Member Article

Sales director urges young people to start a love affair with the construction industry

A Buckinghamshire sales director with over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry says her love affair with housebuilding is still going strong.

Elaine Stratford celebrates ten years with Persimmon Homes Thames Valley this month but her relationship with the industry began long before 2004.

Her construction career began in 1984 when she joined a well-known local luxury homes developer as a sales advisor in High Wycombe. Despite being a temporary assignment, she spent 20 years with the company spanning roles including PA to the managing director, sales coordinator, sales manager and sales director.

Elaine commenced her decade with Persimmon Homes at the company’s Gerrards Cross office, covering the Thames Valley area as well as parts of London, the M40 corridor to Oxford, the M4 to Newbury and the northern sector of the M25 as far as the A1M.

“I would strongly recommend that young people leaving school really give consideration to our industry,” explains Elaine.

“In my experience the industry is diverse – we experience all kinds of weather out on the development sites, but equally we get to work face to face with almost every generation of buyer whilst we guide them through the process of buying a new home.

“I’m sure I speak for our sales advisors when I say we enjoy being out there in our wellies in the rain and snow when needed on site. But equally, we also get to work in luxurious show homes and marketing suites. Our offices are now very much IT supported and our staff input their own data and even reserve on computer.

“It is an industry I have been so fortunate to have worked in for 30 years and to see how it has moved on in that time.

“My children have grown up with new homes and now my five year old is often found sitting in the car wearing a hard hat; I am thinking it is because she likes the look, and it has no bearing on my driving.”

Persimmon Homes is looking to actively recruit college leavers as trainee sales advisers for the Thames Valley regional office for Charles Church and Persimmon brands. For more information, email tvaljobs@persimmonhomes.com or please visit www.persimmonjobs.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rosie Farmer .