Adding value to CCS Media with our Level 4 Sales Apprenticeship

BMS Progress
Improve Performance, Progress Careers

Increasing diversity and development in salespeople

CCS Media, one of the UK’s largest technology and IT resellers, wanted their sales team to become more diverse and add value to their customers, whilst leveraging the apprenticeship levy. Discover the role of our Level 4 Sales Executive Apprenticeship in their development.

CCS Media

CCS Media is an IT solutions organisation selling anything hardware or software related. They’ve always had a very strong focus on apprenticeships. Historically, typical IT workers were degree-educated white males. But CCS media’s director, Rob Omar, felt apprenticeships could create diversity and provide more equal opportunities.‘talent is equally distributed, opportunity isn’t.’ This is a phrase Rob agrees with, and he realised that apprenticeships were a way of hiring those who had concerns over university fees and debt.

The company had previously executed Level 4 Sales Apprenticeships, but found their provider’s training wasn’t bespoke enough. Here, Rob shares why he chose BMS Progress, and the positive outcomes of our partnership so far.

"The partnership with BMS Progress has been a success so far. We’ll keep feeding back and engaging with them as a partner, and ideally, we’ll work with them on following cohorts too."

Rob Omar
:
Director
BMS Progress - The challenge

The Objectives

When deciding between the different training providers, I liked the flexibility that BMS Progress offered, their ability to adapt and tailor the programme, as well as their expertise in B2B sales development.

Enable our sales team to add value

Up to 20% of an apprentice’s working hours are allocated to learning, so we needed to be certain that the knowledge, skills and experience gained throughout the programme would add value to their roles and improve the team’s sales performance.

Recognise our needs

As well as flexibility, we needed a training provider with the capability to listen to our needs and what we had to say. This was crucial in creating a bespoke programme.

Retain our talent

We pay our apprentices more than average because we don’t see them as cheap labour, and we want them to stay in the business. Their education plays a part in this retention.

BMS Progress - The solution

The Solution

BMS Progress really took the time to get to know CCS media. Our National Training Manager and I met with the BMS team, including their Development Coaches, Curriculum Manager, Quality Manager and Operations Manager, led by their Managing Director. We learned about their proposition, their experience in this sector, and how their offering would help us to develop our pipeline of talent.

Creating a bootcamp approach

By utilising five-day training blocks, we’ve been able to unplug the apprentices from their day jobs so they can fully engage in the learning delivered at each bootcamp. When they aren’t in a bootcamp, all their time is spent doing their job. This approach has created a great balance for learning, applying and measuring the programme’s impact.

Understanding our sales model

The team at BMS Progress effectively understood the CCS media sales process. They incorporated it into the learning using our language, real-life examples and scenarios, all of which helped our apprentices to relate to the training and apply it in their day jobs.

Providing a dedicated development coach

Each apprentice would be assigned a development coach to support their learning. It gave us peace of mind, especially as the coaches understood who we were as a business, and worked closely with our own management team to ensure individual feedback and development areas were aligned.

BMS Progress - The result

The Result

I’ve witnessed for myself that BMS Progress are adding value, and because of that, so are the apprentices.

Effective use of the levy

We’re 100% getting value for money from the apprenticeship levy. The team is performing better, and it’s all thanks to the training programme. In fact, I see some members using knowledge that they’ve learnt only a week before!

Structured career path

The cohort for the first BMS Progress apprenticeship programme is only recent, but they’re further forward than the previous cohort, who used our former training provider. This is because the education is more relevant and useful.

Alignments on apprenticeships

Our apprentices have regular reviews with their development coach and line manager, allowing for 360-degree evaluation. This ensures everyone is aligned, and the apprentice’s education isn’t separate from their job.

How can BMS Progress help you?

Want to find out more? Whether it’s about a specific programme,  apprenticeship standard or just about us and how we work, our team is always on hand to help. Simply get in touch using the button below and we will endeavour to answer your questions.

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