Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Interests
Timeline
Generic
Gemma Preston

Gemma Preston

Old leake Boston,Lincolnshire

Summary

A confident and motivated professional, enjoying the challenge of seeing projects from start to finish, organising, planning and researching information and using initiative to add value to the company. Excellent interpersonal skills, building and nurturing strong business relationships; training, coaching and motivating staff to achieve targets. Demonstrates exceptional customer service. Versatile and adaptable approach, thinking laterally to identify innovative solutions to issues. Skills transferable to many roles and sectors.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work history

Customer Engagement

IGD
Watford
01.2016 - Current
  • Developed a Customer Engagement department through building relationships via phone and email.
  • Speaking with customer to find out their pain points and place bookings for events, workshops, solutions and new business
  • Passing lead enquiries after qualification for global business development manager to close
  • Training staff on processes
  • Using LinkedIn as a sales tool and lead generation
  • Developing processes for sales to be taken over the phone
  • Feedback daily to stakeholders
  • Working with stakeholders to engage customers with products.
  • Advised customers on availability, pricing and location of products.
  • Listened actively to offer accurate information and best solution to their needs.
  • Maintained excellent client satisfaction by providing in-depth support.
  • Analysed customer feedback and developed new techniques to support retention.
  • Managed robust sales pipeline, consistently converting prospects into sales.

Business Development and Treatment Co-Ordinator

UK Dental Specialists
Watford
01.2015 - 01.2016
  • Managing Dentist diary, booking appointments following up appointments
  • Calling referrals which has come in from other dentists
  • Arranging treatment plans and sending reports
  • Managing marketing such as Facebook Twitter and new practices
  • Diary management
  • Communicating on all levels
  • Submitting staff hours
  • Contacted and converted potential customers via telephone, email and in-person enquiries.
  • Closed complex, lucrative deals with new customers.
  • Collaborated with cross-company departments, developing new strategies to capitalise on emerging customer trends.
  • Attended prominent industry trade shows, exhibitions and events across UK.
  • Maintained client records in bespoke CRM systems, ensuring streamlined data processes for maximum efficiency.

Telesales & Account Manager inc PA

UK Dental
09.2014 - 12.2014
  • Managing Dentist Practices accounts, booking appointments following up appointments
  • Calling leads to convert into appointments for Dental Practices
  • Managing Direct Debits for each dental practice through Eazypay
  • Ensuring dentists are happy by regular call contact
  • Responding to emails for enquiries
  • Diary management
  • Contracts issued to dental practices
  • Communicating on all levels
  • Data analysis

Call Centre Manager

Affintiy
Stevenage
01.2012 - 09.2014
  • Roster/setting staff hours and breaks
  • Recording of sick and annual leave
  • Training of staff
  • Building Team morale
  • Ensuring clients are happy by operating call/feedback process
  • Maintaining team performance calls and messages
  • Interviewing new staff
  • Ensuring Key Performance Indicators are meet
  • Monitoring performance 24/7
  • Communicating on all levels
  • Data analysis
  • Set and managed performance benchmarks for call centre employees.
  • Developed strategic staff schedules to facilitate optimal coverage.
  • Monitored individual performance, providing coaching and training opportunities to struggling team members, improving customer service and colleague satisfaction.

TICKETING MANAGER

Saracen Rugby Club
12.2006 - 10.2012
  • Coordinated hand-over with outgoing Ticket Manager and successor in Group Sales role
  • Recognised and proved necessity for increase in staff: managed recruitment process and subsequently employed an additional two members of staff forming a team of four; trained, coached and mentored staff in ticketing protocols and customer services, exceeding expectations
  • Managed ticket stocks, coordinated staffing rotas, managed full- and part-time staff in office and stadium venues of Vicarage Road, Wembley Stadium, Twickenham
  • Achieved sales against targets of up to £45k
  • Provided input for website, ensured system updated and provided match-by-match reporting
  • Relocated office from Watford to St Albans, ensured IT and communications infrastructure met requirements
  • Rolled out membership packages, worked closely with marketing department to promote pre-match ticket sales
  • Undertook responsibility for staffing costs including benefits, uniforms, ticket stocks and had joint responsibility for match-day ticket revenue
  • Provided strategic input to budget planning, identified a number of scenarios to ensure sufficient budget for tournament tickets, promotional leaflets, etc.

BUILDING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

Saracens Rugby Club
01.2001 - 10.2012



  • Facilitated 48% customer satisfaction rating for AVIVA by managing customer reward competition, highest rating achieved from single reward exercise: assigned 20k tickets to AVIVA at minimum cost, ensured three-week distribution for all claimed tickets
  • Managed and optimised season ticket renewals, achieved Season ticket revenue targets of £400k in 6 weeks: contacted members regarding subscription undertook follow-up for non-renewals, identified issues, influenced and coaxed many to rethink decision
  • Identified and introduced new service for Platinum Members: offered personal service for provision of tickets, accepted out-of-hours requests for tickets and action following day; built relationship of trust such that six members provided credit card details and did not wish to receive invoices
  • Received congratulatory messages from corporate and private clients regarding ticket office teams' professional customer service levels: message available on request
  • To maintain customer expectations on the service they are paying for
  • Facilitated 8+ year membership extension: identified issue of non-renewal based on recent bereavement for man with young son, championed the award of one-year complimentary season ticket for the pair

GROUP SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Saracens Rugby Club
07.2006 - 12.2006
  • Assigned to Group Sales with responsibility for increasing ticket sales
  • Met with local schools and rugby clubs to determine how Saracens could assist in increasing sales through these third party outlets
  • Initiated 20% discount and raised profile by introducing the Saracens mascot at the club's premises.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Saracens Rugby Club
12.2005 - 07.2006
  • Provided administrative assistance to 25 office staff, including CEO and PA, Corporate Hospitality, Marketing, Community, Ticket Office, Media and Finance functions
  • Undertook responsibility for submitting CEO's expense claims, wrote and transcribed notes from meetings, booked training, processed orders
  • Managed stationery supplies, including ordering of membership packs, sourced suppliers and made recommendations on the basis of cost, lead time, etc.

ASSISTANT NURSERY NURSE

Old McDonalds Day Nursery
11.2004 - 11.2005
  • Undertook full-time employment in day nursery, provided assistance in caring for groups of eight children aged 2-4 years
  • Assisted experienced staff with snacks, sleeping periods and activities
  • Produced reports for staff handover and parents information.

MATCH DAY TICKET SALES

Saracens Rugby Club
01.2001 - 11.2005
  • Undertook responsibility on match days for ticket sales
  • Facilitated efficient collection of pre-ordered tickets and managed queue for unreserved tickets
  • Undertook responsibility for cash reconciliation for gate sales of up to £2k.

SWIMMING TEACHER, SPORTS COACH

Sport Space
01.1999 - 01.2002
  • Designed lesson plans for classes of six toddlers, up to twelve children and adults groups of up to four, ranging from beginners to intermediate.
  • Suggested safety initiatives and methods of poolside hazard prevention to safeguard all guests.
  • Inspired swimmers to develop consistent practice routines, consistently promoting health, strength and wellbeing.
  • Engaged, coached and inspired students of all ages to achieve swimming goals.
  • Maximised individual swimmer achievement, delivering personalised one-on-one coaching to boost progress.

Education

Certificate in Nursery -

Nursery Nursing
West Herts College
2003

Diploma - Sports Science

West Herts College
2000

Skills


  • MS Office; bespoke databases including Talent, Venuemaster
  • Customer relations
  • CRM
  • Report generation
  • Sales expertise
  • Complaint resolution
  • Training development aptitude
  • Multi-line phone talent
  • Key stakeholder relationship building
  • Administrative support
  • Recordkeeping strengths
  • Account management
  • Creative problem solving
  • Order fulfillment
  • Strategic sales knowledge
  • Customer rapport
  • Sales forecasting
  • Proficiency with CRM systems
  • Business development
  • Relationship-building and management
  • Converting leads

Accomplishments

  • Monetary Transactions - Handled cash, credit and automatic debit card transactions with 100% accuracy.
  • Customer Follow-up - Ensured that customers were satisfied with company products and services by doing purchase follow-up calls.
  • Conflict Resolution - Responsible for handling customer account inquiries, accurately providing information to ensure resolution of product/service complaints and customer satisfaction.
  • Product Promotion - Up-sold products and motivated customers to upgrade current product plans.
  • Resolved product issue through consumer testing.
  • Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
  • Supervised team of 40 staff members.
  • Increased revenue yearly
  • Developed a function within business which now brings in just under a million pounds.
  • Consumer Research - Effectively executed new marketing outlines based on market research data collected to reflect consumer interest on both tactical and strategic levels.

Interests

INTERESTS: , Family activities and socialising with friends. Walking my 3 dogs. Cooking and Baking

Timeline

Customer Engagement

IGD
01.2016 - Current

Business Development and Treatment Co-Ordinator

UK Dental Specialists
01.2015 - 01.2016

Telesales & Account Manager inc PA

UK Dental
09.2014 - 12.2014

Call Centre Manager

Affintiy
01.2012 - 09.2014

TICKETING MANAGER

Saracen Rugby Club
12.2006 - 10.2012

GROUP SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Saracens Rugby Club
07.2006 - 12.2006

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Saracens Rugby Club
12.2005 - 07.2006

ASSISTANT NURSERY NURSE

Old McDonalds Day Nursery
11.2004 - 11.2005

BUILDING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

Saracens Rugby Club
01.2001 - 10.2012

MATCH DAY TICKET SALES

Saracens Rugby Club
01.2001 - 11.2005

SWIMMING TEACHER, SPORTS COACH

Sport Space
01.1999 - 01.2002

Certificate in Nursery -

Nursery Nursing

Diploma - Sports Science

West Herts College
Gemma Preston