JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 226

A super
start
Supermarkets offer a huge variety of roles, both
on the shop floor and behind the scenes, making
food retail a great industry to kick off your career

P

eople will always need
to eat, and the food
retail industry employs
a staggering 3.9 million
people in the UK,
accounting for 14% of
all UK employment. In fact, nearly one
million of us are employed by the UK's
four biggest supermarkets, and many
more work for smaller food retail chains.
There are a huge variety of jobs
available at every level, from school leaver
to graduate, and opportunities to progress
if you work hard and show initiative. Here
are some of the roles you might consider.

2 2 6 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

Buyer
A buyer is responsible for deciding what
products will be stocked in a particular
department - for example, meats, cheeses,
or fruit and veg. You'll review current
items and source new products based
on customer demand, market trends
and availability. This involves visiting
suppliers and trade fairs around the UK
and abroad. With experience, you can
become a senior buyer or head of buying.
What skills and qualifications do I
need? A degree in business or retail
management is ideal, but supermarkets
offer graduate training schemes that
are open to all (see box, over the page).
You'll need to be skilled in analysis,
negotiation and decision making, as you'll
be responsible for making major decisions.
How much can I earn? Salaries
start at £18,000 for trainees, but can
rise to £70,000 for senior buyers.



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018

http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/jcspring2018
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/JobsandCareersAutumn2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/YourBusinessWithJamesCaan2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/Careers/Careers_with_Hayley_Taylor_2011
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