Kelway hunts for "fresh blood"

VAR launches search to find the next best sales staff

VAR Kelway has launched the Kelway Academy which aims to shake up its sales team by adding new staff to the ranks.

The academy will see about 200 candidates attend an assessment day before 16 junior sales staff are given the jobs, which will begin in September.

The new hires will need no prior experience in sales or technology, according to the reseller, which said that "fresh blood" was needed in the industry.

Jonathan Valdes, sales director at Kelway, has been at the VAR for ten years and is running the Kelway Academy.

He said: "In the past we exclusively head-hunted staff to fill the sales roles, and, as a result, it was very difficult for junior people to enter the business; we want to invest in people at all levels.

"One of the main challenges in the industry is that [sales] is dominated by good but established people in both resellers and vendors, and now it is time for a shake-up!"

Following a 12-month training period, the new sales staff will receive accreditation from the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management, and will then be re-distributed around the company depending on the skills they have developed.

Valdes added that the investment is worth it despite being long-term.

He said: "Developing the top breed of sales people is not a quick process. It will absolutely be worth the investment in the end, and we are realistic in the time scale involved. We have budgeted for a lengthy process and have a three-year business plan, but we know it will be worth it."