Apprentice Buyer

This is a great opportunity to learn how businesses source and buy products and services to operate effectively. You’ll work with suppliers, compare prices and options, help manage orders, and build strong professional relationships, developing valuable communication, negotiation, and commercial skills.

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working, learning on the job by getting hands-on experience.

Requirements

• GCSE in: English (grade C/4 or above)
• GCSE in: Maths (grade C/4 or above)
• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Want to learn and progress in a fast-working environment, with a team-working mentality

Responsibilities

• Sourcing of materials and services
• Cost negotiation
• Procurement
• Raising purchase orders
• Management of budgets
• Problem solving
• Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation
• Produces accurate records and documents
• Makes recommendations for improvements and presents solutions to management
• Drafts correspondence, writes reports and reviews others' work
• Maintains records and files, handling confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures
• Coaches others in the processes required to complete tasks
• Exercises proactivity and good judgement
• Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and deals with challenges in a mature way
• Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate
• Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation
• Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately
• Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills
• Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms
• Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively
• Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately
• Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately
• Answers questions from inside and outside the organisation, representing the organisation or department
• Completes tasks to a high standard
• Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise and continuously improves their work
• Reviews processes autonomously and makes suggestions for improvements
• Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation
• Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints
• Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time to meet deadlines
• Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example
• Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice
• Manages resources (e.g. equipment or facilities)
• Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs
• Takes responsibility for logistics (e.g. travel and accommodation)
• Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report
• Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects
• Undertakes and leads projects as and when required