A SALES academy set up in the region to help plug an impending skills shortage has enlisted its first recruits.

About ten salespeople from the North-East have signed up to the Sales Training Academy, which aims to help develop the skills and abilities needed for people starting out in a sales role.

The scheme will bring together leading industry figures, business mentors and employers to help to ensure the region has an accomplished sales workforce into the future.

The Sales Training Academy programme starts with a two-day residential boot camp and is followed by three months of one-to-one coaching and business mentoring.

Tony Weightman, director of the academy, said: "As well as helping delegates, the programme also goes that one step further and engages with and supports their managers so that each individual can return to the workplace and put their new skills into practice.

"This means that candidates' progress, or alternatively, areas which need further assistance, can be easily identified and focused upon to get the best out of them."