Sales consultant is top of the class

Redrow recruit David Dodd may be relatively new to the world of sales but he could teach his colleagues a thing or two after opting for a complete career change.

The former assistant headteacher left the classroom behind after 24 years to take up a position as trainee sales consultant with Redrow and has been so successful that after just a couple of months in the job he was promoted to full-time sales consultant with responsibility for the Alexandra Gate development at Newport.

David, 48, started out as a History and PE teacher in the 1980s at Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire and from 1989 to 2001 he was a Head of Year at Barry Boys School, where he settled with his wife Martine, who works for Vale of Glamorgan School Improvement Service, and their three children.

David's final teaching role was as an assistant head teacher at a school in Croydon, where he was based for five years, but as his family home was still in Barry he had to stay in Beckenham, mid-week and was only able to get back to South Wales, at weekends.

He said he was fed up of travelling and wanted to be closer to his family, adding: "After 24 years in teaching I think I had done my bit. I needed a change of direction, I have got at least another 17 years working and want do something that really motivates me when I get up in the morning."

David, who built his own home seven years ago with Martine, was able to apply for the sales position as part of a drive by Redrow designed to encourage more people from different backgrounds to become sales consultants and bring something new to the role. Although he was not entirely new to the business, having worked in sales and marketing for a paper company for 18 months after leaving university.

He said: "I saw the job advertised and went to an assessment day where I had to make two presentations including selling an item to the group. I knew they were one of the biggest house builders in the country and I had seen some of their properties before, Redrow Homes have an excellent finish and are a good quality product, which I would find exciting to sell. I think that the recruitment process is positive because it gives people without experience in the house building industry the opportunity to succeed in a role they would otherwise be unable to do."

Although David initially took a substantial pay cut to embark on his new career, it has given him a new lease of life. He said: "It is not about the money, it is about whole new way of life and learning new skills. The skills I have developed in education have transferred well to my new role. It is certainly demanding but also very satisfying"

Newport is undergoing a huge transformation at the moment and millions of pounds are set to be pumped into the city over the next few years.

Redrow is playing a role in the city's regeneration with its waterfront scheme at Alexandra Gate and it's here that David is honing his sales skills.

Situated on the site of the former Black Clawson engineering works, off Usk Way, the flagship development will eventually consist of 399 contemporary homes, some of which will boast enviable views of the River Usk and the regenerated Old Town dock.

For more information, visit redrow.co.uk.