If you have had a successful career in retail but are now on the hunt for your next challenge, you might be surprised to learn that your skill set makes you well-suited to a role in the drainage sector. 

Customer service, communication and problem solving may not be the first attributes to come to mind when you think about maintaining the UK’s drains, but they are all skills we look for in new recruits.  

Whether you fancy trying an office-based position or love the variety of being up and about all day, Lanes Group has a wide variety of roles available that would benefit from the skills developed while working in retail. 

As the largest independent drainage specialist in the UK, we are committed to providing a rewarding working environment for all our employees. We are looking for talented people with a can-do attitude, even if you have no experience in the drainage sector; thanks to our industry-leading training, there might be a role for you at Lanes. 

Below, we will outline some of the transferable skills you will have developed during your time in retail and the many ways they would make you a great candidate for a career within the drainage sector:

Customer Service 

If you have ever experienced any kind of home emergency, including a drainage or flooding issue you will know how stressful it can be, and this is the same for our customers. 

Every day our team deals with thousands of customers who have had their lives disrupted as a result of a problem with their drainage system, and are relying on us to help them. No matter a person’s role, we expect our whole team to be able to chat with our customers and keep them informed about the work we are carrying out. 

Just like in retail, our business relies on the relationship our staff can build with customers. If you've loved this element of your previous roles, you could be a really strong candidate for a role at Lanes. 

Interpersonal Skills 

Whether you are requesting additional parts or need more information to help understand what solution you need to propose, interpersonal skills are so important. 

It doesn’t matter if you are based in our offices throughout the UK or spend your working days on the road, it is vital that you are able to communicate effectively with your colleagues and customers. 

While Lanes Group can train you to do many aspects of your role, interpersonal skills are something that can’t be taught. That is why we are always on the lookout for candidates who are able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people in lots of different situations. 

Problem Solving 

Our staff are often called upon to resolve a broad range of issues for our clients. Whatever the problem, we rely on our team to think critically and work quickly and efficiently to get things back on track. 
Being able to think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions is a skill we really value in our workforce. In our experience, those who have spent their career in customer-facing roles are usually well suited to this element of the business. 

Flexible Working

Just like in the retail sector, those working in the drainage industry must be open to flexible working and willing to sometimes work unsociable hours. 

The nature of the industry means that staff must expect that there will be times they are rotated to work evenings and weekends. We also have a reduced staff working on holidays to ensure that we can always help customers when they need us. 

Despite this, as a business we understand how important it is to spend time with your family and friends, and this is why we offer flexible shift patterns to meet a variety of personal needs. 

At Lanes Group we are always looking for customer-focused candidates to join our team. If you are ready for a change of career and want to learn some new skills, check out our current vacancies and get in touch today. 

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