Members of the Institute of Sales Professionals (ISP) are being urged to contact their MPs to promote the importance of business-to-business selling skills to the growth of the UK’s economy.
As Britain looks to develop more trade deals around the world, the country needs skilled businesspeople to get those deals over the line. In their recent campaign the Department for International Trade has highlighted the need to sell British goods and services abroad, with the slogan: “Made in the UK. Sold to the world.”
Discussing the campaign at a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Professional Sales the chair, Mark Pawsey MP, called on sales leaders to contact his colleagues at Westminster to bang the drum for professional selling.
Mark advised that the way to drive change, and to make sure this vital part of the economy was understood at the heart of government, was to call for meetings with local MPs and ask them to join him on the all-party group and become parliamentary ambassadors for the selling profession.
During the video meeting on Tuesday 23 November, Mark said: “I need all of you, on this call, to engage with your MPs and tell them why the issues that we discuss in this forum are important, and why they need to be present at this meeting, hearing about the challenges that businesses are facing, in terms of getting the esteem of sales and getting good, capable people selling in export markets… We need you, and your clients, and other people to do that.”
A minister from the Department for International Trade (DIT) was due to attend the meeting but unfortunately could not be present. Instead, Mark Pawsey and representatives from the ISP will invite them to a subsequent meeting of the APPG or ask to meet at the DIT to discuss selling in global markets, and the support needed to help UK businesses make a success of our international trade deals.
The need for selling expertise is particularly acute amongst the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises, and ISP fellow, Richard Brooks, chief executive officer of K International, shared the results of his SME survey looking at their requirements for sales development and support.
Richard is leading the push by the ISP to bring the sales needs of SMEs to the attention of MPs, government ministers and other business organisations.
If you want help to get in touch with your MP to promote the case for professional, ethical selling, and why it matters to the UK, please contact ISP director and fellow Guy Lloyd at appgsales@the-isp.org