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