Last summer, Business Management student Luke Hurst joined Brisant Secure on a year-long placement as part of his degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. Over the past 12 months, Luke has been right at the heart of our sales team, working with customers on the phones, supporting campaigns, visiting showrooms, and even representing Brisant at FIT Show 2025.
Now, as his placement comes to an end, Luke reflects on his time with Brisant and what he’s learnt from a year in the industry.
When Luke joined the sales department, he was most looking forward to gaining real sales experience and testing himself in new situations. “The reality was even better than I expected,” he says. “It was fast-paced, Alex encouraged me to be hands-on, and it was more rewarding than I could have imagined.”
His day-to-day role involved speaking to new and existing customers, following up on leads, and supporting internal sales processes. He also liaised with colleagues to manage stock, quotes, and orders whilst keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes.
Luke’s placement coincided with some of Brisant’s busiest periods, including the company’s highest ever revenue months. “It was motivating and rewarding,” he recalls. “I could see how my work directly contributed, and it felt great to be part of the team during a record-breaking time.”
Standout moments included helping to win new accounts through campaigns (accounts that have since grown into some of Brisant’s top performers) and receiving positive customer feedback. “Hearing directly from customers, like Philip Whear, about the service I provided was a real highlight,” Luke adds.
Luke’s placement wasn’t just office-based. He also visited customers at their showrooms and joined the team at FIT Show 2025, where he met many trade professionals in person.
“Meeting some of my accounts face to face, like UPVC Maintenance, was a brilliant experience,” he explains. “Visiting customers like Paul Leeke from Window Repairs Pembrokeshire gave me a much deeper understanding of how Brisant products are used day-to-day. It was more personal than just phone or email contact and helped me build stronger relationships.”
He credits his time on the road with regional sales managers Ryan and Charlotte as particularly valuable. “I learnt a huge amount from seeing how they interact with customers and build long-term trust.”
Luke quickly noticed which Brisant products generated the most excitement with customers. Ultion ALPS and the 1 Star Plus cylinder stood out for their reputation in security, while Sweet door furniture won praise for both durability and design. The Ultion Nuki smart lock also attracted growing interest, showing how smart tech is shaping homeowner demand.
He also saw how installers positioned these products to homeowners. “They frame them as future-proof and long-term investments, focusing on convenience, peace of mind, and reliability,” he says.
On security standards, Luke noted that trade conversations regularly touched on new attack methods. “Customers often asked why certain standards had come in and wanted reassurance that Brisant products stay ahead,” he explains. “There’s something that Brisant does better than most and that’s keeping innovation and testing at the forefront.”
From a trade perspective, Luke believes Brisant stands apart through relentless innovation and a genuine security-first approach. “It’s also about the strong one-to-one relationships,” he says. “Customers know they can come to Brisant with anything and they’ll be supported.”
Looking back, he was most surprised by the level of loyalty customers show once they trust a brand, and how close those supplier-client relationships can become.
Reflecting on his time with the team, Luke says: “The supportive, collaborative atmosphere made a huge difference. I had the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues and felt like I was part of a company making a real impact in the industry. I don’t think I would have had this level of trust and experience anywhere else.”
Brisant would like to thank Luke for his hard work and enthusiasm throughout the year. We wish him all the best for the rest of his studies and beyond, and look forward to seeing his future career take shape.