National Sales Awards 2011

London UK – 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.

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

Account Manager of the Year Winner: Gail Treadwell, IHG

Contact Centre Sales Team of the Year Winner: Door To Door Sale Team, Royal Mail

Field Sales Executive of the Year Winner: Samantha Reymbaut, Telefonica UK

Field Sales Executive of the Year Highly Commended: Mathew Parr, OCS Group Limited

Field Sales Team of the Year Winner: Scotland SMB Field Sales Team, Telefonica UK

Incentive & Motivation Programme of the Year Winner: Make It Happen, British Gas

Newcomer of the Year Winner: Simon Lindsay of Pitney Bowes Ltd

Outstanding Sales Person of the Year Winner: Darren Buttrick, Telefonica UK

Sales Campaign of the Year Winner: Planning & Performance Team, Virgin Media

Sales Director of the Year Winner: Ian Dowds, Specific Media

Sales Management Team Winner: National Movers Centre Team, Virgin Media

Sales Manager of the Year Winner: Joe Gomes, Hillarys Blinds

Sales Support Team of the Year Winner: National Retail Insurance Network Relationship Team, RBS Insurance

Sales Team Leader of the Year Winner: Robert Robson, Virgin Media

Strategic Account Manager of the Year Winner: Emma Marie Cawthra, Virgin Media Business

Telephone Sales Executive of the Year Winner: Dexter Dyer, Virgin Media

Telephone Sales Team of the Year Winner: Direct Marketing Team, Telefonica UK

Overall Sales Team of the Year Winner: National Movers Centre Team, Virgin Media