Apprentice Purchaser

**Company Background**

Since it’s conception in 1997, Sportsafe now employs over 65 staff at three locations in Essex (head office), Manchester and Scotland.

Sportsafe offers installation, service and sales of sports and fitness equipment to more than 10,000 customers from the Shetland Isles to the South Coast in the including primary and secondary schools, private schools, sports centres, care homes and more than 120 county councils and fire, police and NHS authorities. The company is ISO 9001; ISO 14001, Constructionline Gold, Safecontractor, CHAS and AFPE accredited.

Core Values - Our culture makes us different from our competitors

Trust - in colleagues

Integrity - with all colleagues & customers,

Respect - for all colleagues & customer,

Operational excellence - Attention to detail

Quality - right first time

Enjoyment/Passion - a great working environment

Pride - in what we do and how we do it

Purpose - Supporting the next generation in sport and fitness

Provide safe environment for;
- children and young adults to engage in play, sports and fitness.
- those working in all emergency services to engage in sports and fitness.
- those in prison to engage in sports and fitness activities.
- those working in the armed forces to engage in sports and fitness.

**The Role**

In this fast-paced role you will support the Purchasing Manager and be responsible for key areas of the day-to-day activities of the Purchasing function. To ensure the timely receipt of supplies into the company and ensuring accurate stock levels are maintained and working productively to follow up on the delivery of goods, pricing and stock availability.

**Responsibilities**

The Apprentice Purchaser will be expected to perform any of the following tasks to include but not limited to:

- Raising of Purchase Orders when Sales Orders cannot be fulfilled from stock.
- Ensure purchase order placements give all requisite information, and allow goods & services delivered into the Company to be ‘right first time, on time’.
- Contact with suppliers for price checks, delivery date confirmations, delivery chasing, and supplier related queries.
- Entering of Delivery Notes.
- Developing supplier relationships to enhance the quality of supplier performance and responsiveness.
- Archive all completed paperwork for the Purchasing department, accurately, in the appropriate filing systems.
- Ensuring accurate due dates on all outstanding purchase orders.
- Follow company procedures correctly including record keeping and updating.
- Be a pivotal member of the Purchasing & Admin team enabling the department to reach and exceed clearly all qualitative and quantitative targets.
- View the wider Company as our primary customer, and always display outstanding levels of customer service.
- Work together with and fully support Service Departments in reaching company goals and responding quickly to company and customer needs.
- To abide to company rules, and Health and Safety and Quality policies.

**Key Skills, Characteristics and Experience**
- You should have good attention to detail and an ability to work to deadlines.
- Confident verbal and written communicator.
- Approach each day with a ‘can-do’ positive attitude and display the ability to identify problems and solutions.
- You will be a team player, flexible and able to work independently with a result orientated work ethic.
- To adhere to and demonstrate the company culture and promote this to all team members of staff.
- Having strong customer focus, commercial acumen and a pro-active approach striving to meet the demands of customers in a timely manner.

**Location**

Based on Head Office, Colchester.

**Hours**

Mon-Fri - 8.30am - 5pm (40 hrs per week)

**Package/Benefits**:
20 Days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

Incremental holiday allowance in line with length of service

Christmas Closure

Auto Enrolment Pension - Salary sacrifice + Employer contribution

Group Life Insurance (Death in Service benefit)

Staff benefits portal

Employee Assistance Programme

Free ample onsite parking

We can only consider applicants who hold eligible and valid Right to Work in the UK, (no UK Visa Sponsorship can be provided for this job role).