Apprentice Merchandise Administration Assistant

Summary

A fantastic entry-level role in our Merchandising team at HQ that plays an integral role in our Commercial and Trading functions. You'll work with a specific toy category, liaise closely with the Buying team and train to kick-start a successful career in Merchandising.

Annual wage: £25,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7:30am-9:30am to 4:30pm-6:30pm Friday, 9:30am - 5pm.
39 hours a week
Possible start date: Wednesday 27 November
Duration: 1 year 6 months
Positions available: 1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

Updating the category weekly, sales, stock and intake monitor to assist Merchandising with departmental season forecast.
Supporting the Assistant Merchandiser with in-season analysis.
Running daily reports and supporting the team in compiling and running central documentation.
Aid Assistant Merchandiser in range management from range plan creation to allocation planning.
Work closely with the Assistant Merchandiser to forecast sales, and stock online cards to maintain availability. Suggest and action rebuys to Merchandiser.
Support the analysis on category performance, line life, store performance and densities to ensure accurate assortment planning.
Collate history for strategy documents and category reviews.
Review line print, highlighting best/worst stock lines.
Work with Assistant Merchandiser and Branch Merchandising team to agree allocation and replenishment parameters are optimised.

Where you’ll work

TEAL House, Anglo Office Park

67 White Lion Road

Amersham

Bucks

HP7 9FB

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

EDUCATION FOR INDUSTRY GROUP

Your training course

Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)

Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)

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

Your training plan

As you develop in the Merchandising Admin Assistant role, you will also learn new knowledge, skills, and behaviours in areas such as the Retail Business Environment, Planning and budgeting, Commercial Range Planning, and Trading.

Your Apprenticeship training will be delivered by the Fashion Retail Academy at least two days a month. You'll be working towards an accredited Level 4 Buying and Merchandising Assistant apprenticeship standard.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade C/4 or equiavalent)
Mathematics (grade C/4 or equiavalent)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship 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
Patience
Microsoft Office, inc Excel
Conmfortable with numbers

Other requirements

To meet the eligibility requirements for funding, you must: -Be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom for at least the previous three years before the start of the programme or have obtained either pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme -Not attending any other school, FE college or HE institution -Not have a qualification in Buying and/or merchandising at level 4 or a higher level -Consider commute to workplace location

About this company

The Entertainer began when Gary and Catherine took over the Pram and Toy Bar in May 1981. Catherine was also a full-time Nurse when the first store opened. The previous owner didn’t much like children and Gary and Catherine saw an opportunity to make the shop into somewhere children and adults alike would come and visit, have fun, find something to ‘Entertain’ their time and want to come back again and again. As the potential and possibility for expansion became real, Gary took on his first employees, one of whom still works for us today heading up our New Store Development Team. A second branch then opened in Beaconsfield, in June 1985. The rest, as they say, is history. We think we are a unique retail business – like a signature that cannot be copied. Our vision is every childhood filled with wonder. Our mission is to be the Best-Loved Toyshop - one child, one community at a time. We love creating memories and delivering outstanding service. Do you remember visiting a toy shop as a child? Hopefully, those memories are still with you.

Company benefits

- Birthday Leave plus 33 days of holiday -Annual Bonus scheme - Retail Trust & Virtual GP - Flexible access to your pay via Wage Stream - Generous toy discount - High Street & leisure discounts - Life Cover

After this apprenticeship

Depending on the performance of the candidate and company vacancies, there may a possibilityof a full time post upon completing the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: