Apprentify has launched a new company, Flourish, with a commitment to identifying, training and supporting talent from a wide variety of backgrounds, including non-graduates and those looking for a career change.
Managing Director Sarah Skelton is spearheading the business, which is part of the Apprentify Group, in response to frustration at the waste of talent caused by a focus on university degrees and people from a narrow socio-economic background or with more diverse personalities not ‘fitting the mold’ of what makes a good salesperson. According to Skelton, the industry has written off too many candidates with the potential to change their lives and drive success for employers, given the right level of support.
She said: “We of course welcome graduate entrants as well but we recognise the challenges faced by people starting out in sales for the first time who may not necessarily fit the template of what people see as a typical salesperson. Skills training is important, and we provide a comprehensive grounding in sales techniques as a given but mental wellbeing is such a factor in sales that we decided to provide additional one to one coaching to help them with specific challenges like building resilience and confidence.”
With Flourish, businesses have a hands-on partner that will source the best sales candidates and provide continuous coaching throughout the first year of employment. Not only will they benefit from learning important life skills in confidence building and communication, but they will also have access to exclusive insights into the sales industry.
Sarah brings over 20 years of expertise in training and mentoring within the employment sector. She dedicated more than two decades to Pareto, a sales recruitment and training firm, serving much of her tenure as regional director for Southeast England. Her latest venture marks a reunion with Jonathan Fitchew, who established Pareto in 1995. The company was later acquired by Randstad, a global HR services provider.
“Flourish is all about finding the right people for the right roles and then supporting them every step of the way,” said Fitchew, now CEO of Apprentify Group. “What makes us different is that we don’t just stop at placing talent – we stay involved, offering coaching and guidance along the way. It is about helping them grow and make sure they thrive in their new position. Sarah will be a driving force behind the business, and we look forward to making a real difference for both employees and the companies we work with.”
