FAQs

We pride ourselves on our training and development and as such we encourage our staff to move within the company whether it is through promotion, secondments or simply a change of division. This emphasis on internal movement results in openings for new people to join our teams.

While we can't guarantee the type of car, it is typically a Vauxhall Vectra or Volkswagen Passatt.

No.

The process is in two stages, if your application is deemed suitable we will contact you to arrange a telephone interview. During the telephone interview we'd like to take the opportunity to learn more about you and hear about your past experiences and find out why you think you'd be a great Field Sales Representative. You'll need to allow around 40 minutes for your telephone interview so remember to mention on your application any times of the day which are better than others. If you are successful at this stage we'll let you know within 7 days. The next stage in the process is an Assessment Centre, here you will meet a Regional Manager, an Area Sales Manager as well as members of the HR team and a current Field Sales Representative. Its a full day involving various assessment exercises and will allow you to learn much more about us. After the assessment centre we'll let you know whether you have been successful.

We recruit twice a year, typically in the Spring (March/April) and then again in the Autumn (September/October).

No. Unfortunately we can't progress your application if you have more than 6 points on your licence. We do require you to bring your licence with you to your interview and no employment offer is made without sight of this, as well as a DVLA driving licence check.

Once you submit your application you should receive an automatic email acknowledgment confirming receipt of your application. Sometimes email filters will view this email as junk and therefore please check your junk email folder. If you submit an application but do not receive this email please contact us on 0117 953 6298 and we will be happy to check whether your application has been received.

We aim to turn around applications within 7 to 10 days, this unfortunately can increase if high quantities of applications are received. Every application received is read in detail by our HR team, therefore please be patient if we haven't responded to you within this time frame.

Wherever possible, we would like applications to be made online. However, if candidates do not have internet access, we will accept applications through the post.

This will depend on the specific location of each vacancy. We generally hold each assessment centre at a hotel close to the vacancy location and we will reimburse candidates travel expenses incurred in travelling to and from that venue (please bring appropriate receipts with you).

The current starting salary for a (Trainee) Field Sales Representative is £27,000. On top of this you, after you have succesfully completed your 6 month standards, you will also receive a bonus payment 'SIS' which is based upon your team and your individual performance, typically this is around 16% of your base salary. This bonus is paid out 3 times a year and is pro-rated. If you are applying for a London role you will also be entitled to receive London weighting allowance, which will be up to £3,000, depending upon your exact location. Salaries are reviewed annually. You will also be able to join our final salary pension scheme and in doing so will qualify for death in service benefit. Salaries are reviewed on an annual basis.

Your location will depend upon the role you have applied for and your home location. Our Representatives must live on the area which they cover. This is a field-based role, which means your home is your base and your car can feel a bit like your office. Your time will be spent out on the road, visiting retailers acting as a Tobacco Consultant. You will however be part of a bigger team and will meet up with fellow Representatives and your Manager on a monthly basis at group meetings. If the role you are applying for is a Tactical position you will need to be flexible around your location as you will provide relief cover for your team, for example covering sickness or holidays and therefore flexibility and a willingness to work in different locations (within your ASM group) is needed.

Yes, whilst we welcome applications from individuals who already have sales experience, whether retail or field-based, we also encourage applications from individuals from other backgrounds. Provided you demonstrate the skills and experience that we look for then we'd like to hear from you.

We look for applicants with strong communication skills, excellent organisational ability and a strong sales focus. You'll need to be happy to work alone and demonstrate the resilience necessary to succeed in a competitive market.

Our products are sold in over 130 countries worldwide and we are a truly international business. There are opportunities to work overseas, although understandably competition is tough for these roles and you would be expected to demonstrate that you have the skills, tobacco industry knowledge and experience necessary to be offered a particular position.

Due to the quality and volume of applications we receive for these roles we regret that we are not able to sponsor applications from individuals requiring a work permit. If you already have the necessary work permission and are able to continue working in the UK then we would consider your application.

Why not take a look at some of the profiles on the Meet our People section, these are all real examples of how Trainees have progressed throughout the business. Our company culture firmly supports internal progression and we encourage our staff to develop themselves whether through secondment opportunities in different parts of the business (e.g. National Accounts, Trade Marketing) or by specific learning and development.

This site contains information purely on our Trainee Field Sales Representative positions. You can visit our Corporate site which provides contact details of the relevant person to contact within each of our world wide locations. You should also keep an eye on relevant trade press or national and regional press where we will occasionally advertise relevant positions.

We don't have a set graduate scheme in place, although we welcome applications from recent graduates from our Trainee Field Sales Representative positions.