Sales Executive, BBC Gardeners’ World Events

Sales Executive, BBC Gardeners’ World (£27,000 plus commission)

Immediate is home to some of the biggest and most loved consumer brands in the UK, including Radio Times, Good Food and BBC Gardeners World magazine. Our trusted, quality content reaches millions of people a month across digital, print, video, podcasts, apps and live events.

We’re the destination for people looking to get more from the things they love. We’re here to inspire, fuel, encourage and educate.

Whether it’s the big things, or the little things; from reaching fitness goals to savouring good food, cultivating outdoor spaces, or enjoying the latest TV sensation – we help bring our audiences joy!

About the role

As a Sales Executive, you will be part of the team selling across BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Gardeners’ World Fairs within the Gardening Portfolio. Reporting into the Sales Manager/Deputy Sales Manager, you will be responsible for selling stand space and digital assets across the events, to both existing and new clients – from independent businesses to bigger gardening brands. 

A target driven and self motivated salesperson, you’ll be a strong team player who is passionate about their products. Naturally curious, you’ll always be looking for new commercial opportunities, and will enjoy picking up the phone, making new connections, pitching, negotiating, and closing business.

This role requires good listening and communication skills to manage your own business, as well as working within a team and ensuring exhibitors receive a consistent, high level of customer care from contracting through to the event.

As a Sales Executive you will;

• Work with the Sales Manager and Sales Development Manager to ensure our exhibitor targets are met in both quality and quantity
• Sell stand space and digital assets to new and existing business, demonstrating good phone skills, confident in making sales calls and delivering high quality proposals and emails as part of the sales process
• Play an essential role in identifying new interesting, quality leads across each exhibitor sector; researching new business opportunities and visiting competitor events, as agreed with your line manager
• Engage new prospects, actively selling, and closing business. You will communicate pledges and forecasts with accuracy and have a good understanding of the performance of the team you work with
• Build strong exhibitor relations and providing exceptional account management, using and managing the CRM system to track all customer contact, understanding client history and maintaining it to be accurate and up to date
• Attend weekly sales meetings and being aware of the meeting objectives, participation requirements and ensuring actions are acted on and reviewed
• Produce all sales contracts on CRM system and chasing return
• Keep floorplans up to date with help of Sales Manager
• Understand your client debt and liaising with the finance team to manage and resolve any issues
• Participate in an onsite rebook as planned by the Sales Manager, working toward all targets set
• Attend all agreed Immediate Live shows with your line manager - you should expect during these times, that you may need to spend consecutive nights at the show location

• Demonstrable success in sales would be a benefit
• Goal and target driven
• Organised with good time management
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Clear communicator and strong interpersonal skills, with excellent listening skills
• Good negotiation and objection handing skills would be beneficial
• Natural networker
• Naturally interested and inquisitive
• Passion for organising events
• Committed, engaged, and motivated
• Self-starter who loves to win
• Ambition to grow, develop and learn within career
• Desire to network with others to build a better business
• Strong IT skills (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Experience in consumer events or exhibitions would be beneficial
• An interest in gardening would be an advantage

• A relaxed working environment with regular socials including a summer festival
• Supportive well-being initiatives and benefits, talks & workshops, and Mental Health First aiders & Champions
• 25 days holiday plus a day for your birthday. Our offices will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s which are in addition to your annual entitlement
• Tailored training and development through both our inhouse learning platform and LinkedIn Learning
• A progressive and transparent culture focused on your development  
• Flexible / hybrid working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced Family Policies including paternity, adoption and surrogacy leave. We also provide a pregnancy loss, fertility, and carers policy
• Competitive pension plans and Life Assurance
• A newly renovated modern office with lots of collaborative spaces

At Immediate, we pride ourselves on our open, inclusive, collaborative, and dynamic culture that empowers our people to thrive and give their best. We care deeply about our people, our local communities and the impact we have on the environment. Our active Diversity & Inclusion network, comprehensive well-being programs, and clear sustainability strategies reflect this commitment.

People are at the heart of our business and creating a diverse and inclusive working environment is important to us. Immediate is an equal opportunities employer. We’ll never treat anyone less favourably because of their sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marital/civil partnerships, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, age, religion or belief or disability. We’re also committed to supporting applications from those who are returning to work following a career break, maternity leave or caring responsibilities.

Immediate is a place you can grow, be supported, and make a difference.