Purchasing Associate

Do you have a knack with systems and spreadsheets and a passion for renewable technology? We’re looking for someone with an eye for detail, a nose for a bargain and a head for numbers.

Who we are

We’re primarily a distributor of components of renewable energy systems – from solar panels to batteries and heat pumps.

Midsummer is a fast-growing company selling a range of renewable energy products, primarily to installation companies, from our offices in Cambridge, Glasgow and Dublin. We sell solar PV systems, battery storage, electric vehicle chargers, heat pumps and a variety of other associated products, and were recognised as the UK’s best renewables distributor for 2020 and 2022.

Founded in 2005, we’re now on our 7th warehouse, process around 50,000 orders a year and have a team of over 110 people across our Cambridge, Glasgow and Dublin locations. In addition to our growing gang of friendly staff and a lean, efficient operation, we have a suite of web tools that make design and ordering extremely easy, for both solar projects and heat pump installs. Easy PV and Heatpunk are our cutting edge software offerings!

As an organisation, we have a strong environmental ethos and a passion for promoting the uptake of renewables, and our team share a belief in an open and honest approach to business. Find out more about our story, purpose and how we make sustainability, integrity and innovation central to what we do here.

The role

You’ll gain familiarity with our product range, and work closely with the wider purchasing team on the various aspects of the purchasing process, including:

• Creating and amending purchase orders. Making sure they accurately reflect our needs in all particulars, and match what arrives too!
• Communication – liaise with suppliers, logistics and colleagues professionally and politely whilst maintaining urgency and accuracy to keep all parties up to date on goods moving to our warehouses.
• Dealing with logistics companies, routing orders to our various warehouses. Keeping all parties informed of the key information – what needs to be where, and when.
• Liaising with the inbound team to ensure orders have arrived as intended and stock levels are correct is key. Our sales teams, warehouse teams and customers all rely on stock information accuracy.
• Database management. Unusually for a purchasing team, we also set our sales prices! You’ll be needed to ensure pricing information is kept accurate and up to date within our internal systems.
• Supplier reporting. You’ll have regular reporting to carry out with our suppliers – feeding back on sales, rebate performance and promotional activities.

You’ll report to the Head of Purchasing, Alex Harris.

Who we’re looking for

You enjoy a challenge, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. You’re driven to solve problems, and able to work closely with a small team to keep things on track.

You have superb numerical skills and an eye for detail, as well as good commercial instincts for when to query the numbers.

Experience in purchasing, stock management and/or the solar or heating industries would certainly be an advantage – but they are not essential. As long as you are self-motivated and highly numerate, with the ability to pick up systems quickly, we’d love to hear from you!

What it offers

You’ll be joining a young, dynamic company with positive values that is aiming to position itself as the leading distributor of renewable energy systems in the UK. You will be involved in purchasing goods across multiple market segments – commercial rooftop and ground mount solar & battery systems, residential solar & batteries, off-grid solar and also air source heat pumps.

The position is based in our offices neighbouring Milton Country Park on the outskirts of Cambridge, but we are willing to consider applicants based at our Glasgow offices. You will learn a lot on the job, and we’ll bring you up to speed as fast as possible. It’s a fast-moving industry so new products, customers and technologies come along all the time – there will always be new things to learn. On top of that, the purchasing and technical department are a small, but close-knit team with a strong sense of camaraderie.

• Salary of £27,000 – £29,000 depending on experience
• Company profit share scheme
• Cycle to work and EV salary sacrifice schemes
• Free staff veg box scheme

We believe in early responsibility and career progression based on talent and commitment. The industry is growing fast, and so is Midsummer – there is plenty of scope to grow with us for the right candidate.

We can be flexible with start dates, but are looking to fill the position quickly.