SME Commercial Sales Advisor

NFU Mutual; Royal Tunbridge Wells; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job description

Full Time position
Permanent Contract
Location: Tunbridge Wells Office
Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience, plus bonus and benefits

Introduction to NFU Mutual
NFU Mutual offers a wide range of products and services, including general insurance, life, pensions and investments and has been providing quality insurance for its customers for over 110 years. We carefully balance delivering excellent service to our customers whilst ensuring the business is run effectively. As a mutual, supporting our customers and paying their claims comes first. We are a top ten UK insurance company and the UK’s largest rural insurer, with an agency network of over 250 local offices.

About the Agency
As a local agency of NFU Mutual we deliver a first-class service, and sell their product range across our region, to customers old and new, who are at the core of everything we do. We are a business where honesty, integrity, and trust are at the heart of our values. We champion the personal approach to customer service that NFU Mutual are famous for.

An exciting opportunity has now arisen within the Tunbridge Wells & Flimwell Agency.

About the role:
This is a new and exciting opportunity for a driven and ambitious SME Commercial Sales Advisor to join our expanding sales team. The successful candidate will be expected to proactively build and manage their own book of business, with a focus on local and surrounding SME businesses. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on new business generation, is confident in engaging with decision-makers, and can work autonomously to drive growth across key local sectors. These include motor trade, manufacturing, building and allied trades, property owners, retail, wholesalers, and fleet.

This role supports the agency’s growth strategy and NFU Mutual’s three strategic objectives:

1. To deliver sustainable, profitable growth
2. To be a great company to do business with
3. To be a great place to work

Key Responsibilities

1. New Business Development: Identify, contact, and convert new business opportunities within the SME commercial sector. Build your own sustainable and profitable client base across the local area.
2. Sales Planning & Prospecting: Conduct research into local businesses, market conditions, and competitors to identify and approach prospective customers. Use insight to develop and deliver a consistent sales pipeline.
3. Client Engagement: Understand clients’ individual business needs and provide tailored insurance solutions using NFU Mutual’s range of general insurance products.
4. Cross-Selling & Collaboration: Identify opportunities to refer clients to other NFU Mutual services such as Financial Services (Protection, Pensions, Investments), Risk Management Services, and Health & Safety Consultancy.
5. Agency Marketing & Community Engagement: Support the delivery of local marketing activity, including attendance at shows, events, and local networking opportunities to build your profile and the agency's brand.
6. Customer Experience: Deliver exceptional service standards at every stage of the customer journey, always meeting or exceeding expectations.
7. Compliance & Quality Standards: Ensure all activity complies with NFU Mutual’s regulatory requirements and Training & Competence scheme. Maintain accurate and compliant records of customer interactions and advice given.
8. Continuous Learning: Take responsibility for your ongoing development, keeping up to date with product knowledge, market changes, and compliance expectations.
9. Teamwork & Agency Contribution: Work collaboratively with colleagues across the agency to contribute to the overall success and customer experience.
10. Other Duties: Undertake any additional tasks as required by the Managing Partner or line manager to support the agency’s operations and objectives.

About you:
Essential:

1. Proven ability to generate and convert new business leads
2. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
3. Strong initiative and the ability to work independently and proactively
4. High levels of personal integrity, professionalism, and resilience
5. Good IT literacy, including use of Microsoft Office and internal systems (e.g., iFaces, iAchieve, Insights)
6. Strong customer service and relationship-building skills
7. Ability to understand and meet customer needs with bespoke insurance solutions
8. Good local knowledge of the business landscape is advantageous

Desirable:

1. Experience in commercial insurance sales
2. Knowledge of NFU Mutual’s products and approach
3. Cert CII or equivalent insurance qualifications (or working towards)

Performance Expectations

1. Delivery of agreed sales targets and KPIs
2. High standards of advice quality and customer outcomes
3. Proactive contribution to team initiatives and marketing campaigns
4. Effective time management and pipeline development
5. Compliance with NFU Mutual’s regulatory and conduct requirements

Our commitment to you:
• A supportive and friendly working environment
• Full Training & Development will be provided which includes technical knowledge, Sales soft skills with the opportunity of a funded CERT CII qualification.

Benefits

1. 25 days holiday plus bank holiday (after 4 years’ service an additional day a year up to a maximum of 5 days). In addition we provide 2 additional days holiday over the Christmas period
2. Benenden Health
3. 15 days working from home flexibility
4. Free parking in front of the office
5. Group Life Cover – 4 x salary
6. Eyecare cover
7. Unlimited access to Refer a Friend bonus scheme
8. Employee discounts on a range of NFU Mutual insurance policies
9. Pension contributions

Please apply in writing with CV and covering letter to: [e-mail] 01892 337488.

We will keep recruitment information (including interview notes) for no longer than is reasonable, and this is generally for a period of 6 months, after which they will be destroyed.

Please note you will be employed by an Agent of NFU Mutual and not NFU Mutual directly.

Whatever your role, as a key member of your agency team, you’ll enjoy the chance to develop your insurance industry knowledge and skills and build a rewarding career. For most roles you won’t necessarily need an insurance background. It’s more about your personal qualities – your ability to learn quickly, develop strong working relationships with a range of different people and give customers excellent service, with trusted advice and products.

Bring these qualities and you’ll be supported with a full range of training and development opportunities so you can build the career you want. These include the chance to gain an apprenticeship, as well as support to study for professional qualifications and full training in all aspects of the insurance industry.