Trainee Buyer

Lemon Drizzle Recruitment; North East; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable recruitment agency is seeking a Trainee Buyer for a Roofing & Cladding Contractor in Durham. This full-time role offers a competitive salary of £25,000 – £30,000 and extensive training towards a career in procurement. Responsibilities include supporting buying activities, ordering materials, and liaising with suppliers. Ideal candidates exhibit strong communication skills and a willingness to learn. The position provides exposure to live construction sites and opportunities for career progression.

Benefits

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Company pension

Free on-site parking

Early finish every Friday (2pm!)

Structured training for career progression

Qualifications

• Must be willing to learn and display a positive attitude.
• Strong communication skills required for interactions with site teams.
• Comfortable working under pressure while managing multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Support procurement team in day-to-day buying activities.
• Order materials and maintain procurement records.
• Liaise with suppliers and resolve invoice queries.

Skills

Positive can-do attitude

Strong communication skills

Ability to juggle multiple tasks

Team player

Confident using Microsoft Office

Job description

Kick-start Your Career in Procurement

Trainee Buyer – Roofing & Cladding Contractor

Durham |£25,000 – £30,000 | Full Time, Permanent (37 hours)

Looking for a foot in the door with the construction industry? Ambitious, organised, and ready to learn? This is your chance to build a long-term career in procurement with a growing, well-respected contractor — no previous buying experience required.

Lemon Drizzle Recruitment is proud to be partnering with a successful and expanding Roofing & Cladding Contractor based in Durham. The business delivers high-quality building envelope solutions across commercial, industrial, and high-rise projects throughout the North East — and now they’re looking to invest in their next Trainee Buyer.

Why this role?

This is a hands-on, fast-paced role where you’ll be right at the heart of site operations, ensuring projects are fully resourced and running smoothly. You’ll join a small, supportive procurement team and receive full training to develop into a Buyer, with real progression opportunities.

You won’t be stuck behind a desk either — you’ll get the chance to visit live sites, see projects taking shape, and truly understand the materials and processes you’re procuring for.

What you’ll be doing

• Supporting the procurement team with day-to-day buying activities
• Ordering materials for building envelope projects (up to 12m)
• Taking material requests from site teams and placing purchase orders
• Sourcing suppliers, requesting quotes, and tracking deliveries
• Maintaining accurate procurement records and supplier information
• Resolving invoice queries and supporting invoice matching
• Liaising with internal departments to support purchasing enquiries
• Managing plant and equipment registers and arranging orders when needed
• Handling calls, emails, and general procurement administration

What we’re looking for

• A positive, can-do attitude and genuine desire to learn
• Strong communication skills (phone, email, face-to-face)
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines in a busy environment
• Comfortable working under pressure and reacting to changing priorities
• A team player who enjoys supporting others
• Confident using Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)
• Procurement or construction experience is desirable but not essential
• Full UK driving licence (or working towards) — site visits are part of the role

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary £25,000 – £30,000
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Company pension
• Free on-site parking
• Early finish every Friday (2pm!)
• Structured training and clear career progression into a Buyer role
• Exposure to real projects and site environments from day one

Hiring Process

• Initial informal chat with Rachel Scott at Lemon Drizzle Recruitment
• CV submission to the client
• In-person interview with the Hiring Manager

If you’re looking for a role where you can learn, grow, and build a genuine career in construction procurement, this is an opportunity not to be missed