Purchasing Assistant

Grain Connect Limited; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A broadband provider based in Carlisle is looking for a procurement professional to manage buying goods and services. You will negotiate supplier pricing, expedite deliveries, validate invoices, and produce reports. The ideal candidate should have relevant experience, strong IT skills, and excellent communication abilities. This full-time role offers a salary of £23,810 per annum, along with benefits like 25 days annual leave and a retirement contribution up to 7%.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Up to 7% retirement contribution

Life insurance

Employee Incentive Scheme

Employee Referral Scheme

Qualifications

• Relevant work experience preferred in buying, merchandising, or stock control.
• Proficient in Microsoft Windows and Office Suite.
• Ability to work independently without close supervision.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate supplier pricing and manage purchase orders.
• Ensure timely delivery of goods and services.
• Review and validate invoices for payment approval.

Skills

Negotiating pricing and terms with suppliers

Strong IT literacy

Confident communicator

Numerical proficiency

Structured methodical approach

Self-starter

Tools

Microsoft Excel

QuickBooks

Job description

Learn and develop into a procurement professional

Permanent

Carlisle

About this role

Based from our Carlisle office, this varied role will involve buying goods and services for Grain’s day to day operations. It will include negotiating prices, placing orders, expediting deliveries, validating invoices and supplier reporting and spend analysis. You will be supported and coached through the role as you learn the products, processes and the fundamentals of procurement and supply chain management. You will be speaking to a large range of both internal colleagues and our suppliers to ensure we are providing a great service to our customers and getting the job done.

Main responsibilities

• Ensuring value for money on company purchases, placing purchase orders and agreeing supplier pricing.
• Expediting stock and orders to ensure ‘right first time’ delivery.
• Setting up new supplier trade accounts.
• Use of systems for purchase information and producing reports.
• Reviewing invoices for accuracy and approval for payment.
• Ability to build pricing spreadsheets for price evaluation.

Working hours

This is a full-time role working 37.5 hours per week. Monday – Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Experience required

• Relevant work experience preferred e.g. buying, merchandising and/or stock controller
• Strong IT literacy, particularly adept in the use of Microsoft Windows, Excel, Outlook and Word
• Confident communicator, ability to negotiate pricing and terms with suppliers, strong numerically
• Proficient in the use of accountancy and stock systems such as QuickBooks
• Structured methodical approach
• Trustworthy self-starter with an ability to work without close supervision

About Grain

Everything we do is fast, from our broadband to our growth. As a national broadband provider, headquartered in Carlisle, we can offer stand-out candidates a range of opportunities across the UK. We are challenging the other providers when it comes to true Full Fibre, delivering our own dedicated fibre‑optic network with a unique cable to the home (FTTP), offering some of the fastest broadband products at low, low prices. Customers love our product, our simple packages and our transparent pricing. We believe that we are helping to bring digital transformation to the UK and offering the UK a better choice for broadband.

With millions of pounds of investment, our independent company is making waves in the industry and in communities from Aberdeen to Brighton. Now is the perfect time to join one of the fastest growing companies on an exciting journey, future‑proofing broadband connectivity for homes and businesses for years to come. Apply today and join the Grain revolution!

Employment with Grain Connect Ltd is subject to satisfactory references and other verification checks (including basic DBS check where applicable) that may be a requirement of your role. Reference and/or other verification requirements applicable to your post will be advised to you during the recruitment process.

Dedicated to fostering inclusivity and diversity, our company takes pride in our commitment to equal opportunities.

Benefits to help you thrive, personally and professionally!

Salary £23,810 per annum.

Annual leave allowance

We offer 25 days annual leave allowance, plus bank holidays.

Start saving for your future and we will contribute up to 7% towards your retirement.

Life insurance

We provide 4 times your annual salary to a nominated person, following a death in service.

Employee Incentive Scheme

Get financially rewarded for your hard work and dedication with an annual incentive scheme.

Employee Referral Scheme

Refer a friend or former colleague to join the Grain team and you could earn £££s!