Barratt Southern Counties appoints new Sales Director

Guildford-based housebuilder Barratt Southern Counties has appointed a new Sales and Marketing Director, who has taken over responsibility for its sites across the Home Counties including Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex. Kimberley Benson will be responsible for leading the sales function and implementing marketing strategies across the division.

“What attracted me to the role was the ability to take the next step in my career and take on new challenges in the Home Counties,” she says. “I have grown with Barratt my entire career, working across the UK and most recently in London, which has allowed me to develop invaluable skills that can be brought to the role at Southern Counties division.”

Kimberley Benson joined Barratt’s ASPIRE Graduate Programme in 2010 at BDW West Scotland, which involved two years of rotations offering experience within various departments. After completing the programme, and with a newfound passion for sales, Kimberley became a Field Sales Manager and within six months was promoted to Sales Manager.

“I joined Barratt at an exciting time, as it was the first time since the financial crash that buyers had confidence in the market again,” she recalls. “The ASPIRE Graduate Programme equipped me with a variety of transferable skills and I quickly developed a passion for selling homes. Working in West Scotland initially, I was fortunate to work on a number of schemes such as Highgrove Park, Newton Mearns & Ladykirk Place, Monkton before transferring to BDW East Scotland in 2014 which offered the opportunity to explore a different side to the Scottish market.”

In 2015, Kimberley’s career took a further step forward after she was selected to second to Barratt PLC Group functions for a year. Here, Kimberley worked with a team on a Business Process Review project, which focused on the implementation of widespread efficiencies across the sales function and processes.

Kimberley adds: “This was a turning point for me, as I was able to gain experience at a much broader level and work with internal and external stakeholders across the UK. I was able to share my knowledge, develop best practice strategies and shape the future operation of the sales function with my colleagues nationally, which I really enjoyed.”

Such was the success of Kimberley’s year at Barratt PLC Group, she was then offered a permanent role within the Barratt London Regional Team in 2017. Her role focused on standardising the then-three London divisions, and aligning with Group processes and procedures. “It was daunting making the move to London, but it was an excellent challenge and a fantastic opportunity for personal growth” Kimberley adds.

In 2018, Kimberley was promoted once again and joined the Barratt West London team as a Senior Sales Manager. Here, Kimberley was responsible for the day to day running of the sales operation and worked on flagship schemes in the capital including the 2000-home Hendon Waterside regeneration and Western Circus, Acton.

“I was excited to take on the role of Senior Sales Manager, as it allowed me to use the vast knowledge I had gained in previous years and get back into the operational side of a busy division,” Kimberley says. “The London market is extremely exciting, and I thrived working in such a fast-paced environment. When the pandemic hit and led to a property market shutdown, we adapted and developed forward-thinking strategies to ensure we continued to support our purchasers and use technology to our advantage.”

Kimberley was appointed Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt Southern Counties in July 2021 and is already embracing the new opportunity.

Kimberley comments: “The property market is buzzing with activity and I suspect this will continue in the Home Counties. Whilst pockets in counties such as Surrey and Sussex have always been desirable to families escaping to the country, the pandemic has shaken up the buyer profile and we are seeing increasing numbers of first time buyers swapping the traditional city pad for a smaller house in the suburbs

“We know that buyers’ priorities have switched, and we are adapting our schemes to suit these needs, such as incorporating greater access to green spaces and the outdoors, and designing more adaptable homes to accommodate flexi-living.”

Barratt Southern Counties has a number of new developments planned to launch over the next six months, including a 175-home scheme in Angmering, East Sussex, and 153 homes in Wokingham, Berkshire. Both developments have been planned with sustainability in mind, with features such as electric vehicle charging points, photo voltaic (PV) panels, and ecological additions such as integrated custom-design swift bricks and sparrow nest boxes.