Purchasing Graduate

Iwt; Corwen; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Ifor Williams Trailers is seeking highly motivated graduates to join our Purchasing and Materials department and play an active role in supporting continued growth across our global operations.

As a Purchasing Graduate at Ifor Williams Trailers, you will work across a broad range of projects, accelerating your development as you gain hands-on experience undertaking critical tasks that support business and project delivery.

Qualifications

• A degree in Mathematics, Engineering, Business or Management with a minimum 2:1.
• Strong commercial awareness with an interest in purchasing and supply chain.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data, with high attention to detail and strong spreadsheet capability.
• An effective communicator, confident working with colleagues, suppliers and senior stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel long‑haul, European and UK, as required by project and supplier needs.

Responsibilities

• Support purchasing and materials activities across a wide supplier base, ensuring continuity of supply and alignment with production and business needs.
• Assist in the management of purchasing projects, taking ownership of defined workstreams from an early stage.
• Analysing cost, supplier and performance data using spreadsheets to produce detailed reports that support commercial and operational decision making.
• Working closely with internal stakeholders across manufacturing, engineering, materials and finance to support project delivery and continuous improvement.
• Supporting supplier relationship management, including preparation for, and participation in, supplier meetings and site visits.
• Contributing to the development and improvement of purchasing processes, reporting and KPI tracking.
• Gaining exposure to global sourcing activities and understanding how purchasing decisions impact cost, quality and delivery.
• Travelling within the UK and Europe to support supplier engagement and project requirements.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Commercial awareness

Communication

Attention to detail

Self-starter

Travel willingness

Education

Degree in Mathematics, Engineering, Business or Management (2:1)

Job description

Summary

We are looking for highly motivated Graduates to join our Purchasing and Materials department and play an active role in supporting continued growth across our global operations. As a Purchasing Graduate at Ifor Williams Trailers, you will work across a broad range of projects, accelerating your development as you gain hands-on experience undertaking critical tasks that support business and project delivery.

From the outset, you will be given real responsibility, taking ownership of defined project areas and working closely with key decision makers across the business. This will give you unique exposure to the KPIs that drive a successful £100m+ turnover manufacturing organisation, while developing strong commercial and operational insight.

The role offers significant opportunity for development, including supplier exposure across the UK and Europe, and structured professional qualification support. Travel will be required as part of supplier visits and project assignments.

More Details

What you will be responsible for

• Supporting purchasing and materials activities across a wide supplier base, ensuring continuity of supply and alignment with production and business needs.
• Assisting in the management of purchasing projects, taking ownership of defined workstreams from an early stage.
• Analysing cost, supplier and performance data using spreadsheets to produce detailed reports that support commercial and operational decision making.
• Working closely with internal stakeholders across manufacturing, engineering, materials and finance to support project delivery and continuous improvement.
• Supporting supplier relationship management, including preparation for, and participation in, supplier meetings and site visits.
• Contributing to the development and improvement of purchasing processes, reporting and KPI tracking.
• Gaining exposure to global sourcing activities and understanding how purchasing decisions impact cost, quality and delivery.
• Travelling within the UK and Europe to support supplier engagement and project requirements.

What we are looking for

• A degree in Mathematics, Engineering, Business or Management, with a minimum 2:1 classification. Other disciplines may be considered for exceptional candidates.
• Strong commercial awareness, with an interest in purchasing, supply chain and manufacturing operations.
• The ability to analyse and interpret complex data, with high attention to detail and strong spreadsheet capability.
• An effective communicator, confident working with colleagues, suppliers and senior stakeholders.
• A motivated self‑starter, comfortable taking responsibility and managing competing priorities.
• Willingness to travel long‑haul, European and UK, as required by project and supplier needs.
• A strong desire for personal and professional development, including commitment to achieving a company-sponsored CIPS qualification.

The behaviours that matter most

• Ownership and drive. You take responsibility for your work, follow tasks through to completion and look for opportunities to add value.
• Learning mindset. You are curious, open to feedback and proactive in developing your commercial and technical capability.
• Attention to detail. You understand that purchasing decisions matter and ensure accuracy in data, reporting and communication.
• Professional communication. You engage clearly and confidently with stakeholders at all levels, including suppliers and senior managers.
• Flexibility and resilience. You adapt well to change, manage multiple priorities and remain effective in a fast‑paced environment.

Why IWT

A family-owned business with the heritage and stability of a family firm and the scale and complexity to genuinely test a senior site leader. Founded in 1958, with five advanced manufacturing sites across North Wales, and with customers across the UK, Europe and beyond.

The role offers real breadth multi-line assembly, process-plant operations, finishing, people development and operational performance all under one site leader. North Wales is an outstanding place to live and work, with the coast and Eryri (Snowdonia) on the doorstep and Liverpool and Manchester just over an hour away.

• We offer a competitive senior-leadership salary (details on application), pension, genuine investment in continuing professional development, and a leadership role with real authority and the resources to deliver against it.