Sales Executive Level 4 Apprenticeship

Location 

Staffordshire, Birmingham and surrounding areas for the Hospitality role and South: Hampshire/Wiltshire/ Salisbury areas for the Outdoors role.

Salary 

£22,000 

Hours 

32 hours pwk 

Line Manager 

Head of Business Development 

Duration 

18 months apprenticeship commencing end of September 2026.

About Skern 

At Skern, we're passionate about helping people grow. Through Skern Adventure and Skern Skills, we deliver outdoor education, apprenticeships, professional training and workforce development that create positive change through lasting learning. For over 50 years, we've been helping people build confidence, develop skills and shape brighter futures by creating meaningful learning experiences that make a lasting difference. 

Why join Skern Skills? 

• Make a difference – Be part of an organisation committed to creating positive life change through learning.  
• Invest in your future – Access a wide range of CPD opportunities tailored to support your professional growth.  
• Generous annual leave – Enjoy a competitive holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional unpaid leave.  
• Long service rewards – Receive extra annual leave after two years' continuous service.  
• Health & wellbeing support – Access online GP appointments, prescriptions and physiotherapy for you and your dependants.  
• Adventure for less – Enjoy 50% off stays at our residential centres for you and your family.  
• Employee Assistance Programme – Free, confidential counselling and wellbeing support whenever you need it. 

Role overview 

At Skern Skills, we believe that skills change lives. We deliver apprenticeship programmes, professional qualifications and transformative learning experiences that help individuals and organisations grow. Through practical learning, meaningful relationships and a commitment to developing people, we create lasting impact for learners, employers and communities.  

We are looking for ambitious, enthusiastic and self-motivated individuals to join our Business Development team as a Sales Executive Apprentice. This is an exciting opportunity to develop a career in sales while gaining a nationally recognised Level 4 Sales Executive qualification. 

We are looking for individuals with either a background in Hospitality or the Outdoors sectors. Ideally, experience in any related roles, with an understanding of the challenges the sector faces and how apprenticeships can support businesses through upskilling their existing staff or adding to their teams. 

The successful candidates will play an important role in growing employer partnerships, promoting apprenticeship programmes and supporting organisations to develop their people through learning and skills development.  

As a Sales Executive Apprentice, you will learn how to identify opportunities, build meaningful employer relationships and support businesses in understanding the value of apprenticeships and workforce development. 

Working closely with experienced colleagues, you will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to become a successful sales professional while embodying the values and culture of Skern Skills. 

Key responsibilities_Business Development & Sales_ 

• Identify and engage with prospective employer partners across priority sectors. 
• Generate new business opportunities through prospecting, networking, referrals and digital engagement. 
• Support the development and management of a sales pipeline using Hubspot CRM system. 
• Arrange and attend employer meetings, both virtually and face-to-face. 
• Research organisations and understand their workforce development needs. 
• Present apprenticeship programmes and skills solutions confidently and professionally. 
• Prepare tailored proposals and solutions aligned to employer objectives. 
• Support contract discussions and apprenticeship onboarding processes. 
• Follow up enquiries and maintain regular contact with prospective and existing employers. 

Relationship Management 

• Build positive and trusted relationships with employers. 
• Deliver an outstanding customer experience from first contact through to programme enrolment. 
• Work collaboratively with internal teams to ensure a smooth learner and employer journey. 
• Gather employer feedback and market intelligence to support service improvement. 

Marketing & Market Intelligence 

• Support campaigns that raise awareness of apprenticeship opportunities. 
• Identify trends within local and regional labour markets. 
• Share intelligence and insights with colleagues to contribute to strategic growth plans. 
• Promote the Skern Skills brand across networking events, employer forums and community activities. 

Professional Development 

• Complete all requirements of the Level 4 Sales Executive Apprenticeship. 
• Apply apprenticeship learning directly within daily responsibilities. 
• Participate positively in coaching, mentoring and training opportunities. 
• Take ownership of personal development and continuous improvement. 

Knowledge, skills & experienceEssential 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
• A genuine interest in sales, business development and relationship building. 
• Confidence speaking with a range of stakeholders. 
• Strong organisational and time management skills. 
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently. 
• Good digital skills and confidence using Microsoft Office applications. 
• Willingness to travel across the South West , with a focus on the South and West Midlands region when required. 
• Commitment to achieving the Level 4 Sales Executive Apprenticeship. 

Desirable 

• Previous experience in customer service, hospitality, outdoors retail or sales experience. 
• Understanding of apprenticeships or workforce development. 
• Familiarity with CRM systems. 
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle. 

Throughout your apprenticeship, you will develop expertise in: 

• Sales planning and pipeline management. 
• Customer engagement and relationship development. 
• Consultative selling and needs analysis. 
• Presenting solutions and handling objections. 
• Negotiation and closing techniques. 
• Market research and commercial awareness. 
• Digital sales and CRM systems. 
• Customer experience management. 
• Collaborative working across internal and external stakeholders. 

Apprenticeship requirements 

The successful apprentice will consistently demonstrate: 

• Professional ethics and integrity. 
• Proactivity and initiative. 
• Self-discipline and accountability. 
• Resilience and positive self-motivation. 
• Commitment to continuous professional development. 
• Professional representation of the Skern Skills brand. 

Our mission 

Our mission is to create meaningful experiences that build confidence, develop skills, and shape futures. Through experiential and applied learning, we help people discover what they are capable of and empower them to carry that learning into education, work, and life. Everything we design is created to have lasting impact: confidence that continues to grow, skills that open opportunities, and experiences that inspire people to achieve more than they thought possible.  

Our valuesWe are connected 

We work together as one team across Skern and the wider group, sharing successes, challenges and experiences. Strong relationships, open communication and a shared sense of purpose help us deliver consistency for our customers, both internal and external. 

We care 

People come first. We care deeply about our customers, colleagues and community, creating experiences where people feel supported, respected and encouraged to grow. Whether we are helping a customer, supporting a teammate or simply being fully present in our communication, care is at the heart of what we do. 

We make learning memorable 

We believe learning works best when it is lived, not just taught. Through outdoor learning and further education experiences, we help people build confidence, resilience and understanding that lasts long after they leave us. 

We grow together 

We embrace a growth mindset — learning, evolving and improving together. We create environments where people feel safe to try, reflect and develop, recognising that growth comes through curiosity, challenge and support. 

How to apply 

Please send your application to Claire.Harding@skernskills.co.uk 

Our culture is built on sustaining a safe working, living and visiting environment, where safeguarding underpins everything we do, the way we manage our teams and engage with our guests. This comes from creating a foundation of checks and measures we undertake to ensure we attract, recruit and employ the right people, committed to our overall aims.