RISING STARS
MEET THE FUTURE
Owen Sutton at Keyline Civils Specalist tells Will McGill about his experiences in merchanting What is your current role?
I am a branch apprentice on the Level 2 Trade Supplier apprenticeship programme, and day to day that means I am a member of the sales team. This also involves talking to customers, building relationships, and securing orders.
How did you get into this industry? Like a lot of young people in the industry, I fell into it. I was always unclear about what I wanted to do. I was applying for jobs in various industries, and then I was contacted by the recruitment team from Keyline, asking if I would be interested in an apprenticeship at it’s Braintree branch.
The job and apprenticeship were better than I ever expected and that’s due to the great people I work with.
What does a typical day for you at work look like?
A typical day at work begins with checking the quotes I have to follow up with customers for that day. I spend a lot of time communicating with customers, assisting customers with any enquiry they might have and ensuring they are recieving the best service possible.
My success in the role has led me to take on more responsibilities, and now I help to look after the quote management system when my line and sales manager are on annual leave.
What are your big challenges in this role? One big challenge I deal with is how things keep changing in the market, which is beyond our control. However, I know that facing these challenges now will help me in the long run.
What do you think has been your biggest achievement in your role?
My biggest achievement since I started in this role came after I was given my own sales ledger. I was tasked with contacting customers who were using our services less, or not at all. I made sure to contact and introduce myself to all the people involved with the accounts, giving a friendly and confident first impression which helps to establish a relationship with the customer. The hard work that I put into this ledger and these customers was rewarded, as I managed to increase the activity of the
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majority of the accounts compared to the previous year.
What would you like to achieve next? I am hoping my next short-term achievement will be finishing my apprenticeship with a distinction.
This would be a huge achievement for me, as I have been completing this alongside my day-to-day job since joining Keyline at the start of 2023.
In the long-term, I would like to progress into a sales manager role and then potentially a branch manager role. I am always looking to learn and progress further. I’m always striving to work hard and do my best in any role I take on.
What advice would you give to someone new to this industry?
My main advice to anyone interested is not to be intimidated. The industry can seem quite daunting when you first join because there is so much to learn, such as: product knowledge, what your colleagues’ roles are and how to use the systems.
“In the long-term, I would like to progress into a sales manager role and then potentially a branch manager role. I am always looking to learn and progress further. I’m always striving to work hard and be at my best in any role I take on.”
What would you say to someone who might be thinking about a career or getting a job in the merchant industry? It’s an industry that has so much more to offer than you can see on the surface, and there is a job role for everyone. The industry really surprised me and I’m sure it would surprise a lot of other people with just with the variety of roles on offer. Training and apprenticeships are a massive help to boost this as well.
Why do you think young people/women are hesitant to go into the industry? I think many young people, women and people from other diverse backgrounds are reluctant to go into the industry due to the perception that there is a lack of diversity within construction, which certainly used to be the case.
However, the industry is moving away from this, and offering apprenticeships is a big part of that.
Apprenticeships are a step in the right direction and the opportunities they offer will attract more new and diverse people to join the industry, ensuring that it is future-proof for generations to come. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2024
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