Buying and Merchandising L4 Apprentice

QD COMMERCIAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

Norwich (NR3 1TX)

Closes on Friday 31 October 2025

Posted on 18 September 2025

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Summary

We are seeking a proactive, analytical and detail-oriented individual to provide essential trading support within our retail trading team. This role involves assisting the trading team and supporting the management of stock levels, sales performance, and margin targets in line with budget constraints.

• Wage:

  £13,741 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

  National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  N/A

• Training course: Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)
• Hours: Working hours will be discussed at the interview stage .

  35 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 17 November 2025

• Duration:

  1 year 6 months

• Positions available:

  2

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

• Work alongside Category Managers in monitoring and managing stock levels, sales performance, and profit margins in alignment with budgetary targets
• Support the review and analysis of both seasonal and core product ranges to improve efficiency and profitability
• Creating Sales plans and forecasts for stores and suppliers 
• Participate in supplier and internal meetings, ensuring timely completion of all follow-up actions, working alongside internal and external supply teams
• Support category managers in Range Reviews, Presentations and merchandising strategies
• Coordinate with internal departments to facilitate the successful delivery of cross-functional projects

Where you'll work

110 - 112
Barrack St
Norwich
NR3 1TX

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

SCL EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Uses their market/industry knowledge to contribute to new product development and innovation
• Contributes to the building of customer focused ranges to meet the brand identity of the business
• Ensures product quality and legal compliance by working within industry standards, regulations and legislation to source, purchase and sell goods
• Ensures accurate implementation of the critical path prioritising actions accordingly
• Negotiates in a manner that balances the need for a sound financial return, with the need to operate ethically, honestly and fairly
• Monitors agreed performance targets with suppliers to manage ongoing supplier relationships
• Applies the organisation strategy to buying and/or merchandising to ensure strategic objectives are met
• Applies an ethical and sustainable approach to the buying and merchandising process in line with policies and procedures to achieve legal compliance
• Ensures the agreed route to market is delivered and maintained successfully so that objectives are met
• Works with external and internal departments (for example, marketing, distribution, suppliers) to build relationships to drive sales activity and support the delivery of the business objectives across all channels
• Uses data to support decisions to influence both the strategic and operational direction of the buying and/or merchandising approach.
• Demonstrates accurate application of systems in analysing data (for example, customer trends, buying patterns, stock rotation and levels)
• Evaluates commercial performance to support proposed actions for both good and poor product performers
• Demonstrates anticipation of customer buying and product patterns to forecast future demand
• Articulates relevant ideas and opinions towards trends and competitor activity so that opportunities may be identified
• Applies customer profile/trend data to inform the development of a range, products and services
• Formulates and communicates customer propositions
• Develops self and individuals to improve personal and team performance and capability
• Demonstrates commercial buying and merchandising within a financial framework
• Operates in a manner that produces the required financial rate of return for the business
• Coaches and mentors new/less experienced colleagues
• Analyses and presents business data to support achievement of business strategies, brand and KPIs
• Ensures effective stock management to support the delivery of the sales and profit forecasts
• Uses their market/industry knowledge to contribute to new product development and innovation
• Contributes to the building of customer focused ranges to meet the brand identity of the business
• Ensures product quality and legal compliance by working within industry standards, regulations and legislation to source, purchase and sell goods
• Ensures accurate implementation of the critical path prioritising actions accordingly
• Negotiates in a manner that balances the need for a sound financial return, with the need to operate ethically, honestly and fairly
• Monitors agreed performance targets with suppliers to manage ongoing supplier relationships
• Applies the organisation strategy to buying and/or merchandising to ensure strategic objectives are met
• Applies an ethical and sustainable approach to the buying and merchandising process in line with policies and procedures to achieve legal compliance
• Ensures the agreed route to market is delivered and maintained successfully so that objectives are met
• Works with external and internal departments (for example, marketing, distribution, suppliers) to build relationships to drive sales activity and support the delivery of the business objectives across all channels
• Uses data to support decisions to influence both the strategic and operational direction of the buying and/or merchandising approach.
• Demonstrates accurate application of systems in analysing data (for example, customer trends, buying patterns, stock rotation and levels)
• Evaluates commercial performance to support proposed actions for both good and poor product performers
• Demonstrates anticipation of customer buying and product patterns to forecast future demand
• Articulates relevant ideas and opinions towards trends and competitor activity so that opportunities may be identified
• Applies customer profile/trend data to inform the development of a range, products and services
• Formulates and communicates customer propositions
• Develops self and individuals to improve personal and team performance and capability
• Demonstrates commercial buying and merchandising within a financial framework
• Operates in a manner that produces the required financial rate of return for the business
• Coaches and mentors new/less experienced colleagues

Training schedule

The successful candidate will gain a L4 in buying and merchandising, they will have full on-the-job training with the employer as well as 20 % off-the-job training. They will also have a wraparound support system through SCL Education.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• Maths (grade 4)
• English (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Analytical skills
• Team working
• Initiative

Other requirements

Ideal Candidate: • GCSE English/maths Level 4 or above then A Level in maths, Business or Economics or other relevant qualification. • Good I.T skills • Retail experience

About this employer

QD Group is a family-owned business with 21 garden center's, including 18 Cherry Lanes, 31 QD Stores, and Lathams of Potter Heigham. The role is based at our Norwich office. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual .

After this apprenticeship

The apprentice can progress to a L6 once they have completed their L4 Buying and Merchandising qualification.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SCL EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000342886.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 31 October 2025

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