FEMALE sales executives are taking the driving seat in a once predominantly male industry adding a feminine touch to a North East car dealership.
Following a highly successful employment drive, Vauxhall dealer Sherwoods are leading the equality stakes in the recruitment of female car sales staff.
The family run firm, which has dealerships in Darlington, Stockton and Northallerton, has now increased its sales team to 12 with a 50:50 split of male and female sales executives.
Recently appointed sales manager Sarah Weatherhead said: “I have worked in car sales for over 16 years and this is the most female sales staff I have ever known working for one dealership.
“There were already three ladies here when I started in November last year but since then we have recruited a further three and we now have a fantastic mix of people with great customer service and sales skills.
“We didn’t set out to recruit an all female staff, they just happened to be the best candidates for the job and really shone through with the characteristics we were looking for. The men have also upped their game since the ladies joined us and there is a lot of good natured competition among the team.”
The new sales executives were employed during a series of recruitment days where over 60 candidates were put through their paces in a series of work-based tasks.
Former private health sector worker Natalie Appleton, 29, of Saltburn, said: “It was a bit like the X Factor.
“We were given tasks, including building a tower from paper, numeracy and literacy tests, team building exercises and instruction following and after each round applicants were eliminated. I couldn’t believe it when I was offered one of the sales executive positions, I was so happy.”
Steph Gardner, 24, of Newton Aycliffe, added: “The balance has shifted. It’s a fantastic job and people coming into the showroom love having the option of dealing with either male or female sales executives.”