Trade Supplier Apprenticeship Course

Trade Suppliers play a vital role in ensuring an efficient flow of goods and services between manufacturers and their skilled trade customer base. They operate in a variety of sectors including electrical, joinery and specialist supplies. Typically, a Trade Supplier will operate a small warehouse and trade counter, which is visited regularly by professional trade customers who have technical knowledge about what they are buying.

Trade Suppliers will be dealing with customer sales at the trade counter and over the telephone, and will understand incoming deliveries, stock control and despatch. They will be familiar with processing customer orders and taking delivery of goods and the basic administration related to these functions. A key element of their role will be to have technical knowledge of the products and services offered together with the bespoke systems and equipment used in their trade business. They will communicate with a wide variety of internal and external customers to build relationships and provide a high quality service that encourages repeat business.

 

Skills, interests and qualities

The ideal Trade Supplier should be someone who is able to:

• Be polite and courteous at all times, even when dealing with difficult customers
• Be organised and able to take down information clearly and accurately
• Have good written, verbal, telephone and IT skills
• Develop knowledge of the sector supplies which are sold and be a source of information for customers
• Be able to plan effectively, ensuring you follow up on actions or promises made within an acceptable or agreed timescale.

 

What training will I receive?

You will be taught the skills which will allow you to ensure that tasks are completed within deadlines set and that workplace objectives are met. You will learn key transferable skills such as:

• Developing knowledge and understanding of the organisation and sector you work in
• Creating specialist trade customer profiles for the business
• Using various methods which are appropriate, for generating trade counter and telesales to increase revenue
• Building effective time management and organisational skills
• Managing enquiries and record, process and track orders
• Warehousing and stock control
• Relevant legal responsibilities

 

When do I attend training?

Training can be organised to suit the needs of employers, but would usually consist of attending on a day release basis twice a month. It can also be done on the job, as long as you can be released from your usual duties in the workplace to receive the training input needed.

 

What will I get at the end of my programme?

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive the Level 2 Trade Supplier Standard.

You may also have achieved Level 1 & 2 Functional Skills English & Mathematics qualifications, where appropriate.

 

Progression opportunities

Trade Suppliers can specialise in roles in a trade business environment, which may include sales, purchasing, account management, logistics and administration.

 

How do I apply?

There are several ways to apply:

Contact the recruitment team on 0115 9677771 or write to us at WEBS Training Ltd, The Poplars, Wollaton Road Beeston NG9 2PD

Submit an enquiry via the website Enquiry Form

Email us at info@webstraining.com

 

Details of standard

Knowledge & Skills - understanding of the organisation’s;

structure, mission, objectives and culture and how the role contributes to its success position in the flow of goods and services, between the manufacturer and the customer position in the external market and the wider sector within which the business operates, including the roles available in relation to their own career aspirations. internal policies and procedures, how these relate to the role and interact with legislative obligations vulnerability to situations that pose risk to the brand and/or business reputation communicating confidently to internal and external customers about the company and how it operates identifying and communicating with the relevant person if a threat or risk to the business is identified

Knowledge & Skills - understanding of the specialist trade customer profile of the business;

identify specialist customer needs & recognise how to be an effective listener recognise the difference between internal and external customers and the relationship between customer satisfaction and organisational performance using appropriate techniques and forms of communication to put customers at ease and gain their trust delivering customer service that exceeds customer expectations identifying customer requirements and referring them onwards in an appropriate manner

Knowledge & Skills - understanding of trade counter and telesales services and how to;

recognise the products, services and language used by trade customers and the technical application of those product and services assisting customers in exploring product ranges and alternative and complementary products and services, based on the fundamental underpinning product knowledge identifying the customers’ requirements, matching them to the trade supplier’s products and services delivering accurate product information, to enable the customer to make a decision on products and services and know how to access the detailed technical specification of a product when required securing a trade sale using appropriate selling techniques, both face to face and on the telephone, and methods to complete the transaction applying basic merchandising techniques used within the business applying the key principles of selling in a trade supplier environment, using a variety of methods, which may include unique selling points, upselling, and link selling to secure and complete sales transactions communicating with customers using various methods and systems appropriate to the situation applying the key principles of administration and working practices to accurately prepare, store, communicate and process businesses documentation processing information, to the key standards of data protection, security and intellectual property rights

Knowledge & Skills - understanding of the key principles of warehousing and stock control;

the safe movement, storage and stock control of products within the trade supplier environment processing and recording the receipt, storage, assembly and despatch of goods receiving stock, despatching customer orders and processing returns in line with company processes loading /unloading of supplier and contractor vehicles

Knowledge & Skills - understanding of the technologies that are appropriate to the role;

benefits & potential limitations of technology in the workplace inc. different technologies and how they support the operation of the business using technology appropriately and efficiently in line with business policy, e.g. PoS (point of sale) machines, PCs demonstrating the use of various technologies, e.g. bespoke/in house or off the shelf software packages to others

Knowledge & Skills - understanding of legislative responsibilities relating to the business, products and/or services being sold;

importance of health, safety and security in a trade supplies environment, and the consequences of not following legal guidelines complying with legal requirements to minimise risk & build customer confidence. Taking appropriate action if a breach of H&S regs is identified minimising disruption to the business and maintaining the safety and security of people at all time

Knowledge & Skills - understanding of how personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business;

understand the impact of personal behaviour & actions on the team recognise & comply with organisational standards of presentation & behaviour building two-way trust and contribute to working within a team & collaborating with colleagues to resolve problems managing personal performance by completing tasks to agreed standards and timescales and by taking action to resolve problems and communicating issues beyond own level of competence demonstrating effective time management through planning & prioritising own workload identifying own strengths, weaknesses and development needs

 

 

Behaviours

• Adopts an approachable and friendly manner, interacting with customers in the style of the business
• Takes an active interest in the range of products and services offered by the company
• Works with integrity in an honest and trustworthy manor and demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in own performance
• Shows an organised and committed approach, with a positive attitude and supports equality & diversity in the workplace
• Takes ownership and responsibility for own performance, is diligent and accurate
• Consistently takes into account company environmental & sustainability policies & procedures
• Uses appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and operates machinery safely and effectively