Trade Counter Apprentice

DARLASTON BUILDERS MERCHANTS LIMITED

Wednesbury (WS10 7TN)

Closes on Thursday 27 August 2026

Posted on 23 July 2026

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Summary

A Trade Supplier Level 2 apprenticeship is a 12 month program designed to build both technical product knowledge and practical business skills. It equips you with the abilities required to operate at a trade counter and in a warehouse, facilitating the efficient flow of goods between manufacturers and skilled trade customers.

• Wage:

  £16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

  National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Starting Salary: Apprenticeship rate; Annual Leave: 28 days including bank holidays; ;

• Training course: Trade supplier (level 2)
• Hours: Monday to Friday: 8 00am- 5:00pm with 1hr break per day unpaid Saturdays: 8:00am- 5:00pm (day off in the week) Breaks: 30 minutes lunch + two short breaks

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Tuesday 1 September 2026

• Duration:

  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

Key Responsibilities:

Customer Service & Sales

• Assisting in processing sales and serve customers
• Giving excellent customer service and sound product advice

Till & EPOS Operation

• Cash Handling, operating a till
• Must be able to grasp the EPOS system

Telephone & Face‑to‑Face Interaction

Dealing with customers both face to face and over the telephone

Stock & Deliveries

• Restock products, maintain stock levels and carry out stock checks for audits
• Using the EPOS system to process deliveries

Sales Growth

Taking a proactive approach to building material sales, using every opportunity to make or increase a sale

Where you'll work

Darlaston Road Industrial Estate
Wednesbury
WS10 7TN

Training

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

Training provider

STAFF SELECT LTD

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

All Training will be delivered onsite at Darlaston Builders

 

More training information

Training & Development

Structured 12‑month traineeship covering:

• Product knowledge (bricks, blocks, aggregates, timber, civils, landscaping)
• EPOS and stock control systems
• Customer service and sales techniques
• Depot workflow and yard operations
• Shadowing senior trade counter staff and yard operatives

Progression Pathway:

Trade Counter Assistant → Trade Counter Supervisor

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (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
• Attention to detail
• Customer care skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Team working
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

Person Specification:

• Highly organised
• Confident communicator
• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Excellent attention to detail
• Good Microsoft/Excel skills
• Able to work to tight deadlines
• Excellent communication and customer service skills and be able to communicate at all levels

About this employer

Darlaston Builders Merchants are the largest and leading independent supplier of Building, Landscaping and Heavy-Side materials in the Midlands. Winning combination of Choice, Quality and Value for Money has enabled us to become one of the most competitive merchants in the Midlands, allowing more Customers and Trade to benefit from our Services.

https://www.dbmdiy.com/pages/builders-merchant-in-walsall (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Staff Discount: Available on building, landscaping, and DIY products
Free On‑Site Parking

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Progression Pathway:

• Trade Counter Assistant → Trade Counter Supervisor

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

STAFF SELECT LTD

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000044286.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 27 August 2026