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- Tasks: Join our team as a Purchasing Assistant, processing orders and liaising with suppliers.
- Company: Miller’s Vanguard supports UK supermarkets, ensuring they keep the nation fed for over 40 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy training, a fun work culture, 32 days holiday, and a company pension.
- Why this job: Be part of a supportive team with career development and state-of-the-art facilities.
- Qualifications: Previous purchasing experience is preferred; strong admin skills and computer literacy are essential.
- Other info: Monday to Friday role with opportunities for growth in a dynamic environment.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
Responsibilities
- To deal with purchase order requests in a timely manner.
- To ensure purchase prices are kept up-to-date.
- Ensuring correct prices are gathered and inputted into internal systems
- To ensure parts are sourced quickly and in a cost-efficient manner.
- Expediting orders whilst maintaining supplier relationships.
- Identify any potential cost savings for the business.
- Regular contact with suppliers and internal stakeholders via telephone and email.
Our Ideal Candidate
- Previous purchasing experience is preferred, including parts sourcing, processing purchase orders, and dealing with suppliers. However strong administrative experience will be considered.
- Particular attention will be given to applicants who possess knowledge of Sage order processing, although training will be available.
- Good knowledge and understanding of ordering via online portals.
- Computer literacy is essential, ideally with a background in Excel.
- Knowledge of the Siclops and/or Solar Vista Live systems is desirable but not essential as training will be given.
- A good telephone manner and ability to deal efficiently with queries both internal and external.
- High attention to detail.
Company Information
Who are we?
Miller’s Vanguard are proud to have been supporting all the UK’s Supermarket chains for over 40 years, in brief, we are the people in the background ensuring that supermarkets keep the Nation fed! Maintaining a wide and varied range of assets from food production equipment through to loading bay lifts.
Our service are as follows: –
- Nationwide reactive maintenance
- Hygienic Deep cleaning & Planned maintenance services
- Refurbishment, logistics and installation of equipment
We do all of this with the firm foundations of being owned by the global Ali Group, whose turnover is in excess of £4 billion p.a.
Our people
Despite being a large operation here at Miller’s Vanguard we still firmly believe in running the business like we have done for the last 40 years, by valuing our biggest asset we have YOU…the employee.
Our team of over 500 employees have the advantage of working in state-of-the-art working environments:
- New (2021) Technical response centre
- Award Winning research, Innovation, and recycling facility
- Industry leading Mercedes Benz fleet
We believe in providing you with the very best environment and tools to do the job.
Career Development
Training is also a huge part of our culture here at Miller’s Vanguard and our City and Guilds accredited training centre is where we coach and develop our employees regardless of your position or your length of service, we want to make sure that our staff can progress and keep pace with ever changing equipment technologies.
Why Join Us
- Training in our City & Guilds accredited academy
- Job Specific Uniform & tooling for all roles
- Company wide fun days and charity events
- Company Pension
- Holiday allowance of 32 days per year
- Regular staff ‘treats’ for employees and their families
- Monday to Friday – 8 am – 5 pm
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Purchasing Assistant employer: Miller’s Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Miller’s Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Purchasing Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific software mentioned in the job description, such as Sage order processing. Even if you haven't used it before, showing a willingness to learn and adapt can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any previous experience you have with supplier relationships and cost-saving initiatives. Be prepared to discuss specific examples during your interview to demonstrate your ability to manage these aspects effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your telephone communication skills, as you'll need to maintain regular contact with suppliers and internal stakeholders. Being articulate and confident over the phone can make a great impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Miller’s Vanguard and their operations within the supermarket supply chain. Understanding their business model and values will help you align your answers with what they are looking for in a Purchasing Assistant.
We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant purchasing experience, especially any roles involving parts sourcing and processing purchase orders. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills in dealing with suppliers and managing purchase orders.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your administrative skills and attention to detail. Mention your familiarity with online ordering systems and any experience with Sage order processing, even if it's limited.
Highlight Computer Literacy: Emphasise your computer skills, particularly your proficiency in Excel. If you have experience with Siclops or Solar Vista Live systems, be sure to mention it, as this could set you apart from other candidates.
Showcase Communication Skills: In your application, illustrate your ability to communicate effectively with both suppliers and internal stakeholders. Provide examples of how you've handled queries efficiently, showcasing your good telephone manner.
How to prepare for a job interview at Miller’s Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Purchasing Experience
Make sure to highlight any previous purchasing experience you have, especially if it involves parts sourcing or processing purchase orders. If you lack direct experience, emphasise your strong administrative skills and how they can translate into the purchasing role.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Relevant Software
If you have knowledge of Sage order processing or similar systems, mention it during the interview. Even if you don't, express your willingness to learn and adapt to new software, as training will be provided.
✨Demonstrate Attention to Detail
Given the importance of accuracy in processing purchase orders and updating prices, be prepared to discuss how you ensure attention to detail in your work. You might want to share examples from past experiences where this skill was crucial.
✨Prepare for Supplier Interaction Scenarios
Since regular contact with suppliers is a key part of the role, think about how you would handle various scenarios, such as chasing delivery dates or resolving queries. Practising your responses can help you feel more confident during the interview.
