Employee Spotlight - Ben Pickles, Corporate Sales Executive

I joined Watches of Switzerland Group PLC in February 2012, and I had never worked in the jewellery or watch industry before.

Within the WOSG, I had started in the Goldsmiths showroom, in the Bluewater Shopping Centre as a Sales Associate then transitioned to a Supervisor within my first year there and maintained that position, until my Regional Manager and Mentor at the time Ben Gates had transitioned into the Mappin & Webb. General Manager, where the corporate team is based. Through his recommendation I was able to go for the interview in August of this year. It’s now the job I’ve been looking for with a perfect mix of unbelievable experience and incomprehensible interaction.

The career progression within the company has been nothing but easy and genuine - I’ve felt valued the whole way through and not pressured. It’s with great thanks to my previous Manager Danielle Darroch who allowed me the freedom to discover opportunities within the business and enable me to find a role that’s better suited to my skills so I can grow as a man and an employee of the WOSG.

The business is one that I feel is a mine field, but in a good way! There is so many avenues for success and opportunities available if the colleague knows what they are looking for. Even if the colleague doesn’t know what they are looking for I think the Managers are well equipped to know what is possible and as they are in the unique position, in the fact that they know the colleague’s personality they are able to help navigate to find the correct role for the right person. I genuinely believe that everyone always has the best interests of the colleague. They understand that the work environment is the key to success personally and within the showroom.

The company in the three years I’ve been here has grown for me personally, as when I first started I wasn’t sure of the progression and the opportunities that this company could offer me as in my past employment there was minimal exposure to the ‘bigger picture.’ When I started, I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where I’d be in the next 5 years but thanks to the company’s belief in me I was enabled to find my passion in the Watches and Jewellery industry which led me to the corporate team for Mappin and Webb.