Buying Assistant Apprentice
BUY IT DIRECT LTD
Huddersfield, ( HD2 1UA.)
Closes in 31 days (Monday 20 July 2026)
Posted on 18 June 2026
Contents
Summary
What We’re Looking For • Passion for fashion, interiors, retail, or trends • Creative mindset with good attention to detail • Eager to learn and develop new skills • Good communication and teamwork • Basic Microsoft Office skills (or willingness to learn) • No buying experience needed, just enthusiasm, curiosity, and a positive attitude.
- Wage
-
£18,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
N/A
- Training course
- Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)
- Hours
-
TBC at the interview stage.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 17 August 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- 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
Duties include;
- Supporting Buyers with day-to-day admin tasks
- Updating product and supplier information accurately
- Managing spreadsheets, reports, and product data
- Communicating with suppliers through Teams and email
- Helping track product launches and delivery timelines
- Assisting with sales reports and data analysis
- Working with different teams, including Marketing and Merchandising
- Researching trends and competitor products
- Creating simple mood boards and product inspiration ideas
- Helping keep product information organised and up to date
Where you'll work
Trident Business Park, Neptune Way,
Huddersfield,
HD2 1UA.
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 apprentice will have full on-the-job training as well as 20% off-the- job training from the employer.
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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Presentation skills
Other requirements
What We’re Looking For:
- Passion for fashion, interiors, retail, or trends
- Creative mindset with good attention to detail
- Eager to learn and develop new skills
- Good communication and teamwork
- Basic Microsoft Office skills (or willingness to learn)
- No buying experience needed, just enthusiasm, curiosity, and a positive attitude
Why Join Us?
- Learn while you earn
- Gain real commercial and data skills
- Work with experienced buyers
- Career progression opportunities
- Friendly and fast-paced team environment
- If you’re ready to kickstart your career in buying and eCommerce, we’d love to hear from you.
About this employer
Here at Buy it Direct we don’t follow the normal ways of working. We think unconventionally. We are looking for ingenuity, tenacity and people who want to get stuck into the real work from day one.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
The apprentice can progress on to a L6 once they have completed their apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SCL EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
Jo Gray
Jo.Gray@wearescl.co.uk
07586195152
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000038054.
Apply now
Closes in 31 days (Monday 20 July 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.