Area Sales Manager – South West
£45-55k Basic salary + 20% Bonus, EV Company Car, 6% Pension and Medical cover.
Location: South West (home-based) – must be based in the region with flexibility for overnight stays
Develop your career in construction sales with a world leader.
About BFT
BFT Automation is an Italian company and part of the Somfy Group. With over 40 years of industry experience, BFT is a market leader in security automation products, recognised for product quality, excellent customer service and expert technical support.
Our extensive product portfolio includes electromechanical and hydraulic gate automation, traffic barriers and bollards, speed gates, control panels, transmitters, access control solutions and safety accessories.
BFT is headquartered in Schio, Northern Italy, and generates annual revenues in excess of €150 million. The company operates internationally through wholly owned country subsidiaries, including BFT Automation UK, as well as through independent distributors across the globe.
BFT serves a diverse range of professional installers, including specialist gate automation companies, security companies, metal fabricators and fencing contractors, who supply and install entrance security solutions for domestic, industrial and commercial customers.
BFT Automation UK is primarily a product sales, technical support and distribution operation, serving customers throughout the UK. We operate from two locations: our office, showroom and distribution centre in Stockport, and our office and showroom in Swindon.
The Role
Reporting to the UK Sales Manager, you will own a regional territory covering the South-West region, including South Wales and South West England, driving profitable sales growth and developing long-term customer relationships.
Based in the South-West, you will manage key accounts while travelling extensively across the region. Approximately four days per week will be field-based and one day home-based, with occasional overnight stays required.
You will work with installer and distributor customers ranging from small independent businesses to large commercial organisations, identifying opportunities to grow existing accounts, develop new business and increase BFT’s market presence.
You will undertake an intensive four-week induction programme, including sales and product training at our Stockport and Swindon offices and manufacturing facility in Schio, Northern Italy.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage B2B sales and relationships across a diverse customer base, from small independent installers and owner-managed businesses through to large commercial organisations and distributors.
- Sell BFT’s portfolio of sliding and swing gate automation, control systems, bollards, barriers and speed gates.
- Maintain and grow existing accounts through proactive engagement, account development and identification of new opportunities.
- Identify and win new business through structured prospecting and targeted business development.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date customer account information and sales activity records within Salesforce.
- Work collaboratively with Internal Sales and Technical teams to support customer pricing, product and technical requirements.
- Provide customers with technical insight and guidance on product selection, application and problem-solving.
- Share market intelligence with the senior management team, including market share, pricing trends, competitor activity and emerging opportunities.
About You
- Preferably educated to degree level, with evidence of formal sales training or professional sales development.
- Minimum 5 years’ proven sales success within the UK construction sector, with a demonstrable track record of achieving commercial targets.
- Proven experience selling to installers, distributors and other construction industry customers.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to create and deliver professional PowerPoint presentations to customers and internal stakeholders.
- Strong negotiation, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- Technically minded, with the ability to understand customer requirements, assess product suitability and feasibility, and provide appropriate product recommendations.
- Self-motivated, well organised and comfortable working autonomously, while also contributing effectively as part of a wider team.
- Demonstrable IT proficiency, including Microsoft 365, SharePoint and CRM systems such as Salesforce or equivalent.
- Full, clean UK driving licence and willingness to travel extensively as required by the role.
What’s on Offer
- £45-55k basic salary
- Up to 20% performance-related bonus
- Electric vehicle (EV) company car
- Salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Up to 6% employer pension contribution
- Starting 25 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays with the option to buy and sell additional annual leave
- Comprehensive health and wellbeing covering physical and mental health including Medicash health cash plan, private medical cover & Employee Assistance Programme
- Death in service – 4 times salary
- Home broadband allowance
- Personal development fund
- Up to 3 volunteering days annually
- Bike 2 Work scheme
- Retail discounts
- Gym discounts
- Structured development programme within a global organisation
Why Join BFT?
At BFT, we are building more than a business. We are building a high-performance, high-trust team. We believe in ownership, clarity, and honest conversations delivered with positive intent. We challenge each other respectfully, give specific feedback focused on behaviours (not personalities), and hold ourselves accountable to high standards.
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