From shy salesperson to strategic service provider, this account from David Perry, showcases how a Skills Bootcamp in Sales with Berkshire Growth Academy can supercharge your sales technique in just 15 weeks*.
David Perry originally trained as an electronic engineer, went to university then worked in the telecom industry for 20 years. His employer went bust in 2010 and that was how he came to set up his business doing video production for small businesses or smaller businesses. He wanted to do something that combined his love of technology and the marketing skills that he had acquired over the years in the corporate environment. David had moved from more of a technical role to a marketing role and felt that could work with smaller businesses with the help of Berkshire Skills Bootcamps.
What made you choose a Skills Bootcamp In Sales?
I’ve been selling my own business for 14 years but I was aware that it wasn’t really an area where I’d ever had any formal training. It always felt like I was winging it a bit so I was maybe not being as effective as I could be. Also, I think not being proactive enough-I think it’s a common thing with a lot of people who run smaller businesses in that you’re very comfortable talking about the thing that you do. What you really want is for people to come to you and have the conversation about their needs, but I wasn’t confident in the idea of proactively going out and self-promoting that I have a service that might be of use to them. I wanted to have a more structured and confident approach to customer engagement- that was really what made me want to do the Skills Bootcamp In Sales.
How did you first hear about the Skills Bootcamp In Sales?
I discovered the Skills Bootcamp In Sales through a LinkedIn post from a connection in my Reading business network. I was connected with Steve Bulley and was aware of some of the activities of the LEP and so when I saw the post I thought here is a programme of training that I would benefit from and secondly, it was highly accessibly priced.
What were the highlights of your skills Bootcamp experience?
It has all been useful. There isn’t anything of the material that I felt was filler or not really relevant. These are quite long online sessions but Richard is a really good trainer. He manages the sessions extremely well. The Sales Skills Bootcamp runs each week, and it’s quite a chunk of a week for people who are in the main either self-employed or running small businesses, but he makes it worthwhile. The way Richard runs the sessions makes you want to make it a priority in your week and when you’re there, really the time seems to fly by. Definitely a not inconsiderable part of the success of this is going to Richard and the way he manages the training.
Another really nice part of it is the way that the group is working together. As a group we’ve grown together a bit over the weeks. There’s a lot of interaction and interesting exchanges of views. People listen to other people’s contributions. Everybody has come to the course in the right spirit.
What specific skills have you gained that have been the most valuable?
The sales psychology is really interesting and being able to harness the behavioural aspects of it into a process. I think that’s probably the bit that’s been of most interest to me because I can see how I can map how my customer interactions could go on top of this and be better at managing that process. It becomes less haphazard. It maybe doesn’t necessarily increase the number of sales you get, but you can win or lose, you’ll do it more efficiently. What I’m taking from this is I can see how I can improve things, and the other part of it is feeling a bit more confident in engaging with people and perhaps very gently taking charge of the sales process rather than just hopping along. I wasn’t awful at doing that, but I’m feeling more confident about doing it better. Some of the other aspects if the course prompt you to think, ‘I do know that, but I don’t do it,’ so it was the gentle nudge I needed to put ideas into action.
How has the Skills Bootcamp In Sales impacted your business trajectory?
One of the specific reasons why I wanted to address my sales skills is that I’ve got a new area of business that I want to develop. I’ve been quietly putting together and planned to more proactively launch next year, which is around live streaming for events. I’ve been gradually building that as a business idea and also as a product. The Sales Skills Bootcamp has made me look at how I bring that to market in a different way. It’s given me a lot of good input as to how we need to position this, to whom I should be positioning it. It’s also helped me to understand how I can better bring this new service line to market. It’s equipped me, not just in pure sales terms, but also in the wider sales marketing and product development.
What would you say to someone considering a Skills Bootcamp In Sales?
If you are considering the Skills Bootcamp In Sales then go for it. If you know that someone like me is someone who’s involved in running a business or is involved in any kind of sales role that involves the sales process, it can only help.
Skills Bootcamps are free*, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and an offer of an interview with an employer upon completion or generate new opportunities for you if you are self-employed.
For more information on Skills Bootcamps click here.
*Funding and eligibility criteria does apply.
