Buyer

As a buyer you are responsible for purchasing almost anything from raw materials and equipment to goods and services for use by your organisation – for example, a shop, factory or hospital. You will need to make sure that goods and services are obtained at a reasonable price, and that the right amount of stock is held.

Also known as:

Procurement officer
Purchasing manager
Stock controller

Work activities

Buyers (stock controllers, procurement officers, or purchasing managers) buy raw materials, equipment, services and other items for use by an organisation. You might buy anything from socks to helicopters, timber for a shed manufacturing company to paper for a printing company, security services for a hospital to horses for the police force. You’ll need to carefully make sure that you get the best value for money, that the company is holding the right amount of stock and that it has the appropriate suppliers in place to deliver the goods and services needed.

Buyers consult with other departments to find out which goods and services they need and then find companies that might be able to supply these. You will obtain estimates of prices from possible suppliers and check on their past performance, for example, if they always deliver on time. You will then negotiate with them to agree the best possible price and quality. Buyers have a budget and must try to buy what is needed without spending any more than this amount. When you have carefully chosen a supplier, you’ll agree the terms of the contract. You need to consider the legal aspects of buying and selling, and to understand the business needs and processes of their organisation. Buyers check the performance of their suppliers and try to solve any problems that might occur. If problems cannot be overcome, you must find another supplier. Increasingly, purchasing is an international profession and you might need to travel to meet suppliers across the world.

Personal qualities and skills

As a buyer, you will need to have:

Excellent communication skills.
Negotiating skills.
An aptitude for figures and the ability to manage a budget.
An analytical mind.
IT skills.
An interest in the activities of your own organisation.
The ability to build up a good knowledge of manufacturing and distribution methods and suppliers.
Teamwork skills.
The ability to prioritise tasks and manage your time to meet deadlines.

You should be:

Able to build good relationships with all kinds of people.
Persuasive.
Willing to make decisions and take responsibility for them.
Well organised, self-reliant and motivated.
Able to forecast future needs and plan ahead.

For some jobs, employers look for applicants with a technical or scientific background. Foreign language skills could be useful if you are buying from other countries.

Pay and opportunities

Salary rates for buyers vary depending on the industry they are in and the level of responsibility. The pay rates given are approximate. Buyers start on about £18,000, rising to £50,000 with experience.

Buyers usually work office hours, Monday to Friday, with occasional late evening or weekend work.

Nearly all employers, medium and large, will have a requirement for buyers, purchasing a whole range of goods, services and materials. These can be in, for example:

Manufacturing industries e.g. car or aircraft production.
NHS.
Electricity, phone and water companies.
Retail sector.
Financial services.
Armed forces.

Opportunities for buyers occur in some towns and cities throughout the UK. Most opportunities are with central buying departments, often located in London and in other large cities.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers and professional journals (for example, Inside Supply Management), on job boards and large employers’ websites, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

Many entrants have a degree or HND, often in business studies. A level 6 (higher) apprenticeship is available in the role of assistant buyer and assistant merchandiser. This is a good springboard to a career as a buyer.

A small number of universities and colleges of higher education offer degrees and foundation degrees in purchasing and supply, or supply chain management.

Training schemes vary according to employers and are largely on-the-job, with part-time study on a day-release basis. Diplomas in supply chain management are available at levels 3 and 5. Professional qualifications for people working in purchasing are obtained through the examinations of The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS). These can be studied in several ways, including part-time or by flexible learning at a number of colleges, or by distance learning.

Buyers can progress to senior, manager and director posts.

Qualifications

For entry to a degree course, the usual minimum requirement is:

Two to three A-levels.

GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects. You are likely to need GCSEs in English and maths at grades 9-4.

Alternatives to A levels include:

Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

If you wish to enter this career through an Apprenticeship, you will A-levels in two subjects, plus GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have developed relevant skills in retail/wholesale or sales, or as a purchasing assistant.

Access courses If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (for example, Access to Business) could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

A range of colleges and universities offer courses in logistics and supply chain management at undergraduate and postgraduate level including with part time/flexible and distance learning study options.

Related careers

Builders’ merchant
Commodity broker
Distribution manager
Estimator
Export sales manager
Media buyer
Retail merchandiser