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Hope Connolly spent years as a safari guide in the South African veld but is now on track for a successful career in house sales in the English countryside.

The 32-year-old, who has been back in the UK for four years, has been appointed as area sales manager for Bellway Eastern Counties, overseeing five developments across Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk.

Hope, from Greater London, is using skills she developed in three years as a safari guide to help her lead a team of five sales advisors.

They are based at Bellway’s The Ferns at Kennett Garden Village development in Cambridgeshire, at Ivy Hill in Bacton, Bronze Fields in Bury St Edmunds and Pinewood Grange in Stowmarket, all in Suffolk, and at Ashberry Homes’ Beaumont Park development in Great Dunmow, Essex. Ashberry Homes is part of the Bellway Group.

“I am very excited about the challenge ahead and have been taking the opportunity to visit the sales teams at all five sites as often as I can,” said Hope. “You can’t lead a team when you are sitting in front of a computer and stuck behind a desk, you have to get out there in the field and see what is going on.

“When you have overseen a truckful of tourists suddenly faced with a bull elephant looking poised to charge, problem-solving is a skill you have to develop in a hurry. Being a safari guide I learned how to organise things, anticipate problems, produce solutions and how to make sure that the customer gets the best experience and is happy with the service they have paid for.

“These are some of the skills I am bringing with me to this leadership role, where I will impress upon my team that our goal is to react to situations if they arise and always keep the customer happy. The best way to achieve this is for us to ensure that their house-buying journey, from first hello to our handing over the keys, is the best one we can provide.”

Hope began her working life in PR after leaving school, but became disillusioned with the world of words and took up a job with a housebuilder, selling homes in the London area.

“I am most definitely a people person, and I needed to be interacting with customers and to be trying to find out what they wanted and how best to give that to them,” said Hope. “I really loved my job but took a short sabbatical from work as all my friends had finished university and were enjoying a gap year. My three-month sabbatical turned into a four-year stint, including a year teaching English in Vietnam, but I always wanted to return home to pursue a career in house sales.”

Hope returned to the UK in 2021 and reconnected with her career in house sales. She took roles as a senior sales consultant then became head of sales and customer experience at a building supplies company.

“I am so grateful that Bellway have given me this opportunity to prove what I can do and put into practice all the learnings and experience I have gained since leaving school at 17,” she said.

“I am based at the divisional headquarters in Cambourne but am looking forward to spending as much time as I can out on site talking to my team, listening to them, coaching them and supporting them.

“I am determined to enable every member of my team to reach their potential and this in turn will allow us to hit our targets. My goal is that my team will be the best performing outfit at Bellway Eastern Counties and help the division move forward and achieve greater success.”

Mia Roussos, Sales Director at Bellway Eastern Counties said: “We had no hesitation in offering Hope the position as area sales manager at Bellway Eastern Counties. From day one she has shown the incredible enthusiasm, attention to detail and unstinting work ethic which we are sure will bring her success in the role.

“Her drive, initiative and love of the job shine through and she knows how to lead her team by setting a great example. We will be supporting Hope every step of the way as she strives to reach new heights in her chosen career.”

Bellway Eastern Counties is building new homes across Rutland, Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. For more information, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/eastern-counties.