Purchasing

General overview

This function, based in London and Leeds, is responsible for all non-merchandise procurement across the Group with the core aim of ensuring Arcadia gets best value from its suppliers.

The team comprises of Purchasing Managers and Buyers who have specific accountability for company wide contracts e.g. travel, consumables, utilities and also have a brief to support colleagues across different areas of the business such as Logistics, IT and the Brands.

The team also includes Print Purchasing who help design and purchase all printed matter for the Brands, including window graphics and promotional material. As part of this team, we have a dedicated in-house design studio providing support to all head office functions and Brands as required.

Types of role

• Purchasing Manager
• Buyer
• Production Manager
• Designer

If you are interested in any of these roles please click here to find out if we have opportunities available.

Profile

Simon Anderson
Purchasing Manager

"I purchase goods and services on behalf of the Group for Goods Not For Resale (GNFR) areas such as cash collection services, security, utilities, travel, IT, car fleet, carrier bags, pens and pencils etc.

It involves identifying areas for review, ensuring key decision makers/stakeholders are engaged and supportive, establishing and managing project teams, market research and analysis, coordinating the bid process, managing the supplier selection process, negotiating the commercial terms of the contract to ensure best value service and performance from the suppliers, writing the contract, and supplier/contract management thereafter where required.

I'm expected to think 'outside the box'. The way we are doing something now doesn't mean it's right for the future. I've got to challenge the status quo, which requires the ability to analyse the issues, determine next steps and make sound recommendations and decisions. It's easy to buy cheap, however ensuring that Arcadia's gets the best value and total costs of ownership are minimised whilst maintaining and improving service levels is the key.

My week is divided between different locations generally spending two days in Leeds, two days in London and the other visiting suppliers.

To do my job you need to be positive, self assured, confident and well motivated with the ability to work across all business functions with a multitude of different people.

A purchasing role in GNFR is not an easy option. Natural reluctance to change is something I have to deal with on a regular basis and managing changing priorities and situations is part and parcel of the role. However, if you have the 'nose' for a good deal and by instinct always question what you're being told by a supplier and automatically want to look at alternative solutions, a purchasing career at Arcadia can be very rewarding.

I began my career at Asda's Head Office in Leeds as a Buying Assistant. I then moved to the Burton Group as a step up the ladder to Assistant Buyer and was then promoted to Buyer. Then I moved to Tibbett & Britten Logistics as Senior Buyer and was promoted to Purchasing Manager responsible for managing the Purchasing Team of seven people. I moved to Arcadia as Purchasing Manager in 2003."