National Sales Awards - 2011 Winners Announced

LONDON, November 2, 2011 -

On a night of triumph, the best of the British sales industry gathered to recognise the art of professional selling and its contribution to growth, confidence and profitability at the fifteenth National Sales Awards in partnership with Huthwaite International at the Grosvenor House Hotel.  

Dara O’Brien hosted the spectacular Awards show to an audience of over 800 of the sales industry’s finest. Winners of the awards include sales individuals and teams from Virgin Media, Telefonica UK Ltd, O2, RBS, OCS, Hillarys Blinds, Inter-Continental Hotel Group, Royal Mail, British Gas and Pitney Bowes.

“Many congratulations to all the winners of the National Sales Awards. All have demonstrated something really special - a spark of brilliance that means they are able to stand out from the crowd. I’d like to congratulate the winners and hope to see their continued success,” said Tony Hughes, CEO of Huthwaite International. 

The National Movers Centre Management Team at Virgin Media won the Overall Sales Team of the Year’ Award, the highest accolade to be presented at the National Sales Awards 2011 in partnership with Huthwaite International.  It is awarded to the team that best demonstrates excellence in teamwork, customer satisfaction, efficiency, sales performance, and staff development.  The judging for this award is based on a filmed interview and the winner is chosen by an esteemed panel of 20 expert judges.

Applauded for his clear and strong vision, Ian Dowds of Specific Media won the Sales Director of the Year award. Leading his team in a fast-changing environment in which his commitment to innovation and intellectual rigour stood out, judges commented that “Ian builds loyalty among customers and staff alike through a personal style that exudes challenge, empowerment and humanity.”

It was Simon Lindsay of Pitney Bowes who won the Newcomer of the Year award. As a newcomer to the sales profession he inspired the judges “by demonstrating how he has understood the importance of owning clients issues, solving them, recognising the power of a sales process, listening, building relationships all combined with time management, the result, deservedly exceeding his targets.”

The Sales Manager of the Year accolade was awarded to Joe Gomes of Hillarys Blinds for his customer focus initiatives and outstanding sales track record.

Commenting on the quality of entries, Alex Evans, Head of Judges, National Sales Awards said: “This year’s finalists all demonstrated a passion for the customer, a collaborative and creative approach to sales and, in the most exceptional cases, a desire to challenge the norm to bring something new to the market.”

Over 80 of Britain’s outstanding sales professionals and teams have completed the two - stage rigorous Dragon’s Den style judging process, where over 40 directors and sales professionals have chosen this year’s worthy winners.

For more information and for the full list of winners please visit www.nationalsalesawards.com.

Note to editors:

About the National Sales Awards
Now entering their 15th year, the National Sales Awards exist to recognise the art of professional selling and its contribution to growth, confidence and profitability. Focusing on the elements that enable more effective sales, the National Sales Awards also highlight the value of technology, training and support services. For more information visit www.nationalsalesawards.com 

2011 Winners of the National Sales Awards in partnership with Huthwaite International

Account Manager of the Year Winner: Gail Treadwell, IHG, Denham , UB9 5HR

Contact Centre Sales Team of the Year Winner: Door To Door Sale Team, Royal Mail, Oxford, OX1 1RX

Field Sales Executive of the Year Winner: Samantha Reymbaut, Telefonica O2, Slough, SL14DX

Field Sales Executive of the Year Winner: High Commended: Mathew Parr, OCS Group Limited, Crawley, RH109YB

Field Sales Team of the Year Winner: Scotland SMB Field Sales Team, Telefonica UK Ltd, Slough, SL1 4DX

Incentive & Motivation Programme of the Year Winner: Make It Happen, British Gas, Staines, TW18 3AR

Newcomer of the Year Winner: Simon Lindsay of Pitney Bowes Ltd, Essex, CM19 5BL

Outstanding Sales Person of the Year Winner: Darren Buttrick, Telefonica UK Ltd, Slough, SL1 4DX

Sales Campaign of the Year Winner: Planning & Performance Team, Virgin Media, Nottingham, NG2 3GG

Sales Director of the Year Winner: Ian Dowds, Specific Media, London, WC2H 8AG

Sales Management Team Winner: National Movers Centre Team, Virgin Media, Nottingham, NG2 3GG

Sales Manager of the Year Winner: Joe Gomes, Hillarys Blinds Ltd, Nottingham, NG4 2JR

Sales Support Team of the Year Winner: National Retail Insurance Network Relationship Team, RBS Insurance, Bromley, KENT, BR1 1DP

Sales Team Leader of the Year Winner: Robert Robson, Virgin Media, Nottingham, NG2 3GG

Strategic Account Manager of the Year Winner: Emma Marie Cawthra, Virgin Media Business, Sheffield, S9 3SE

Telephone Sales Executive of the Year Winner: Dexter Dyer, Virgin Media, Nottingham, NG2 3GG

Telephone Sales Team of the Year Winner: Direct Marketing Team, O2, Slough, SL1 4DX

Overall Sales Team of the Year Winner: National Movers Centre Team, Virgin Media, Nottingham, NG2 3GG

For further information, photographs or interview opportunities contact: Natasha Sri, Marketing Executive, UBM Awards, Tel: +44(0)207-955-3843, Email: natasha.sri at ubm.com