Receptionist in Barking

Location: Great Blakenham, IP6

Looking for a career where your ambition meets real opportunity? Join Persimmon Homes as a Receptionist and step into a role where your success is celebrated, your growth supported, and your work truly matters.

Why Persimmon Homes? We're one of the UK's largest and most established housebuilders — FTSE 100 listed, with 29 regional offices and thousands of quality homes built every year. At Persimmon, we don't just build homes — we build careers.

When you join us as a Receptionist, you'll benefit from:

• Competitive salary
• 5* housebuilder - Be part of a company that consistently delivers quality homes and outstanding customer satisfaction
• Life Cover & Contributory Pension
• Bonus
• Employee Benefits Platform – giving you access to high-street discounts, wellbeing support, and more
• Committed to diversity, inclusion, and empowering your development

What is the role?

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Receptionist to join Persimmon Homes Suffolk based at our Great Blakenham office. Reporting to the Office Manager, you will be the first point of contact for visitors, customers and colleagues, providing a professional and welcoming front-of-house service. The role is responsible for the smooth day-to-day running of the reception area, switchboard and meeting facilities, whilst also providing administrative support to the wider business. The successful candidate will play a key part in ensuring the office operates efficiently, delivering excellent customer service and supporting colleagues across all departments.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide a professional and welcoming front-of-house service, ensuring all visitors, customers and suppliers are greeted promptly and directed appropriately.
• Operate the office switchboard, handling incoming calls efficiently and professionally, taking accurate messages and directing enquiries to the relevant departments.
• Manage incoming and outgoing post, couriers and deliveries, ensuring items are distributed promptly to the appropriate teams.
• Co-ordinate meeting room bookings and maintain meeting areas, ensuring rooms are prepared with any required refreshments, equipment and facilities.
• Provide administrative support to the Office Manager and wider business, assisting with general office administration, document preparation, data entry, filing and correspondence.
• Monitor and distribute enquiries received through the Persimmon website and shared inboxes, ensuring responses are dealt with promptly and professionally.
• Assist with organising office events, staff meetings, service anniversary celebrations, training sessions and other business activities as required.
• Support the day-to-day running of the office, including stationery ordering, office supplies management and maintaining communal areas to a high standard.
• Maintain office records and documentation, ensuring information is handled confidentially and in accordance with company procedures.
• Support the Office Manager with facilities administration, contractor visits, meeting room management and office compliance processes.
• Provide support with other administrative and office duties as reasonably requested by the Office Manager.

What experience do I need?

• Previous experience in a reception, customer service, administrative or office-based role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a professional, friendly and approachable telephone manner.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, adapt to changing priorities and prioritise workload effectively.
• Good attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Confident using Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.
• Experience of Microsoft Copilot would be advantageous but is not essential.
• Ability to work independently, use initiative, remain calm under pressure and maintain confidentiality.
• Reliable, dependable and well-presented, with excellent customer service skills.
• Flexible and willing to provide additional support as required.
• Experience of dealing with customers, visitors and external suppliers in a professional manner.
• A positive team player who is willing to help others and contribute to a collaborative working environment.