Graduate Buying Assistant

Full job description
Be a part of something big! Join Ultimate Products' international business this summer in our Buying Divisions. As a crucial link between our suppliers, overseas offices, and internal departments, you will play an instrumental role in facilitating seamless communication and collaboration across our entire supply chain - and we want YOUR HELP, keeping up with demand and developing innovative ideas for our products across our huge brand portfolio.

What makes our graduate programme unique?

We’re proud to be officially certified as a Great Place To Work®, and it’s easy to see why.

At Ultimate Products, our graduate scheme offers a comprehensive development programme with regular reviews, mentoring and tailored training plans to ensure a successful start on the career ladder. With a dedicated Training Manager and uncapped opportunities for progression, we believe in empowering our graduates to form their career with us and fulfil their highest potential!

It’s fast-paced here, but with continuous support from your team and mentors, you’ll have the chance to create meaningful change and drive both your career and our business forward. Join a vibrant community of passionate professionals in a modern office environment, where hard work is celebrated and great rewards follow—including perks like complimentary lunches and team-building activities such as regular football training, netball, and book club.

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. The overall purpose of the buying department is to bring innovative and on trend retail products to market at the right price and the right quality. So, if you enjoy being creative, working collaboratively and on a 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.

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. All specialisms considered
Minimum 6-12 months experience either full time or part time
The most important bit is your talent, determination and drive, bring that with you and we can provide you with the tools to succeed
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
Excellent organisational skills with a keen eye for detail
Assertive and confident with a proactive approach to work
Local to Greater Manchester
What is in it for you?

We care about your progression:

Access to comprehensive structured training and a personal development plan to help you grow and reach your goals.
Regular mentorship meetings to evaluate progress and manage workload.
Ongoing salary reviews with increasing levels of responsibility as you advance your career.
Free External Training Courses from Recognised Providers.
Employee Save As You Earn share save scheme.
Option of a salary sacrifice pension contribution of up to 10% in addition to your standard pension contribution.
We invest in our people:

Modern £1.6M state of the art office in Oldham.
Private BUPA Medical and Dental care.
Employee wellness sessions and 24/7 access to wellbeing support via our Employee Assistance Helpline
24/7 access to a doctor through video or phone consultation.
Community, Environmental and ESG committees, created to encourage positive change within the company and our wider community.
One full day paid to take part in charity work.
One of the North West’s Top 100 companies to work for.
Free minibus to and from the local tram stop.
Prayer room and prayer friendly working hours.
3pm finishes on a Friday.
Company football and netball team, plus a book club!
We celebrate in style:

Annual Christmas parties paid for by the company.
£250 towards a wedding cake.
Complimentary team lunches.
Colleague of the Year awards.
£250 retail credit when you buy your first home.

The UP story

We are an international PLC branded consumer goods business, renowned for designing, developing, and supplying branded ranges to the largest retailers across the UK and Europe. Our extensive portfolio boasts over 3,000 products and 15 key brands, including household names such as Salter, Beldray, and Russell Hobbs.

Our brands, found in major UK stores like Tesco, John Lewis, and Morrisons, have a reputation for high quality and on-trend design, standing the test of time with over 260 years of heritage. Since 1997, Ultimate Products has provided top-of-the-line kitchen and laundry products to consumers across 38 countries. We have since become a public limited company, achieving an annual turnover that surpasses £165 million each year.

As part of our ambitious growth strategy, we aim to triple our turnover within the next 5-10 years, with the ultimate goal of becoming a £1 billion organization. We are on the lookout for talented individuals to join us on this exciting journey