Trade Sales and Service Apprentice
Howdens
Braintree (CM77 8YJ)
Closes in 13 days (Monday 4 August 2025)
Posted on 21 July 2025
Contents
Summary
At Howdens, we’re proud to be one of the UK’s leading apprenticeship employers, and we’re looking for enthusiastic, proactive people to join our apprenticeship programme and become an integral part of our depot teams.
- Wage
-
£15,704 a year
- Training course
- Trade supplier (level 2)
- Hours
-
Varied. Monday - Friday.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 18 August 2025
- Duration
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1 year
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- Learn how to deliver exceptional service and build strong relationships with trade customers both in person and over the phone
- Build skills in serving and selling to customers on the trade counter, and ensuring customers receive their products in a timely and efficient manner
- Gain product knowledge and develop the ability to advise customers on our kitchen, bedroom and joinery ranges, identifying new sales opportunities, and helping to drive the growth of the depot.
- Learn the principles of stock control and warehousing, ensuring stock levels are accurately maintained, and following all health and safety regulations
- Grow your confidence and communication skills as part of a close-knit team in a fast-paced depot environment
- Be supported to complete your Level 2 Trade Supplier Apprenticeship, including English and maths if required
Where you'll work
Unit 1 Business Park
3 Charter Way
Braintree
CM77 8YJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
DIDAC LIMITED
Training course
Trade supplier (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s: communicating confidently to internal and external customers about the company and how it operates
- Knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s: identifying and communicating with the relevant person if a threat or risk to the business is identified
- specialist trade customer profile of the business: using appropriate techniques and forms of communication to put customers at ease and gain their trust.
- specialist trade customer profile of the business: delivering customer service that exceeds customer expectations
- specialist trade customer profile of the business: identifying customer requirements and referring them onwards in an appropriate manner
- trade counter and telesales services: assisting customers in exploring product ranges and alternative and complementary products and services, based on the fundamental underpinning product knowledge
- trade counter and telesales services: identifying the customers’ requirements, matching them to the trade supplier’s products and services
- trade counter and telesales services: delivering accurate product information, to enable the customer to make a decision on products and services and know how to access the detailed technical specification of a product when required.
- trade counter and telesales services: securing a trade sale using appropriate selling techniques, both face to face and on the telephone, and methods to complete the transaction.
- trade counter and telesales services: applying basic merchandising techniques used within the business.
- trade counter and telesales services: applying the key principles of selling in a trade supplier environment, using a variety of methods, which may include unique selling points, upselling, and link selling to secure and complete sales transactions.
- trade counter and telesales services: communicating with customers using various methods and systems appropriate to the situation
- trade counter and telesales services: applying the key principles of administration and working practices to accurately prepare, store, communicate and process businesses documentation.
- trade counter and telesales services: processing information, to the key standards of data protection, security and intellectual property rights.
- key principles of warehousing and stock control: processing and recording the receipt, storage, assembly and despatch of goods.
- key principles of warehousing and stock control: receiving stock, despatching customer orders and processing returns in line with company processes.
- key principles of warehousing and stock control: loading /unloading of supplier and contractor vehicles
- technologies that are appropriate to the role: using technology appropriately and efficiently in line with business policy, e.g. PoS (point of sale) machines, PCs
- technologies that are appropriate to the role: demonstrating the use of various technologies, e.g. bespoke/in house or off the shelf software packages to others.
- legislative responsibilities relating to the business, products and/or services being sold: complying with legal requirements to minimise risk and build customer confidence.
- legislative responsibilities relating to the business, products and/or services being sold: minimising disruption to the business and maintaining the safety and security of people at all time
- legislative responsibilities relating to the business, products and/or services being sold: taking appropriate action if a breach of H&S regulations is identified.
- personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: building two-way trust and contribute to working within a team
- personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: collaborating with colleagues to resolve problems.
- personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: managing personal performance by completing tasks to agreed standards and timescales and by taking action to resolve problems and communicating issues beyond own level of competence.
- personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: demonstrating effective time management through planning and prioritising own workload.
- personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: identifying own strengths, weaknesses and development needs.
Training schedule
Training will be through a mix of on-the-job experience and off-the-job learning. As well as support from a mentor, depot team, learning and development team and external apprenticeship training provider.
More training information
Apprencticeship training to be provided by Didac, a national training provider. Your trainer assessor will give training one day per calendar month either face to face in depot or on Teams call. Alongside this, support through phone and email will be avaliable inbetween visits.
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Customer care skills
- Independent working
- Genuine interest and passion
About this employer
owdens Joinery is the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier, trusted by over 460,000 trade professionals. With more than 900 depots and a growing presence across Europe, we’re a business built on entrepreneurial spirit and strong local relationships. At Howdens, we’re committed to being worthwhile for all concerned. We aim to create an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone can thrive.
Company benefits
Your hard work and commitment won’t go unnoticed. As a Howdens apprentice, you’ll receive: Paid holiday entitlement A matched contribution pension scheme Team incentives and social events Generous staff discount on Howdens products
After this apprenticeship
Completing this apprenticeship opens doors to a variety of career opportunities across Howdens, with in-house Learning and Development programmes to support your progression. Many of our past apprentices have progressed into roles such as:
- Trade Counter Salesperson
- Business Developer
- Kitchen Sales Designer
- Depot Management Roles
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DIDAC LIMITED
Elaine
Elaine.stanley@didac.co.uk
08007734230
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000332820.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Monday 4 August 2025)
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