Trade supplier apprenticeship

As a trade supplier apprentice you will play a vital role in ensuring an efficient sales of goods and services between trade businesses and their skilled customers, with options to work across a variety of sectors including electrical, plumbing, joinery.

Woman smiling in a warehouse
Course overview

At a glance

Level

2

Duration

12 months + EPA

Location

Workplace

About the course

Our programme has been developed with market leaders including Screwfix, Selco and the Grafton Group.

This apprenticeship uniquely combines training in both the warehouse and the trade counter together with a strong focus on identifying and managing customer needs. This means you will gain a wide range of skills and knowledge from which to progress within the industry.

The trade supplier apprenticeship will equip you with the skills and technical knowledge of the products offered by your trade business together with the communication skills to confidently manage customer sales at the trade counter and over the telephone, providing high quality sales services and account management that encourages regular and repeat business.

The programme is delivered as workshop sessions and/or 1-2-1 training helping you to successfully achieve the programme requirements. Our expert staff will support you every step of the way, guiding and training you to complete and achieve the programme.

This course is cost-free to learners. All our programmes our regulated and funded through the government or the apprenticeship levy.

Is this course right for you?

Our trade supplier apprenticeship programme is job-focused and ideal for someone who wants to become a strong and successful trade supplier. It also provides opportunities for those already working within a trade environment to enhance and advance their skills.

Additionally, no formal qualifications are required, although a good level of literacy and numeracy would be a distinct advantage.

You’ll be supported by an expert team throughout the apprenticeship with a programme designed by leading passenger transport operators so that you gain a quality learning experience by the sector and for the sector.

I’d definitely recommend Realise, I had a better experience learning through an apprenticeship than having to learn at a college.

Peter Bridger, Screwfix ‘Apprentice of the year 2022’

What you’ll learn

The programme will develop you to confidently deal with customers and manage their requests and enquiries providing the products and services they need. Whether this is through sales, purchasing, logistics or administrative processes and functions.

During the programme we’ll cover a range of topics to develop these skills and prepare you for an end point assessment. This will include:

  • Overview of the UK’s trade and merchanting sector and your organisation’s role within it
  • Recognising the products, services and language used by your customers and the technical application of those product and services
  • Sales techniques, effective listening and understanding, telesales and face to face sales, merchandising and data protection
  • Customer Processes including repairs, returns, replacements and refunds
  • Relationship management with internal and external customers
  • Health & safety and security including the sales of restricted goods and safe storage of goods
  • Taking orders and managing deliveries
  • Use of technology and systems training

Need more information?

No problem. It doesn’t matter if your query is big or small, our teams are here to help. Just complete a quick enquiry form and we’ll be in contact soon to assist you with your query.

How you’ll learn

Our expert staff will support you to achieve the apprenticeship. We have highly skilled and knowledgeable staff with significant experience of working in the industry who will be able to share their experiences and support you.

Typically you will have:

  • An expert and dedicated trade sector specialist trainer providing ongoing training, guidance and support with regular 121 sessions, both remotely and in the workplace.
  • Off the job training tasks including supplier site visits and trade conferences
  • Remote support as and when the apprentices need further assistance
  • 24/7 access to a range of online learning modules, materials and resources
  • Quarterly progress reviews
  • An e-portfolio, OneFile to record all learning activities. OneFile is an industry leading and award winning online service which can be accessed 24/7 anywhere and through any device
  • End point assessment preparation and support ensuring your apprentices are ready to progress
  • Support from English/maths specialists if required

Our experts

The people that make it happen

Trev

Training & development officer

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Trev

Training & development officer

I have a vast experience in trade, entertainment and retail. I took the plunge back in 2007 to become an assessor and never looked back. I qualified as an assessor back in 2007 and I have loved teaching and learning for the last 16 years and the last five years at Realise. Which I have to say has been an experience that I have enjoyed most out of my training career.

Mashud

Training & development officer

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Mashud

Training & development officer

I am an experienced assessor and trainer, delivering retail, customer service and business administration from level 2 to Level 4. I have been working in the industry for the last seven years and started working with Realise in October 2018. I have a bachelor degree in economics and masters in business administration. I have more than 10 years of experience in retail and business administration. Ever since I have moved into this role, I have enjoyed it immensely as it has been both challenging and rewarding at the same time. I always try to keep myself extremely organised and have a flexible approach to my workload.

I am a proud dad of two lovely kids and love to enjoy my time with my family. Besides my work and family life, it’s all about sport. sport is my passion and hobby. I love to watch football, cricket and tennis. I am a die-hard fan of Manchester United and closely follow English County Championships. I am also a big fan of Roger Federer.

Kate

Trainer assessor

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Kate

Trainer assessor

I am a qualified and experienced trainer with 23 years of experience in the industry and almost 15 of these with Realise! With extensive experience in customer service, retail and business administration, working in these sectors since the age of 15. I have a plethora of knowledge and skills to support learners at various stages of their career. Along with my excellent and cheery communication skills, I love supporting people and it is a pleasure to see them succeed in achieving their goals and aspirations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an apprenticeship with no qualifications?
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Yes, you can get an apprenticeship without prior qualifications. If you don’t have your Maths or English qualifications, then we can add these to the programme.

Are apprenticeships free?
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Apprenticeships are cost-free to the learner. It is the employer’s responsibility to fund apprenticeships. This can either be done through a company’s apprenticeship levy or through co-investment, which is where the employer contributes 5% of the total cost of the apprenticeship, with the government paying for remaining 95%

Ready to take the next step?

Let’s talk. You’re only a few clicks away from enquiring about this course. Don’t delay, get in touch and start something exciting today!