“Today’s Field Team is Tomorrow’s Management Team”
We recognise that a strong management team is made up of individuals who have experienced being in the field and understand the ‘grass roots’ needs of our customers. To that end, we ensure every person joining FDS is given the support and training they need to succeed.
As a member of Investors in People, FDS is a keen developer of its people and looks to promote internally - knowing its future success is with the right people, with the drive to succeed. We also offer ideal opportunities for graduates looking to enter field sales or account management, or people looking for a career change from a sales or retail environment.
A further advantage of joining FDS is the wide range of markets we work in (such as Retail, Telecoms, Fast Moving Consumer Goods) and the variety of clients we work for (including Asda, Motorola, McVitie’s) – all of which means greater opportunity for you. A career in field marketing gives you almost two chances to be promoted - within FDS itself or to work directly for one our clients! We actively encourage both.
With your drive and commitment to succeed, FDS will help you identify career opportunities and support your development every step of the way.
Area Manager for InBev UK, Enterprise Account
"I joined FDS in October 2002 working as an Account Executive in the
head office in Whitstable. My role was to assist with various adhoc
campaigns, including T-Mobile, Renault, Pilkington, Staples and Sunsilk.
A year and a half later I joined the Interbrew (now InBev UK) account
team, which gave me good insight into how the office based contract
teams operate.
Seven months on I decided to further my career by moving into the field.
Working as a Field Marketing Executive for T-Mobile proved a great
career step, giving me essential hands-on knowledge, and leading to my
promotion to Area Manager on the InBev UK Enterprise account. This role
involves managing a team of nine part-time team Field Sales Executives
who visit on-trade accounts nationwide. I am involved with all aspects
of field personnel management as well as having significant client
contact.”
Field Client Services Manager for Paramount Home
Entertainment
"I started at FDS as a Campaign Executive on the T-Mobile account in
2002. My role was to promote new services, train store staff,
merchandise stands and record data in outlets like Dixon’s, Phones 4 U
and Woolworth’s. I also acted as the main liaison between the retailer
area managers and T-Mobile to further develop the network in my region.
Six months later I was promoted to Business Development Co-ordinator,
and my role was to work closely with T-Mobile and our 27-strong field
team to ensure we delivered a comprehensive range of training and field
marketing support for The Carphone Warehouse. This included ‘after
hours’ informal training sessions, in store selling & promotion days,
and liaison with retail management at store and area levels.
When PDQ, a sister company of FDS, won the Spinvox business in early
2005, I transferred to this account and was promoted to Client Services
Manager. Working with a new service in the telecommunications industry,
my role was to build a new team of 10 trainers to deliver specific
training and sales support across two major mobile phone retailers.
With this complete, I moved to the newly-won Paramount Home
Entertainment account as Field Client Services Manager, responsible for
managing seven part time area managers, 70 Field Consultants and an
office-based operations team. We provide in store merchandising,
promotional drive and retail support within Paramount’s key retailers to
ensure the latest releases are on display within a week of release.”
Client Services Director for United Biscuits
"My career at FDS began in 1998 as a part-time Training Consultant on
the One 2 One (now T-Mobile) account. This involved the promotion of One
2 One's new services, training store staff, and merchandising stands and
recording data in stores like Currys, Dixons and Woolworths. Two years
later I was promoted to Regional Field Manager, managing a team of both
part-time and full-time executives. FDS introduced a new Grocery
division to the One 2 One account at the end of 2000, and I was promoted
to National Field Manager with a team of 6 area managers. The role also
included client and supplier liaison in order to take specific projects
and tasks for the national team.
When FDS won the KP Snacks contract in 2003, I transferred to KP
National Field Manager, training and managing a team of 5 Area Managers
and 42 Field Sales Executives. Within a year this account developed to
encompass United Biscuits's full portfolio, and I was promoted to Client
Services Director, where I am responsible for the field marketing of the
KP, McVitie's and Jacobs brands within the Retail sector”.