L4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant Apprenticeship
LUELLA GREY LONDON LTD
SOUTH CROYDON (CR2 9NP)
Closes in 16 days (Friday 6 November 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 19 October 2026
Contents
Summary
Luella Grey London is a growing fashion accessories brand. We're looking for an organised, numerically confident apprentice to support our buying and commercial team. Buying administration and accurate product data will be the main focus.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
- Training course
- Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)
- Hours
-
9am - 5pm
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 23 November 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 4 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
Buying and product administration:
- Maintain product master sheets, specifications and attributes, including SKU codes, EANs and barcode information.
- Help prepare factory purchase orders and record amendments, order splits and delivery schedules.
- Keep product costings up to date and assist with supplier communication and product development documentation.
- Support sample tracking, seasonal range planning and product launches.
Commercial and retailer support
- Help maintain customer price lists and retailer margin planners and assist with margin and profitability reporting.
- Follow up customer purchase orders and amendments, prepare order confirmations and maintain wholesale account records.
- Prepare retailer product information files and support product setup, onboarding and compliance requirements across wholesale and marketplace channels.
- Help track customer deadlines and follow up missing information with the relevant team members.
Excel and reporting
- Produce and update Excel reports, checking information for accuracy and consistency.
- Support sales, stock and sell-through analysis and learn to identify trends or discrepancies.
- Develop your use of formulas, lookups and PivotTables to support buying and commercial decisions.
Marketing support
- Help organise product information, imagery and samples for launches, campaigns and content days.
- Assist with website and retailer product listings, including checking descriptions and product details.
- Support marketing administration, such as updating content calendars, organising assets and coordinating information with colleagues.
- Where appropriate, help with social media and content preparation under the marketing team's guidance.
General business administration
- Keep shared records, trackers and documents accurate and organised.
- Assist with routine administration across commercial and operational projects, including following up actions and coordinating information.
- Suggest practical improvements to spreadsheets and processes as your understanding of the business develops.
Where you'll work
46 HYDE ROAD
SOUTH CROYDON
CR2 9NP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
FASHION RETAIL ACADEMY
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
Training will take place at least 2 days each month at the Fashion Retail Academy. You'll be working towards a Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant apprenticeship standard.
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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Confidence using Excel
- Organising data
Other requirements
Essential skills and qualities
- Confidence using Excel, including organising data, sorting, filtering and basic formulas, with a willingness to develop further.
- Strong numerical ability, accuracy and attention to detail.
- Good organisation and the ability to prioritise tasks with guidance.
- Clear written and verbal communication and a positive, proactive approach.
- Willingness to ask questions, act on feedback and work collaboratively.
Under-19s need GCSE English and maths (or equivalent) at grade 4+.
About this employer
Luella Grey London is a growing fashion accessories brand. We are looking for an organised, numerically confident apprentice to support our buying and commercial team, with opportunities to help with marketing and general business and buying administration.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
On successful completion of the Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant Apprenticeship, apprentices can progress into a range of roles within retail buying, merchandising and product management. Subject to business requirements and the availability of suitable vacancies at the time of completion, apprentices may have the opportunity to progress into a permanent role with the employer. Progression will be based on successful completion of the apprenticeship, performance throughout the programme and the availability of relevant vacancies.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
FASHION RETAIL ACADEMY
Natasha.fox@luellagrey.com
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000059696.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Friday 6 November 2026 at 11:59pm)