Buying + Merchandising Apprentice (starting March 2025)

Company Description

We’re ASOS, the online retailer for fashion lovers all around the world.

We exist to give our customers the confidence to be whoever they want to be, and that goes for our people too. At ASOS, you’re free to be your true self without judgement, and channel your creativity into a platform used by millions.

But how are we showing up? We’re proud members of Inclusive Companies, are Disability Confident Committed and have signed the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and we placed 8th in the Inclusive Top 50 Companies Employer list.

Everyone needs some help showing up as their best self. Let our Talent team know if you need any adjustments throughout the process in whatever way works best for you.

Job Description

The opportunity

Are you ready to become a Future Maker?

Whether you're just starting out in your career or looking to make a change, our Future Maker apprenticeship programmes are designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and experience you need to succeed. Here’s a link to our Apprenticeships @ ASOS info pack.

Our level 4 Buying and Merchandising Apprenticeship is the perfect way to rotate between both areas to find out where you fit in. Our Merchandising teams use data analysis to discover what pieces are trending right now and what we should invest in, while our Buying teams use those insights to build ranges that deliver the best fashion for our customers, grow our own brands, and develop relationships with other brands on ASOS.

Click here to watch our Buying and Merchandising teams bring the opportunity to life, and click here for tips + tricks from our current apprentices.

We will give you

• the training to learn skills such as monitoring performance targets, effective stock management and data backed decision making; plus, gain knowledge of areas such as the product lifecycle + critical path, ethical + sustainable sourcing and global trading patterns.
• access to the Future Makers Community and support from the dedicated Emerging Talent Team.
• funded training to gain a nationally recognised level 4 apprenticeship qualification, equivalent to a foundation degree.
• the opportunity to learn, earn and grow at a global fashion retailer. To find out more about what it’s like to work @ ASOS, check out our careers site, LinkedIn feed, or search #insideASOS online.

What you’ll be doing

• Communicating with our external suppliers and keeping track of our stock to make sure our products are in the right place at the right time
• Managing a high volume of physical product samples within our HQ to make sure our teams have what they need for development, fit and sign-off sessions and studio shoots
• Monitoring the intake and inventories of our ASOS stock to ensure cover, analyse sale performance, spot trends and identify issues
• Supporting the day-to-day admin of a busy team by raising purchase orders, inputting data, sharing reporting and keeping systems up to date
• Completing your apprenticeship learning plan e.g. attending workshops, meeting with your talent coach, adding to your development portfolio, prepping for assessments

Who we’re looking for

Buying and Merchandising Apprentices will typically enjoy:

• analysing detailed information & numbers
• spotting and researching trends, both in fashion and data
• staying organised to juggle different tasks and priorities
• collaborating with others and building relationships, as well as working independently

Here’s what Bernadette, our Face + Body Director, has to say about who we’re looking for:

“If you’re unsure on if you’d be more suited to a career in Buying or Merchandising, this programme gives you a chance to explore both, all whilst building strong foundations of the retail environment through the apprenticeship learning.

Whilst you might be the kind of person who loves a list or spreadsheet, you’re also obsessed with monitoring different online platforms to spot what’s trending in fashion and culture, and you’re eager to learn whenever possible. Basically, you’re not afraid to get stuck in, are comfortable working with details + numbers, and you genuinely enjoy admin.

We don’t expect you to have any professional experience, but you live and breathe fashion,  have a keen interest in all aspects of retail and you have done your research into why a career in Buying + Merchandising might be for you.

If I were to describe a Buying + Merchandising Apprentice in three words, they would be proactive, adaptable and trend-focused. ”

Please see the qualifications section for this programme’s requirements.

The need to know info

• You’ll need to be available to join us from March 2025, on a full-time basis.
• You’ll be studying towards the Level 4 Buying and Merchandising Assistant apprenticeship standard with our training provider, Fashion Retail Academy. A minimum of 6 hours a week will be dedicated to off-the-job learning and your remaining time is spent on-the-job.
• Your apprenticeship is estimated to last 24 months. We’ll discuss your progress throughout your apprenticeship and help you seek out new challenges and work opportunities upon completion.
• You’ll be based at our Camden, London office. This role requires you to commute to the office at least 3 days a week & the flexibility to work from home on the days you’re not in (we'll provide you with a work laptop and other essential equipment to do so). If this would be difficult for you, please let us know in the supporting you section on our application form - we’d be happy to discuss any requirements.
• You’ll be paid £23,000 per year & have access to our ASOS extras benefits package, highlights include:
  • employee discount (hello ASOS discount!) & sample sales
  • TOTUM student discount with your apprenticeship
  • free gym & subsidised canteen in our amazing office spaces
  • ASOS Develops (personal development opportunities across the business)
  • Summer hours (finish @ 3pm on a Friday in June, July & August)
  • 25 days paid annual leave + an extra celebration day

The next steps

• In the application form, we’ll ask some quick questions to find out more about you and to assess your eligibility for the programme (see the qualifications section below). Our application system currently requires a CV to apply, but we’re more interested in learning about your strengths, attitude and interests throughout the process.
• We’re expecting a high volume of applications so we would encourage you to apply ASAP.
• The next stages are:
  • an online assessment once your eligibility has been assessed
  • an assessment & insight day in November
  • start date of March 2025

Qualifications

Apprenticeship training costs are funded via a government scheme. This means we must make sure you are:

• over 16
• not in full time education, nor enrolled on another apprenticeship or funded education programme
• living in the UK (and have done so for the last three years) & that you have the legal right to work in the UK 

This programme requires you to have achieved:

• Maths & English GCSEs grades A-C/9-4 (or equivalent)

Also, you should not already hold a qualification in any area related to the course knowledge, skills and behaviours. For example, for this programme the below list (not exhaustive) would make you ineligible:

• Any Buying + Merchandising qualification at Level 4 and above
• Any Fashion Retail qualification at Level 4 and above
• Fashion Buying degrees
• Fashion Business degrees
• International Fashion Marketing BSc (Hons)

Additional Information

BeneFITS’

• Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!)
• ASOS Develops (personal development opportunities across the business)
• Employee sample sales
• Access to a huge range of LinkedIn learning materials
• 25 days paid annual leave + an extra celebration day for a special moment
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Private medical care scheme
• Flexible benefits allowance - which you can choose to take as extra cash, or use towards other benefits

Why take our word for it? Search #InsideASOS on our socials to see what life at ASOS is like.