At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist in creating and implementing purchasing initiatives across L'Oréal's portfolio.
- Company: Join L'Oréal, a billion-pound company known for its innovative beauty products.
- Benefits: Earn £24,000 per annum with hands-on experience in a dynamic team environment.
- Why this job: Gain exposure to various functions and develop key skills in a global brand.
- Qualifications: Must be in your second year at university and have strong Excel and communication skills.
- Other info: We encourage applications from underrepresented groups to promote diversity.
Based: Current Location: White City London
Duration: 1 Year
Start Dates: Monday 30th June 2025
Application Deadlines: January Opening
Annual Salary: £24,000 per annum
As a billion pound company success often stems from not just the Marketing and Commercial teams, but also all the back-end functions which help to make the business move as smoothly as possible. At L’Oréal, Purchasing is not just sitting on excel, you will have direct exposure to people in all functions including marketing, purchasing and IT providing you with the perfect opportunity to understand how L’Oréal operates.
You will…
As the Purchasing Intern you will be responsible for assisting the team with the efficient creation and implementation of purchasing initiatives. These initiatives stretch across the entire L’Oreal portfolio within the retail and digital space as well the business support services. It is a key position within a busy team, reporting to the Purchasing Performance Manager. You will work closely with the buyers and liaise with internal stakeholders across the business as well as external suppliers.
Day-to-day you may be…
- Optimising the Group’s financial results by controlling and ensuring adherence to contracts
- Using your initiative to develop meaningful Management Information (MI) and Key Performance
- Indicators (KPIs) from complex and varied sources, and report in a timely manner to the wider finance team
- Liaising with a complex and diverse stakeholder groups to inform and educate about purchasing initiatives and process
- Daily management of key indirect spend category of travel and accommodation, identifying and implementing opportunities to reduce cost and enhance service
- Providing key corporate decision-makers with timely and accurate information to take business decisions and / or shape L’Oréal policy
- Analysing, reporting on and exploring new areas of opportunity for the L’Oréal Purchasing Team, primarily through manipulating Microsoft Excel data
- Supporting and assisting the maintenance of data and documents pertaining to the performance and objectives of the Purchasing Team
- Providing support to other members of the Purchasing Team on sourcing initiatives as and when required
You have…
In order to be successful in this role you will need to have:
- Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
- A flexible approach t work, with an ability to manage multiple tasks to tight deadlines
- Numerate and PC literate: in particular with strong Excel skills
- Strong numerical and analytical skills
- Networking skills and the ability to interact with all areas of the business
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are currently under-represented in our organisation. We are signatories of the Race at Work Charter led by Business in the Community and are committed to improving employment opportunities for people of colour across the UK. We also welcome applications from LGB and Trans and non-binary candidates.
You are…
In your second year at University on a course which enables you to take an Industrial Placement Year (unfortunately if you are graduated you are not eligible).
Next steps…
Once you click apply you will be asked some questions to check you are eligible for this role. These will be questions around your current situation, whether you’re happy with the salary, location etc.
If you are eligible to apply, you will then be sent a link via email to ‘Step 2’ of the application process; the online assessments. Keep an eye out for this (it might even land in your spam folder!). Although there is no deadline for completion, the quicker you submit your answers the quicker we can continue to move you through the process!
Once we have your results, our recruiters will conduct a final review of your entire application and if successful, invite you to an Assessment Centre. Please be patient with us as we receive a high volume of applications and want to spend time going through each of them.
Our Assessment Centres this year will mostly be in person, they will be running from when applications open until the roles are filled. These Assessment Centres are specific to function, so please be patient if you don’t get invited straight away – it might just be because your function’s Assessment Centre date isn’t until later on in the recruitment period!
Please note, if you apply for more than one role you will be put forward for the one we deem most suitable for you. If you have a strong preference, please only apply to that one role to ensure you are considered for the correct role.
- You can apply to up to three jobs within a rolling 30-day window.
- You cannot withdraw your application once you applied, so please make sure to choose a job that matches your dreams.
- Please visit “Your Application Space” to see the jobs you have already applied to.
- Please don’t create another account with a different email. If you do so, your account might be merged and your application record will be deleted.
Purchasing Industrial Placement 2025 employer: L'Oréal UK&I

Contact Detail:
L'Oréal UK&I Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Purchasing Industrial Placement 2025
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to familiarize yourself with L'Oréal's purchasing processes and initiatives. Understanding how they operate will not only help you during the application process but also give you a competitive edge in interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former L'Oréal employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and the specific skills that are highly valued in the Purchasing team.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your Excel skills, as strong numerical and analytical abilities are crucial for this role. Consider taking an online course or practicing with real data sets to enhance your proficiency.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for the online assessments by reviewing common assessment types used in graduate recruitment. This will help you feel more confident and perform better when it's time to complete them.
We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing Industrial Placement 2025
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant skills and experiences that align with the Purchasing Intern role. Emphasize your Excel proficiency, analytical skills, and any experience with stakeholder management.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for purchasing and your understanding of L'Oréal's operations. Mention specific initiatives or projects you would like to contribute to and how your background makes you a great fit.
Prepare for Online Assessments: Once you apply, be ready for online assessments. Brush up on your numerical and analytical skills, as these will likely be tested. Practice with sample questions to improve your confidence.
Follow Up: After submitting your application, keep an eye on your email for updates regarding the next steps. If you don’t hear back within a reasonable time, consider sending a polite follow-up email to express your continued interest in the position.
How to prepare for a job interview at L'Oréal UK&I
✨Show Your Excel Skills
Since strong Excel skills are crucial for this role, be prepared to discuss your experience with Excel during the interview. You might even want to bring examples of how you've used Excel to analyze data or create reports in previous projects.
✨Demonstrate Your Interpersonal Skills
This position requires excellent communication and networking abilities. Think of specific instances where you successfully collaborated with others or resolved conflicts, and be ready to share these stories to showcase your interpersonal skills.
✨Understand L'Oréal's Business Model
Familiarize yourself with L'Oréal's operations, especially in purchasing and supply chain management. Being able to discuss how purchasing initiatives impact the overall business will demonstrate your genuine interest in the company and the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving and analytical skills. Prepare for scenarios where you might need to optimize costs or manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines, and think through how you would approach these challenges.