Business technology solutions provider Brother UK has agreed a new three-year partnership with the Institute of Sales Professionals (ISP) as the firm continues its investment in developing its extensive channel sales team.
The move will see the 50-strong team re-sit the ISP’s professional registration exam and undertake rigorous progress reviews throughout the partnership to refine their sales skills and identify areas for improvements.
The ISP is a government-backed body that represents sales in the UK and is committed to providing qualifications and lettered accreditation, underpinned by life-long learning, for those who choose a career as a sales professional. The institute created the first, government levy-funded sales apprenticeships and the first All Party Parliamentary Group for Professional Sales.
Taking part in the programme will highlight to customers that the Brother team meets rigorous ethical and professional standards and showcases a strong commitment to continuous development.
The move follows Brother becoming the first firm in the UK to retain the Investors in People (IIP) Platinum status three times in a row, which recognises the business’s longstanding focus on effectively leading, growing and supporting its employees.
The platinum award is widely viewed as the highest recognition a firm can be given in people management in the UK, with just two per cent of businesses meeting the rigorous standard.
Companies are evaluated every three years and more than 50,000 organisations have been accredited, including McDonalds, Sainsbury’s and NHS trusts.
Phil Jones MBE, managing director of Brother UK, said: “Our approach to selling is consultative and customer focused. Developing skilled, ethical salespeople gives our customers in the channel the confidence that they are doing business with a trusted supplier. Trust is key to building good business partnerships where both buyer and seller benefit.
“Our reseller partners often cite us as one of the best vendors they work with and this is a tribute to what we do with the Institute of Sales Professionals and justifies the investment in our people. We’re proud to work so closely with this organisation and look forward to continue developing our salespeople with industry-leading training and qualifications.”
For more information on Brother UK’s organisational development proposition, please visit our CSR hub.
