recruiters look for?
service, where the client has to be able to visualiseTo succeed in business services sales you must have
that service and the benefits that it will provide.exceptional problem solving skills to enable you to
Equally, business services sales can involve sellingfully understand the problems that your clients face -
tangible products, like office consumables forand find the right solution for them.
example.In business sales jobs, you will be responsible for
Conceptual sales are considered more difficult than aselling to all types of clients and companies, as well as
product sale and in recent years the term of 'Solutionsecuring on-going business through negotiation and
Sales' has often been appended to the businesslong term relationship building.
services sales sector.To be successful you will require strong motivation,
Business services sales jobs often have a highpresentation and planning skills, together with
element of new business generation and as suchconfidence, enthusiasm and tenacity.
offer high levels of earning opportunity. Service sellingWhat employers most look for in business sales jobs
can be highly complex, very high valued, competitivecandidates is good communication - clear and concise,
and won through a variety of bids, tenders andavoiding buzz words. Leadership skills are next;
proposals.followed by integrity, being inspirational and having a
3. The current climatewillingness to develop in business sales jobs.
As a business sales job can be found in practically