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Choose and contract with suppliers and order stock in a retail organisation

URN: PPL.B306
Business Sectors (Suites): Retail
Developed by: People 1st
Approved on: 2025

Overview

This standard is about choosing and contracting with suppliers who can provide the best prices and service and placing orders for stock in a retail organisation.

This standard is for staff who order stock.

When you have completed this standard you will be able to demonstrate your understanding of and ability to:

  • Choose and contract with suppliers and order stock in a retail organisation

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. check the stock records at suitable intervals and identify which stock requires replenishing following your workplace procedures
  2. ask colleagues if they expect to have any special orders
  3. compare purchase requisitions to identify items that can be ordered together
  4. use the purchasing records to find out who regular suppliers have been, if any
  5. choose suitable suppliers to use, taking account of stock availability, prices, delivery times and the extent to which suppliers' practices are compatible with your workplace's sustainability policy
  6. check chosen suppliers' contracts and terms and conditions are suitable for your workplace
  7. order items accurately, promptly and from suitable suppliers following your workplace procedures
  8. work out the total cost of an order for stock accurately
  9. keep complete, accurate and up-to-date purchasing records following your workplace procedures
  10. store purchasing records so that they can be easily found by the people who require them following your workplace procedures

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the types of stock your workplace normally requires
  2. how to use your workplace stock records to find out what needs to be ordered
  3. the suppliers currently being used
  4. the suppliers who have been used in the past and why they are no longer being used
  5. how to find and choose possible new suppliers and check whether they are suitable according to your workplace requirements
  6. your workplace procedures for choosing suppliers, including relevant aspects of your workplace's sustainability policy
  7. what makes a legally binding contract
  8. why suppliers' terms and conditions need to be checked
  9. your workplace procedures for ordering stock
  10. your workplace procedures for keeping records of orders

Scope/range

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

Links To Other NOS

PPL.B307 Check and evaluate the performance of suppliers of stock

External Links

Version Number

4

Indicative Review Date

2030

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Skillsmart Retail

Original URN

SSR.B306

Relevant Occupations

Managers and Senior Officials, Managers in Distribution, Storage and Retailing, Retail and Commercial Enterprise, Retailing and Wholesaling, Sales and Customer Services Occupations, Sales Assistants and Retail Cashiers, Sales Related Occupations

SOC Code

3551

Keywords

Retailing; retailers; sources; sourcing; finds; finding; chooses; choosing; supply; supplies; supplying; stocks; items; goods; materials; products; produce; buyers; buys; buying; orders; ordering