A 24-year-old Trainee Sales Manager has credited her rapid rise in the new homes industry to the comprehensive training programme at her award-winning employer Spitfire Homes.
Alysha Spicer, from Warwick, joined the Midlands-based homebuilder immediately after finishing sixth-form in 2019, and spent dedicated, hands-on time working across key departments, building a more rounded view of how the business delivers for communities.
Alysha has now been a Trainee Sales Manager for 12 months, putting her wealth of learned knowledge and experience into practice while overseeing multiple sites across the region.
Underpinning Alysha’s growth is the exposure and experience she received during her formative years with the business.
Alysha commented: “I always describe my experience as being like a sponge. I go into every room – even now – ready and wanting to learn, and everybody at Spitfire emphasises the importance of this exposure.
“As a young person who came into the industry fresh with no knowledge of my role, the biggest benefit came from asking to sit in on Land meetings and Site meetings, to absorb as much information as I can.
“I’m very fortunate to have had two mentors in Guy Clapp and Matt Vincent, who throughout my time have encouraged my vulnerability. I’m not shy in saying where I’ve done things wrong – especially in an environment where mistakes are treated as opportunities to learn and grow.
I think that a trap many younger professionals can fall into is the need to always appear in control. When I first started my journey, I wasn’t expected to know everything, and took lessons from every interaction.”
Alysha, was assigned to at least one new Spitfire Homes collection each year, following her rotations across Land, Planning, Design, Technical, Commercial and Construction, and now oversees sales management of two design-led collections in Daventry and Coventry.
Key relationships have been fostered across the business, and Alysha credits the brand’s values and her passion for the product as driving factors spurring her to succeed.
Alysha added: “In sales, I want to show off everything – there is nothing to hide with a Spitfire home. We all love the properties and communities we are helping to cultivate, and the brand’s values of integrity, trust and honesty shine through everybody I speak to.
“Our Operations Director is very supportive of internal progression and always takes the time to go into great detail about why decisions have been taken. Being part of a closeknit team at Spitfire Homes has given me invaluable insight and direct exposure to the workings of senior management and present in the room for conversations I may not have elsewhere.
“The Trainee Sales Manager role wasn’t around when I was a Sales Consultant, but as soon as there was an opportunity for it, the business thought first about how it could train from within. I’m very grateful for that.”
In 2025, the homebuilder submitted planning application for 521 homes across a broader Midlands footprint, strengthening the pipeline and capacity for long-term delivery of exceptional sustainable properties.
As Spitfire continues to scale, following a 70% growth year-on-year, Alysha aims to embrace the greater responsibility that comes with a wider portfolio of collections.
Alysha concluded: “The most crucial thing for me is to always feel stretched and challenged, and that there is always room to grow. The business is set to experience exciting growth in the coming years and I’m confident that more opportunities for young talent will arise.
“Spitfire is the place for personal and professional development. Do something I love and have become genuinely passionate about is so important to me and everybody here is on the same journey together and understands how I tick.”
