Exciting new challenge for ambitious duo at Salop Leisure

Josh Davenport, 20, who has worked in the company’s busy accessory shop for nearly four years, has been promoted to touring caravan sales executive. His place in the accessory shop has been taken by Steven Jones, 23, who has switched from the accounts team after 18 months.

Josh, who has achieved a level two National Vocational Qualification in leisure activities, is looking forward to the new challenge, having impressed the company with the number of awning sales he made at a caravan show held at the NEC in Birmingham last year.

“Managing director Mark Bebb told me to keep my head down and work hard and now I have been rewarded,” he said. “I really enjoy working for Salop Leisure because it’s such a friendly place and I want to grow with the company.”

Steven, a sports science graduate of Aberystwyth University, is looking forward to his new sales role, having gained valuable experience in the accounts department. During his time with the business, he worked on caravans parks as a student before joining the accounts team as a trainee.

“I’m looking forward to developing my career with the company, who have been very good to me since I was a student,” he said. “It’s a very good company to work for.”

Salop Leisure runs in Steven’s family, as both his father, Glyn and brother, Chris, also work for the company as ground maintenance engineer and static after sales engineer respectively.

Salop Leisure’s chairman Tony Bywater said: “It has always been our policy to promote talented young people from within the company wherever possible. Both Josh and Steven are good example as they are both ambitious to develop their careers at Salop Leisure.”

Mr Bywater is passionate about providing employment opportunities for young people and wholeheartedly supports the company’s apprenticeship and training programme. The company employs eight apprentices and advocates placing them with experienced members of staff who can share their knowledge, skills and life experiences.

“We have always believed in training and developing our own young people who get to know the business from an early age, take pride in it and turn out to be valuable assets to the company,” said Mr Bywater, a Shropshire Council business ambassador.

“Our apprenticeship and training programme is paying massive dividends and I would like to see other employers in Shropshire follow our example by giving young people an opportunity to work, which will benefit their businesses in the long term.”