Sales Representative (Commercial Executive)

Starting Salary: £25,010 per annum

Job Type: Permanent

Working pattern: 35 hours per week. Monday-Thursday in our Head Office in Lancaster, work from home on Fridays (flexible working options will be considered).

Reporting to the Senior Commercial Manager, the Commercial Executive will take full ownership of a portfolio of accounts, driving both customer retention and new business growth. This role is key to achieving defined income targets, strengthening relationships, and ensuring long-term customer value across allocated accounts.

As the primary point of contact for customers, you will act as a trusted partner and advocate, managing enquiries from start to resolution. Working closely with internal teams, you will ensure seamless service delivery, uphold Service Level Agreements, and consistently meet Key Performance Indicators to provide an exceptional customer experience.

You will play a central role in account management by monitoring performance against targets, maintaining accurate CRM records, and proactively engaging with customers to identify opportunities. Regular communication and data analysis will support forecasting, while collaboration with internal departments ensures efficient and effective customer support.

In addition to managing existing accounts, you will actively drive new business development. This includes building and maintaining a strong sales pipeline, identifying opportunities through gap analysis, and staying informed on competitor activity to maximise growth potential within both existing and new customers.

The role also involves attending and contributing to events, conferences, and customer meetings, where you will represent the business, present solutions, and support sales activities. You will ensure all enquiries are handled promptly and professionally, providing expert advice to expand product and service uptake across the customer base.

Alongside commercial responsibilities, you will contribute to broader business initiatives, including regulatory compliance, risk management, and continuous service improvement. This is a dynamic and varied role, ideal for someone proactive, customer-focused, and driven to deliver results while contributing to a high-performing sales team.

• Excellent communication skills with a strong customer service focus
• Creative, proactive approach to sales and achieving targets
• Positive, adaptable mindset with a commitment to quality and development
• Strong team player who is motivated, flexible, and willing to go the extra mile
• Highly organised with the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
• Competent in ICT systems, and experience of databases

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Alex Houghton, Head of Commercial at alexander.houghton@ascentis.co.uk.

We reserve the right to close the job vacancy early if we find an appointable candidate or receive a high volume of applicants. This job does not meet the eligibility requirements to qualify for visa sponsorship.

About us: We are proud to be one of the UK’s leading educational charity groups, encompassing an awarding organisation, a provider of dyslexia intervention software. Our enthusiastic people bring genuine passion and natural energy to everything that they do and through their infectious energy they transform the lives of thousands of people each year through the power of education.

It has never been a more exciting time to join Ascentis as we continue our journey of growth across the UK and overseas. We are market leading in the education sector and the specialist areas we operate within, maintaining the #1 provision for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in the UK as well as being a leading Access Validating Agency.

We are based in Lancaster but we have a national reach, with a significant customer base in London. We have recently secured two major achievements, winning the Innovation of the Year and Awarding Organisation of the Year at the 2024 Federation of Awarding Bodies awards.

In addition to working with Colleges, Training Providers and Local Education Authorities, Ascentis also operates within the Primary and Secondary school sector in the UK and International schools, using our specialist IDL software that provides multi-sensory programmes in literacy, numeracy and phonics. Today the software is used by thousands of children across the world.

Ascentis is made up of brilliant people, unique in terms of background, personality, characteristics, experience and skill. We value our people for the differences they bring to the table and believe this diversity is powerful. We are an equal opportunities employer, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays, birthday day off, closure days gifted during the Christmas period, increased annual leave with long service and an Annual Leave Purchase Scheme (up to a maximum of 43 days)
• Competitive pension benefits, including a salary sacrifice scheme
• Access to Informal Flexibility, allowing you to flex your working times and location where viable
• Incremental service benefits as a family-friendly employer, including enhanced Maternity, Neonatal, Paternity, Shared Parental, Adoption Leave and Pay, Sick Pay, Life Insurance, and Paid Compassionate Leave
• Access to state-of-the-art office and break facilities
• Free parking, locked bike storage shed
• Access to car electric charging points (charges payable by employee)
• Tailored learning and development opportunities
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Home and Tech Scheme
• Discounted gym membership at 3-1-5 Health Club
• 24-hour employee helpline and a proactive focus on wellbeing
• Aviva DigiCare+ health app with access to virtual GP appointments, annual health check and more
• Reward and recognition scheme, regular team building and communication activities