Industrial buyer : Employers and vacancy sources

Purchasing and procurement are increasingly recognised as key to the successful business development and performance of companies across a wide range of industries and organisations. Typical employers include:

• manufacturing and service companies;
• information and communication technology companies;
• engineering and construction industries;
• wholesalers; 
• tlocal authorities;
• public services industries; 
• retailing and mail order companies;
• the armed forces;
• the National Health Service (NHS).

E-procurement or managing multiple suppliers through the use of technology is growing in the public sector and in some industries, such as information and communication technology and construction. This use of e-business to boost supply chain activities, whereby invoices and other documents are sent electronically with all information held in a central archiving hub, is likely to increase.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• The Retail Directory of the UK  
• Supply Management  
• International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM)  
• Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Recruitment (CIPS-GPA)  
• The Engineer    
• Jobs and Courses   
• Guardian Jobs  
• Independent Jobs  
• The Times Jobs  
• The Daily Telegraph Jobs  

Some recruitment agencies handle vacancies for sales and purchasing posts, although they often require some experience. Purcon  specialises in work related to purchasing.

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