Buyer

All the materials needed for construction projects are purchased by buyers in the construction sector, who also make sure they arrive on schedule and within the allotted budgets. They are essential because they buy the most economical and suitable supplies for each task, ensuring the profitability of business contracts.

A buyer's responsibilities include:

• Stating the cost of each material mentioned in the project's blueprints and drawings
• Locating possible vendors and discovering new goods
• Requesting quotes from a variety of suppliers and subcontractors
• Deciding on delivery dates
• Keeping meticulous records and coordinating work schedules
• Evaluating the dependability of suppliers and subcontractors
• Resolving issues with suppliers and the movement of materials
• Ensuring that products and services comply with the requirements for safety, health, and the environment
• Advising the project estimator on the anticipated cost of each item
• Coordinating closely with the estimator during the tendering process to guarantee the provision of an accurate project cost
• Creating and keeping cost reports to increase organisational efficiency
• Once a contract has been secured, negotiating and agreeing on the most favourable terms with suppliers.

^*Pay rates
Earnings typically depend on location, employer, the stage of your training, your hours worked and the opportunity to work overtime. Please also note that the pay rate figures have come from a variety of reliable sources including:

• National Home Builders
• Home Builder's Sub-Contractors
• CITB
• The Home Builders Federation
• Construction Recruitment Agencies

There are various paths you can take to assist you pursue this procurement job even though there are no formal requirements to become a buyer in the construction sector. You may finish a course at a university or college, enrol in an apprenticeship, or submit a job application directly to an employer.

To determine which path will lead you to becoming a customer, you should investigate them all. Even though a few of these possibilities have educational prerequisites, many companies are more interested in applicants who are passionate, open to learning, and obedient.

To work on a construction site, you might need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

You could advance as a buyer in the construction sector to become a purchasing manager or procurement manager.

The type of job role can differ depending on the employer and the activities involved. Some roles such as trade roles have the opportunity to be self-employed. Often employers offer a variety of employment status and flexibility. The jobs outlined in this website are common across the home building industry, but the job titles may differ from one organisation to another.

All our featured job roles offer different entry-points for school leavers, college leavers, and graduates to commence a career in the industry. There are opportunities to enrol on apprenticeships and other career progression routes.

For most jobs, depending on your qualifications and experience there are also openings for those looking to change career.