Stephen Balfe

Expertise

Summary

Experience

• The HR People

  Business Development Director

  6 - 20 Employees 2021 - Current

  

  The HR People is your commercial HR partner that occupies the space where business and people overlap.

   

  We deliver outstanding outsourced HR that is a part of your business. We are your partners in HR, the expects on your side and the people to empower your people.

   

  We’re knowledgeable, human, and original. Your bang-up-to-date leaders, coaches and thinkers.

  
  We’re in the know on compliance, but straight-talking, approachable and 100% commercial in action.

   

  Inspired and driven, yet ready to listen, tailor and evolve to suit your business’s individual needs and ambitions.

   

  Your partners in success. Why? Because we know the right HR support does so much more than provide peace of mind – it’s the secret of commercial success. And we can’t wait to show you exactly how.

   

  We’re your critical friend, challenging you with support to achieve success.

   

  We’re not risk adverse, we provide the best advice, guidance and support that fits your business.

   

  You have a designated team that tailors our approach to your culture.

   

  We’re accountable and outcome led, becoming a growth driver in your business.

   

  We scale our resource with transparent pricing, whether the business is booming or your facing some challenges, we’re by your side.

   

  We’re passionate about ensuring the value we bring is far greater than any fee you pay.

• Avensure Ltd

  Senior Consultant

  21 - 100 Employees 2012 - 2021

  Avensure provides outsourced HR, Employment law and Health & Safety professional services alongside SaaS software to businesses across the UK.

   

  Initially I was employed by the directors to help develop this new start-up company. I was attracted to working at a start-up company, due to the new challenges it would bring as there were no processes and reporting structures in place. This gave me an opportunity to develop business practices, products and pricing structures whilst taking great pride in developing the business through sales generation and conversion.

   

  Key Achievements:

  Helped shape and build the start of this business from the initial 3 employees through to the development of what has become ultimately a thriving and hugely successful business as it is today

  Delivered over £12m of new business revenue to date in less than 10 years
  Highly regarded seminar presenter
  Highly successful conversion rate (2:5 ave)
  Established network of referral partners driving self-generation
  Trained and supported new sales team members

   

  Responsibilities:
  My main role was to attend meetings with business owners, Directors including HR Directors as well as HR managers, boards and committees etc to evaluate their current HR and H&S infrastructure, provide guidance and ultimately to harmonise the professional services Avensure offer through my own knowledge and expertise through to the end goal to acquire a new valuable client. This consultative approach allows me to quickly build relationships and generate and close new business opportunities.

   

  As a public speaker I present and deliver events, seminars and training workshops ranging from a 30 minute slot to a whole 2 hour plus presentation for business owners, predominantly on HR and employment law, focusing on best practices with a pragmatic commercial approach to managing staff within the workplace. During the early growth and development of Avensure, I was also instrumental in hiring, training and mentoring new sales staff.

• Croner

  Senior Business Development Consultant

  100+ Employees 2011 - 2012

  

  Croner provides software (SaaS) alongside outsourced HR and Health and Safety professional services to businesses across the UK.

   

  I was contracted to evaluate and change their outdated and restrictive sales process, whilst also creating an environment that would engage with the sales team. My role included, developing their automated CRM system and training the sales team to adopt a consultative sales process that demonstrated the benefits of the support services offered as opposed to a solicitor style approach. When I did confirm my intention to leave, I was asked to stay on full time, but respectfully declined as I was excited at the prospect of moving into my new role with Avensure, who were a new start up business at the time.

   

  Key Achievements:
  Optimising their CRM system
  Training and upskilling the sales team
  Increasing sales

   

  Responsibilities:
  I was responsible for the overhauling of the sales process from beginning to end by evaluating the process, optimising the CRM system and training the sales team to successfully move to more efficient ways of working that produced an increase in the conversion of opportunities to sales.

• Peninsula Business Services Ltd

  Regional Team Manager

  100+ Employees 2004 - 2011

  Peninsula provides software (SaaS) alongside outsourced HR and Health and Safety professional services to businesses across the UK.

   

  I was employed by the business following my success at AquAid. I was initially hired as a senior sales consultant which was expanded into the role of North East Regional Team Manager.

   

  Achievements:
  Delivered an average of £1.4m of new business revenue per annum during my 7 years of employment
  Exceeded sales targets every sales quarter to achieve bonus
  Highly Successful conversion rate
  As a new starter, I achieved the quickest £1m of new business revenue during my first 7 months in the role
  Broke the company record for most new clients acquired in one week (10)
  Awarded best 'new comer' during my first full financial year as placing 3rd from 78 sales consultants
  Regularly awarded top achievers award
  Promoted to Sales Manager running the North East team of 12 sales consultants
  Increased the North east teams sales conversions through leadership
  Established network of referral partners driving self-generation
  Hosted and Presented a quarterly sales conference
  Developed a presence in the Isle of Man sold to 100 of only 560 businesses on the island
  Provide regular training to all sales consultant's via workshops during the quarterly sales conferences

   

  Responsibilities:
  My main role was to generate and close new business opportunities. I also created and managed introducer programs. I presented and delivered events, seminars and training workshops. My role as sales manager was to take an under-achieving sales team and bring them in line with the company’s expectations. As Sales Manager I was required to lead from the front, by achieving all sales targets whilst supporting and mentoring BDM’s to identify new business opportunities, and to over achieve on business targets.

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