Trainee Buyer Review

ENSPIRE Level 4 F&F Apprenticeship Providing support to the assistant buyer and buying manager. Manage the process of the critical path. Attending fit sessions, writing comments and inputting feedback.  Referring to red seal critical dates before and during fits and booking suppliers in accordingly to maintain the dates. Managing approvals and feeding back any comments to suppliers. Tieing up all approvals with critical dates ensuring to maitain delivery. Communicating with suppliers daily. Managing sample management across marketing. Chasing required samples from suppliers for any press events. Updating cost price, freight, duty and margins in My Product Plan. Making cost price ammends on Range Plan. Uploading quote sheets, assigning supplier and checking margins on the range plan for each product. Preparing meeting rooms, e.g. trend boards and racking up the room. Competitors shop and creating monthly summaries including trends and important messages. Communicating and presenting any trend messages, competition information during sign offs and strategy. Creating trade reports from last weeks sales. Attending junior trade and presenting the products with their cover, ROS and other sales information. Adhoc duties e.g. filing samples, replying to emails, tidying rails and cupboards to ensure all approvals and samples are in an order.

I have developed a numerous amount of skills including negotiation skills. Communication skills due to liaising with suppliers and internally across the business. Organisational skills which has been facilitated from filing approvals, organizing cupboards, emails and product. Leadership skills, due to taking lead on certain projects and being in control of certain processes.

I am thoroughly enjoying this programme, i feel as though I have developed not only my skills but as a person. The business is a friendly environment and has facilitated how easy it is to liaise across the business with all work levels. It has been beyond my expectations and i have gained a lot of responsibility.

We had a induction with all other graduates and apprentices when we first started to connect with each other, this was really beneficial. The training has also been good and we have compulsory training sessions which have been in depth and developed my understanding of the business and my skills. The support has been good however I think there should be more progress reviews to monitor our learning and opinions. Studying has been manageable.

I do receive a lot of support, and have a really good team around me. However feel as though there should be more 1-1 reviews to communicate our opinions and progress. The HR team to start with were a good point of contact, however there has been a miscommunication as to who are current HR point of contact is. The general attitude towards supporting us is really positive and again my team are always there to offer support.

Our training provider give us a manageable work load however is really hard in terms of receiving support from them when we are away from college. For example a lack of communication if we need any guidance for our college work. I really enjoy my college day and feel as though i have learnt a lot in buying and merchandising.

Everything I have learnt through my training provider has definitely facilitated my day to day job role. E.g. we have had excel lessons which have taught us tips and tricks to make every day life easier. We have had in depth Photoshop lessons, and math lessons to enhance our creativity and knowledge in maths which is directly related to our role.

There are events in the business however these are all in the Welwyn Campus and therefore we do not benefit from them in the same way as all of the other graduates and apprentices do. Therefore I would say there are no extra curricular activities to get involved in for us.

Yes

It is the best business if you want to progress in your career. I have learnt a substantial amount in such a short amount of time and I believe the exposure here is really great. You get to work in a friendly environment amongst all different work levels and therefore you gain a lot of knowledge.

The process is challenging and therefore you need to ensure you are really motivated and certain that this is the career you want. Although there are opportunities to move around the business it is an intense job and therefore you need to be ready to work for it. The experience and opportunities you receive is extraordinary and I feel valued in my role.