At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales growth by providing innovative furniture solutions for educational environments.
- Company: Join the UK's largest education furniture supplier with over 90 years of experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy a bonus up to 25%, home office setup, and discounts at retail stores.
- Why this job: Create inspiring learning spaces that empower students and educators alike.
- Qualifications: Sales experience in education or FF&E, strong communication, and project management skills.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with regular social events and excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you an ambitious sales professional with experience in the education or FF&E sector? Do you want a role that encourages independence over your work and career development? Want to create spaces that inspire students? This might be the role for you!
The company
Our client is the UK’s largest furniture supplier to education. They believe furniture profoundly affects how we feel and perform. With over 90 years of experience in design, supply and installation, they help create spaces that inspire a culture of learning. The company has been at the forefront of learning environments since 1929. They are respected for their wealth of knowledge and contribute to government policy discussions through their membership of BESA. They are dedicated to elevating learning environments in new-build schools and full-scale refurbishments through their exceptional FF&E solutions. They pride themselves on their client-centric approach, attention to detail, and commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. They create extraordinary educational spaces that inspire, motivate, and empower the leaders and learners of tomorrow.
The role
Joining a great team, you’ll be responsible for driving sales growth through projects involving the supply of Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) to the education sector, particularly the Independent school sector. This role involves understanding the specific needs of educational environments, proposing compliant and functional FF&E solutions, managing submissions and project timelines, and ensuring successful project closure before handing over the project management team. You will be the face of the company, regularly visiting existing and prospective customers. The role is well-suited to someone with a consultative sales approach who is driven to succeed and meet goals and targets.
Responsibilities include:
- Client Engagement: Build and manage relationships with schools, education authorities, architects, contractors, and procurement teams involved in educational developments and refurbishments.
- Sales Strategy & Execution: Identify new business opportunities within the education sector, respond to public and private tenders, and lead client presentations and site meetings. Work closely with a Key Account Executive to maximise opportunities and collaborate across the assigned territory.
- Needs Assessment: Conduct needs analysis and site visits to assess FF&E requirements based on space planning, age group, curriculum, and educational outcomes.
- FF&E Specification: Recommend and develop FF&E solutions aligned with educational standards, safety requirements, and budget constraints – covering classrooms, labs, libraries, admin areas, staff rooms, and outdoor learning environments. Where required, undertake full site surveys.
- Turnkey Solutions: Identify opportunities to maximise sales through other “Turnkey” solutions covering all aspects of fit-out work. Prepare detailed quotes, BOQs, and documentation for tender submissions. Work closely with project managers, logistics, and design teams to ensure timely delivery and installation.
- Compliance & Quality Assurance: Ensure all FF&E products meet relevant education sector standards (e.g., BS EN standards, fire safety, ergonomics, accessibility, safeguarding).
- Market Knowledge: Keep up to date with trends in education design, teaching methodologies, and government funding programs to inform solution development. Coordinate with suppliers and manufacturers to source educational furniture and equipment that meet durability, function, and design criteria. Maintain the CRM, ensuring the sales pipeline is up to date and aligned with company expectations.
The package
- Bonus of up to 25% of base salary
- Home office set up & mobile phone
- Up to 30% discount in chain of retail stores
- Regular social events throughout the year, and a Christmas Day event!
To be successful, you will…
- Have strong project management and organisational skills.
- Have excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities.
- Have a positive attitude with the desire to constantly improve.
- Be customer-focused, ensuring the customer is at the heart of everything they do.
- Have a consultative nature to work with customers.
- Be able to successfully manage long-term opportunities.
- Understand the importance of maintaining sales admin.
- Have the character to work effectively with team members and other departments.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM software.
Ideal, but not essential…
- 2–5+ years of experience in FF&E sales, preferably in education or public sector projects.
- Experience with public procurement or education tenders.
- Knowledge of inclusive and ergonomic design in education environments.
- Can confidently produce a full site survey, including the ability to secure precise site measurements.
- Familiarity with space planning software such as Revit is ideal.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, safety, and sustainability policies in education.
- Understanding of furniture and equipment needs across early years, primary, secondary, and tertiary education environments.
- Ability to read floor plans and layout drawings.
Apply! If you’re looking to grow your sales career with a respected, leading company whose mission is to create positive outcomes for learners, apply now!
Education Sales Consultant – Classroom furniture and design & learning environments employer: Connecting Education
Contact Detail:
Connecting Education Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Education Sales Consultant – Classroom furniture and design & learning environments
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend education fairs, workshops, and local events to meet potential clients and industry peers. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or presentation that highlights your past successes in FF&E sales. When you meet with clients, let them see how you can transform their learning environments.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t wait for job openings to appear. Reach out to schools and educational institutions directly, offering your insights on how they can enhance their spaces with your solutions.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in our mission. Tailor your approach to show how you can contribute to creating inspiring educational spaces.
We think you need these skills to ace Education Sales Consultant – Classroom furniture and design & learning environments
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Education: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for creating inspiring learning environments shine through. Share any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your commitment to improving educational spaces.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Highlight your experience in the education or FF&E sector, and demonstrate how your skills align with the responsibilities mentioned in the job description.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills. Remember, clarity is key!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, your application will be processed more efficiently, and you'll have a better chance of standing out to our hiring team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Connecting Education
✨Know Your FF&E Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) specific to the education sector. Understand the latest trends in educational design and how they impact learning environments. This will help you speak confidently about how your solutions can inspire students and meet the needs of schools.
✨Showcase Your Consultative Sales Approach
Prepare to demonstrate your consultative sales skills during the interview. Think of examples where you've successfully engaged with clients, assessed their needs, and provided tailored solutions. Highlight your ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with various stakeholders in the education sector.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and project management skills. Prepare by thinking through potential challenges you might face in this role, such as managing timelines or ensuring compliance with educational standards, and how you would address them.
✨Research the Company’s Impact
Familiarise yourself with the company’s history and its contributions to the education sector. Understanding their mission and values will allow you to align your answers with what they stand for, showing that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team and contributing to creating inspiring learning environments.