Job Description
Ultimate Products are a multi-million-pound international business, and we are looking for talented Fashion, Buying & Merchandising graduates to join our development programme this summer in our Buying Divisions. Graduates from this background gain a deep understanding of trends, styles and consumer behaviour which is essential to help develop products for our household brands!
What makes our graduate programme unique?
We combine on-the-job training with regular reviews, mentoring and development plans, which gives our grads the best possible first step onto the career ladder. At UP we are very committed to supporting our graduates to reach their highest potential, and that is why 100% of our new starters in the last year believe they have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed at UP!
It is fast paced here, but with the ongoing support from your team and mentors, you will have the opportunity to make a difference and have a serious impact on the business and your career.
Mix with other like-minded graduates at our state-of-the-art office and work in our industry leading teams to see your career take off! Work hard and play hard, with perks including weekly football training, fitness and yoga classes, complimentary lunches and 3pm finishes on Fridays!
Key Responsibilities in Buying
As a Buying Assistant, you will be working as part of a team to provide support to the Buying Directors in all aspects of the Buying process. Buying Assistants are the key link between suppliers, overseas offices and internal departments, so if you enjoy being creative, working collaboratively and on a wide variety of tasks, then buying could be for you!
- Assisting in the development of quality branded products for our retail customers
- Analysing consumer market trends and conducting effective product research
- Working alongside our Brand teams to coordinate product packaging requirements
- Liaising with our offices in the Far East and factories to organise product sample
- Produce customer specific quotations for the sales team accurately and on time
The UP story
From a spark in Oldham to a global success. We're the cogs in the retail machine, designing, manufacturing, and distributing innovative branded products at the best prices to a mass market. Our brand portfolio includes Salter, Beldray and Progress. Each has a reputation for high quality and on trend design, and they're faithful household names - some that even your grandparents love.
Ultimate Products has been bringing branded kitchen and laundry products to the market since 1997. Now a public limited company, our annual turnover exceeds £150 million. We've established strong working relationships with Internationally recognised retailers, including Tesco, Asda and Primark, filling the shelves of the world's favourite stores across 38 countries. Despite our continued growth, strong corporate values remain at UP's core; we are committed to supporting local charities and initiatives to give back to the community that helped build us.
Our people are a key driver to our success and we are proud of creating an environment that enables our colleagues to thrive both professionally and personally, which is why we recently invested £1.6M in a brand new office at our Oldham headquarters. With newly implemented employee wellbeing and environmental committees, we are dedicated to empowering our people to have a voice and share their views. We recognise how important it is to recharge, which is why we've also introduced complimentary yoga and boxing sessions this year. In a recent survey, 95% of employees find their job interesting and challenging! A figure that we're hoping to improve even further into 2023!
What we look for
Candidates must be ambitious, driven and enthusiastic, with an interest in pursuing a career in a leading international business. Application requirements:
- A degree essential at 2:1 or above in Fashion, Buying & Merchandising.
- Minimum 6-12 months experience either full time or part time
- Process-minded with a key focus on achieving deadlines
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
- Excellent organisational skills with a keen eye for detail
- Self-motivated with the ability to work in a timely manner with minimal supervision.
- Assertive and confident with a proactive approach to work
- The most important bit is your talent, determination and drive, bring that with you and we can provide you with the tools to succeed
- Local to Greater Manchester
What is in it for you?
We care about your progression:
- Structured training and personal development plan during your career with us.
- Ongoing salary reviews as you take on more responsibility and progress your career.
- Employee Save As You Earn share save scheme.
- Optional salary sacrifice pension contribution of an additional 10% on top of your standard pension contribution.
We invest in our people:
- New £1.6M state of the art office in Oldham.
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays after your first 12 months.
- Access to wellbeing support, including 24-hour access to Employee Assistance Helpline.
- Wellness sessions including yoga and boxing.
- Babylon GP - 24/7 access to a doctor through video or phone consultation.
- Charity, Environmental and ESG committees, created to encourage positive change within the company and our wider community.
- Every UP employee is authorised to complete a day of paid charity work volunteering.
- In the North West's Top 100 companies to work for.
- High levels of employee satisfaction- Glassdoor rating of 4\* and above.
- 3pm finishes on a Friday.
We celebrate in style:
- Annual Summer and Christmas parties paid for by the company.
- Flowers or a gift for landmark birthdays, weddings, and births.
- £250 towards a wedding cake.
- Complimentary team lunches.
Job Type: Permanent
Salary: £23,000.00-£28,000.00 per year