Trainee Buyer

**Location**:Reading**
**Package: Basic Salary up to **£28,000 **(dependent on experience) plus bonus & flexible benefits package including hybrid working, up to 27 days holiday (Plus additional annual leave purchasing scheme)**
**Sector: Packaging distribution**

**The Company**
We, the UK’s largest packaging distributor have an exciting opportunity for a Trainee Buyer to join our team based in Reading. We are a committed equal opportunities employer that champions ‘dignity in the workplace’. Our focus is to provide customers with fully integrated and innovative packaging solutions, augmented by outstanding customer service. Our procurement functionality is a vital part of our solution offering and we continually invest in the professional development of our team including professional accredited training.

**The Trainee Buyer Role**
Working as a member of our local procurement team, your role will support the site at which you are based whilst upholding the company wide National procurement strategy.

**Trainee Buyer Key Duties**
Reporting to the Regional Business Manager, the role will require the following activity
- Directly supporting the local team with day-to-day procurement activity
- To purchase standard and non-standard stock items, maintaining cost effective stock levels
- Develop a full understanding of the total supply chain function
- Actively seek to reduce stock holding and material costs
- To ensure that purchasing transactions are carried out in the timeliest and cost-effective manner
- Administer purchase orders and all other associated administration
- Liaise with existing suppliers and source alternative suppliers when necessary
- Develop awareness of the profit implication of stock holding costs, including redundant and damaged stock
- Develop and maintain a good knowledge of all packaging solutions

**Do you have the correct profile?**

**Our Benefits**
We provide a competitive basic starting salary and operate a range of rewarding bonus/incentive schemes. Our flexible employee benefits package can include:
- 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus all public/bank holidays
- Additional Holiday purchasing scheme (run annually)
- Contributory pension scheme
- Free parking at the majority of our site locations
- Annual (company paid) volunteering day
- Range of company cars or cash allowance (including hybrid/electric) for qualifying job roles
- Employee assistance program to support & advise with well-being & any issues
- Extensive range of training/development & potential progression opportunities
- Employee discount scheme (discounts on several major retail/leisure brands)
- Simply Health/Dental Cover option or BUPA cover for qualifying roles
- Enhanced HR policies relating to various employee rights & entitlements
- Long service awards (5-40 years)
- Charitable giving options
- Financial support with eye-tests/purchasing glasses (DSE users only)
- O2 Mobile discount scheme (up to 25% off)

**Your future with us**
Here at Macfarlane Group, you truly have the potential to shape your own future and set your own ambitions. We are a large group company where internal promotion and mobility is a key feature of our success. Through tailored career plans, we provide a wide range of structure training & development pathways, utilizing both inhouse expertise to share knowledge and the best-in-class external training partners. There is potential access to management & leadership development, and we work closely with recognized, accredited bodies including the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) & the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS); so there really are no limits to where your journey within Macfarlane Group may take you long term.

**How to apply/next steps