Buying Assistant

Location: Hybrid/Shrewsbury, Shropshire Salary/package: £25,948.96 to £27,000 per annum DOE Contract type: Permanent Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week This role is an initial 12-month fixed term contract. Commercial Services Group (CSG) are looking for a trusted Buying Assistant to join their Global Education Supplies (GES) division and play a key role in ensuring accurate product data, smooth supplier communication and effective operational support. This role would suit someone early in their buying, merchandising or supply chain career, offering the chance to develop strong commercial skills, gain exposure to product lifecycle management and wo//rk closely with experienced Category Buyers and Product Managers. Who we are Global Education Supplies (GES) is part of the Children & Education portfolio at Commercial Services Group (CSG) , comprising seven complementary brands that serve the global education sector. These include KCS Education, CES, Landscapes for Learning, Maudesport, Gresswell, Timstar and Technology Supplies. With a customer base spanning more than 90 countries, GES is entering a transformational phase focused on international growth, new product development, marketing investment and operational excellence. Why this role matters The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining accurate product and supplier information, ensuring smooth communication across internal teams and supporting efficient supplier management. This is a role where organisation, accuracy and collaboration are essential with responsibility for supporting product onboarding, data updates and supplier queries. What you’ll be doing Managing supplier and internal queries to ensure timely responses and effective issue resolution. Supporting the collection, verification and updating of product and supplier information. Maintaining accurate data within the Product Information Management system and Microsoft Dynamics. Supporting the onboarding of new products, ensuring correct specifications, pricing, imagery and compliance documentation. Working closely with Buyers, Product Managers, Inventory and Customer Services to support smooth operations. Preparing reports, analysis and documentation to support decision making Supporting supplier performance tracking, product lifecycle updates and data cleansing activities What we’re looking for Proven experience using Microsoft Dynamics in a product, buying or supply chain environment. Strong Excel skills, including data manipulation and lookups. Excellent attention to detail and accuracy when handling data. Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines. Confident communication and relationship‑building skills. An analytical mindset with the ability to interpret and present data clearly. A proactive and solutions‑focused approach. What you’ll get in return Salary of £25,948.96 to £27,000 per annum. 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 after four years. Birthday Day Off. One concessionary day during the Christmas period. Pension scheme with 4% employer contribution. Life assurance cover. Hybrid working. Why CSG? Commercial Services Group (CSG) is the UK’s largest local authority-owned trading company (LATCO), generating over £800 million in revenue and supporting 16,000 education and public sector customers worldwide. With more than 1,800 employees across the UK, France, Dubai and Bangkok, we are working towards becoming the global leader in education and public sector solutions. We are expanding rapidly, with annual growth of around 25 percent, supported by a blend of organic development, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Our 33 trading businesses deliver a wide range of services including education management, IT, HR, legal, energy, procurement and supplies. CSG is wholly owned by local authorities, and a significant proportion of our profits is reinvested into frontline public services. Over £77 million has already been returned, reflecting our commitment to combining commercial performance with meaningful social impact. Inclusion & Accessibility We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage applications from suitably qualified people of all backgrounds. As a member of Inclusive Employers and a Working Families Employer, we are actively building an environment that supports inclusion, flexibility and belonging for all colleagues.