Trade Supplier Level 2 Apprenticeship

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 various sectors, including electrical, plumbing, joinery and general building supplies. Typically, a Trade Supplier will operate a small warehouse and trade counter, which professional trade customers regularly visit with technical knowledge about what they are buying. Trade Suppliers can specialise in roles in a trade business environment, including sales, purchasing, account management, logistics and administration.

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 technical knowledge of the products and services offered and the bespoke systems and equipment used in their trade business. They will communicate with various internal and external customers to build relationships and provide a high-quality service that encourages repeat business.

Our Training Advisors will deliver high-quality face-to-face teaching and learning at the employer’s premises. They will provide all the resources your Apprentices will need to progress. This Apprenticeship has been designed to develop existing and new skills and to equip Apprentices with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to support them in their role.

The apprentice must receive off-the-job training for a minimum of 6 hours per week. The hours will be pro rata for part time learners. There are many activities that can be calculated towards the off-the-job training hours such as; Shadowing a colleague, Online Learning, Internal Training, Team Meetings and Appraisals/1-2-1 Visits.

Knowledge and 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

Knowledge and 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.

Knowledge and 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

Knowledge and understanding of the key principles of warehousing and stock control;

the safe movement, storage and stock control of products within the trade supplier environment

Knowledge and understanding of the technologies that are appropriate to the role;

benefits and potential limitations of technology in the workplace

different technologies and how they support the operation of the business.

Knowledge and 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.

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

understand the impact of personal behaviour and actions on the team.

recognise and comply with organisational standards of presentation and behaviour.

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

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

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.

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

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.

complying with legal requirements to minimise risk and build customer confidence.

minimising disruption to the business and maintaining the safety and security of people at all time

taking appropriate action if a breach of H&S regulations is identified.

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 and prioritising own workload.
identifying own strengths, weaknesses and development needs.

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

works with integrity in an honest and trustworthy manor

demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in own performance

shows an organised and committed approach, with a positive attitude.

takes ownership and responsibility for own performance, is diligent and accurate

supports equality and diversity in the workplace

uses appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and operates machinery safely and effectively

consistently takes into account company environmental and sustainability policies and procedures.

The End Point Assessment (EPA) will only commence once the Employer, Apprentice and Smart Training Advisor are confident that the apprentice has developed all the knowledge, skills and behaviours defined in the apprenticeship standard and that these are clearly evidenced through the progress review meetings and records. The independent end point assessment ensures that all Apprentices consistently achieve the industry set professional standard. The EPA can commence at any point once the apprentice is competent and after the twelve-month minimum period of learning and development. Prior to independent end point assessment the functional skills English and maths components of the apprenticeship must be successfully completed.

Knowledge Test

A 60-minute Online Knowledge Test worth 30 marks, consisting of 15, four-option, multiple-choice questions worth 1 mark each and 5 structured questions (short answer) worth 3 marks each. A question bank must be developed by EPAOs.

Real-life Practical Observation

The three-hour real-life Practical Observation will be carried out at the apprentice’s place of work by the approved EPAO.

Professional Discussion

60-minute Professional Discussion (supported by a Portfolio of Evidence) will be conducted by the assessor in the apprentice’s place of work and will take place after the real-life Practical Observation.