Jobs in builders merchants can be a really long-term career option, a lot of people think that it is a stop-gap but there are a lot of different routes through the industry.
Yard Operative to Yard Supervisor
The first step into a builders merchant is typically to be placed in the yard. This would involve receiving deliveries, storing stock, and loading up customer orders for collection. Once you have gained sufficient knowledge of the yard and have acquired a forklift licence (typically a counterbalance ticket) you would look to progress to Yard Supervisor.
Counter Sales to Area Sales Manager
Trade Counter Sales staff will have product knowledge of Timber, Fixings, Insulation and Groundworks materials, which they will use to advise and assist trade customers. An internal move to a role such as internal sales or account management would be suitable for a strong performer in this role. The area sales manager is the next step for strong performers, managing several branches and major trade accounts.
Warehouse and Logistics Roles
Many larger builders merchants have a large distribution operation based in the warehouse. So as a warehouse operative you could gain experience of stock management (using a software package such as Kerridge or similar) and learn the goods-in procedures. From here you could look to become a warehouse team leader or a logistics coordinator. For more on Builders Merchants Vacancies, take a look at //bmcareers.com/distributors-and-builders-merchants-vacancies/.
Estimating and Buying
Some builders merchants also have Estimators and Buyers within their teams. Estimators would calculate the cost of large projects and quote to customers. Buyers would look after suppliers and manage the stock of products within the merchant. These roles are generally filled by people with a good amount of product knowledge and typically have experience in sales or yard roles. They would also need to have an understanding of cost and margin.
Branch Management
The Branch Manager’s role within a builders merchant would generally oversee all aspects of the branch, including sales, stock holding and management, staff and profitability of the branch. Typically a Branch Manager would have come up through the Sales or Operations side of the business and have developed a good understanding of the commercial aspects of the business over a number of years.
com, listing current jobs by area and by discipline. For those just starting out in construction looking for an entry-level job to builders merchants vacancies and wondering how apprenticeships work in England see here.
So to sum up, the key to unlocking the next step in builders merchants vacancies is to keep building your product knowledge and the industry will open up to you.
