ESTADIA, the Yeovil sales development company recently crowned best South Somerset New Business, is embarking on a new apprenticeship scheme with Strode College.

The link-up with the Street college will make it the first provider in the South West to deliver sales apprenticeships.

This will help 16 to 18-year-olds to secure positions with local companies in sales roles and to develop over 18 months with the support of both Estadia and the College.

Estadia is still basking in the glory of two accolades in the Business of the Year awards organised by Somerset Chamber of Commerce.

It was named South Somerset New Business of the Year and placed third in the overall Somerset Business of the Year category for up to five employees.

Estadia, which now operates from the Innovation Centre on Barracks Close, was formed in 2007 by Richard Palmer, using his extensive sales and marketing background.

He began working from home, focusing on assisting companies to gain the maximum profit through developing their sales strategy and sales team.

He then took a suite at Yeovil Innovation Centre and employs five staff, all with extensive knowledge and experience, from business to business sales, through retail and into customer service.

The company is currently implementing a new project on behalf of a customer to provide an international in-bound call centre to support a global product launch in December.

Estadia works with businesses of all sizes and from all sectors, to improve their sales, delivering bespoke and off the shelf solutions.