Automotive Commercial & NPI Administration Apprentice - OLYMPUS DISTRIBUTION LTD

You will be involved in a range of tasks from processing paperwork, sales orders, reviewing requests for quotations (RFQs), participating in NPI & Technical reviews between customers, suppliers and internal departments. You will also be involved in preparing quotations and pricing schedules.

Wage: £15,311.40 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age. National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices.

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 07:30 - 16:30. Friday, 07:30 - 12:00. 38 hours 30 minutes a week.

Duration: 1 year 6 months.

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

This is a varied role supporting the Commercial and New Product function within Olympus Global. The duties and responsibilities are as follows:

• Answering incoming sales calls and responding to email enquiries.
• Administration and control of request for quotations (RFQs) from customers for new products and projects.
• Reviewing supplier quotations with the technical team to ensure that feasibility documents have been completed and that any issues are addressed.
• Ensure smooth handover of products/projects to customer service and material planning teams.
• Liaising with the Technical team regarding selecting appropriate suppliers for projects from current approved supplier files.
• Processing of customer orders, quotations or returns using CRM and ERP systems (NetSuite).
• Entering of Sales Orders onto Company’s computer system (Manually and Scanned).
• Allocation of stock; First In, First Out (FIFO).
• Reviewing maintaining customer kanban/consignment planners to ensure up-to-date and relevant. Proposing amendments where necessary.
• Communicating with the warehouse and the logistics team to ensure timely delivery.
• Provide updates to customers on order updates and/or delays and on lead times where necessary.
• Manage paperwork, including invoices, sales orders, purchase orders.
• Process data accurately using our internal systems.
• Building excellent rapport with customers to ensure ongoing business relationships.
• Associated filing and administration tasks.
• All other tasks deemed appropriate within your skill level.

To ensure effective working relationships, which are key to the role, you will:

• Liaise with all levels within the Company affording the same level of service and courtesy to all colleagues.
• Ensure effective working relationships and co-ordination to provide necessary information for reporting purposes.
• Establish effective working relationships with our customers and suppliers.

Training: Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills. Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.

Produces accurate records and documents including emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and presents solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and is able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.

Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice from more experienced team members when appropriate. Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.

Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.

Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themselves to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.

Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.

Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.

Your training plan: All training for your apprenticeship will take place in the workplace, there will be no day release to College required. You will be assigned an assessor who will visit you in the workplace every 8 weeks to support you on your apprenticeship.

Requirements: GCSE in English (grade D/3/Level 1 Functional Skills) and Maths (grade D/3/Level 1 Functional Skills). 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: Initiative, Prepared for industry change, Interest in logistics, Accuracy, Eagerness to learn, Proactive.

About this company: Born in the West Midlands, engineering is in our blood. Olympus Global was founded over 45 years ago as a distributor of standard fasteners to local industries. As the years have passed, Olympus has become a full-service provider of engineered components to the automotive and industrial sectors, working with an extensive range of products to fully satisfy our customers’ requirements. As a full-service provider to our customers, we use our expertise to manage their supply chain risks, easing the pressures on their procurement teams. As global dynamics have become increasingly more complex and volatile, we continue to increase our warehousing space, to enable us to support the growth of our customers. This gives us and our customers reduced risk against global issues, and ensures that our customers can rely on us. Our range of components includes engineering fasteners, precision turned and machined components, castings, aluminium extrusions and forgings, pressings and fabrications, as well as plastic and rubber parts.

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions. You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship: Further professional development within Commercial and NPI upon successful completion of your apprenticeship.

The contact for this apprenticeship is: DUDLEY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY, Chloe Powell, Chloe.Powell@dudleycol.ac.uk, 01384363158. The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000326635.

Apply now. Closes today at 11:59pm.