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Trade supplier

Trade supplier

Sales, marketing and procurement

Level 2 - Technical Occupation

Ensuring an efficient flow of goods and services between manufacturers and their skilled trade customer base.

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Reference: OCC0334

Status: assignment_turned_inApproved occupation

Average (median) salary: £22,978 per year

SOC 2020 code: 7132 Sales supervisors - retail and wholesale

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:

  • 7132/00 Sales supervisors - retail and wholesale
  • 3552/00 Business sales executives
  • 4133/00 Stock control clerks and assistants

Technical Education Products

ST0334:

Trade supplier

(Level 2)

Approved for delivery

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Howdens Joinery Co., Stearn Electric Company Ltd, R & B Star (Electrical Wholesalers) Ltd, City Electrical Factors, Lockwell Electrical, Lincs Electrical Wholesalers Ltd, Edmundson Electrical Ltd, Kew Electrical, Rexel UK Ltd, Magnet Group

Summary

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, plumbing, joinery and general building 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 can specialise in roles in a trade business environment, which may include 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 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.

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Howdens Joinery Co., Stearn Electric Company Ltd, R & B Star (Electrical Wholesalers) Ltd, City Electrical Factors, Lockwell Electrical, Lincs Electrical Wholesalers Ltd, Edmundson Electrical Ltd, Kew Electrical, Rexel UK Ltd, Magnet Group

Keywords:

Customer Service
Supplier
Trade
Trade Business
Trade Supplier

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: Knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s: structure, mission, objectives and culture and how the role contributes to its success.
K2: Knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s: position in the flow of goods and services, between the manufacturer and the customer,
K3: Knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s: 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.
K4: Knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s: internal policies and procedures, how these relate to the role and interact with legislative obligations.
K5: Knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s: vulnerability to situations that pose risk to the brand and/or business reputation
K6: specialist trade customer profile of the business: identify specialist customer needs
K7: specialist trade customer profile of the business: recognise how to be an effective listener.
K8: specialist trade customer profile of the business: recognise the difference between internal and external customers and the relationship between customer satisfaction and organisational performance.
K9: trade counter and telesales services: recognise the products, services and language used by trade customers and the technical application of those product and services
K10: key principles of warehousing and stock control: the safe movement, storage and stock control of products within the trade supplier environment
K11: technologies that are appropriate to the role: benefits and potential limitations of technology in the workplace
K12: technologies that are appropriate to the role: different technologies and how they support the operation of the business.
K13: 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.
K14: 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.
K15: personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: recognise and comply with organisational standards of presentation and behaviour.

S1: Knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s: communicating confidently to internal and external customers about the company and how it operates
S2: Knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s: identifying and communicating with the relevant person if a threat or risk to the business is identified
S3: specialist trade customer profile of the business: using appropriate techniques and forms of communication to put customers at ease and gain their trust.
S4: specialist trade customer profile of the business: delivering customer service that exceeds customer expectations
S5: specialist trade customer profile of the business: identifying customer requirements and referring them onwards in an appropriate manner
S6: trade counter and telesales services: assisting customers in exploring product ranges and alternative and complementary products and services, based on the fundamental underpinning product knowledge
S7: trade counter and telesales services: identifying the customers’ requirements, matching them to the trade supplier’s products and services
S8: trade counter and telesales 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.
S9: trade counter and telesales services: securing a trade sale using appropriate selling techniques, both face to face and on the telephone, and methods to complete the transaction.
S10: trade counter and telesales services: applying basic merchandising techniques used within the business.
S11: trade counter and telesales services: 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.
S12: trade counter and telesales services: communicating with customers using various methods and systems appropriate to the situation
S13: trade counter and telesales services: applying the key principles of administration and working practices to accurately prepare, store, communicate and process businesses documentation.
S14: trade counter and telesales services: processing information, to the key standards of data protection, security and intellectual property rights.
S15: key principles of warehousing and stock control: processing and recording the receipt, storage, assembly and despatch of goods.
S16: key principles of warehousing and stock control: receiving stock, despatching customer orders and processing returns in line with company processes.
S17: key principles of warehousing and stock control: loading /unloading of supplier and contractor vehicles
S18: technologies that are appropriate to the role: using technology appropriately and efficiently in line with business policy, e.g. PoS (point of sale) machines, PCs
S19: technologies that are appropriate to the role: demonstrating the use of various technologies, e.g. bespoke/in house or off the shelf software packages to others.
S20: legislative responsibilities relating to the business, products and/or services being sold: complying with legal requirements to minimise risk and build customer confidence.
S21: legislative responsibilities relating to the business, products and/or services being sold: minimising disruption to the business and maintaining the safety and security of people at all time
S22: legislative responsibilities relating to the business, products and/or services being sold: taking appropriate action if a breach of H&S regulations is identified.
S23: personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: building two-way trust and contribute to working within a team
S24: personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: collaborating with colleagues to resolve problems.
S25: personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: 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.
S26: personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: demonstrating effective time management through planning and prioritising own workload.
S27: personal responsibilities and performance contribute to the success of the team and the business: identifying own strengths, weaknesses and development needs.

B1: adopts an approachable and friendly manner, interacting with customers in the style of the business
B2: takes an active interest in the range of products and services offered by the
B3: works with integrity in an honest and trustworthy manor
B4: demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in own performance
B5: shows an organised and committed approach, with a positive attitude.
B6: takes ownership and responsibility for own performance, is diligent and accurate
B7: supports equality and diversity in the workplace
B8: uses appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and operates machinery safely and effectively
B9: consistently takes into account company environmental and sustainability policies and procedures.

Occupational Progression

This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.

In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.

It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.

Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.

Technical Occupations

Levels 2-3

Higher Technical Occupations

Levels 4-5

Professional Occupations

Levels 6-7

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Level 4

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Level 4

Business and administration

Sales, marketing and procurement