
Stores assistant, stock supervisor, supply chain assistant
Stock control assistants keep track of stock levels and make sure there are enough supplies to meet customer demand.
Salary range: £13,500 to £30,000

How to become a stock control assistant
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly

Apprenticeship
You could start by doing a retailer or warehouse operative intermediate apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More information

Work
You could work in a shop, parts department or distribution depot and move into stock control through internal promotion.
Direct application
You’ll usually need GCSEs in English and maths to apply directly for jobs. Experience in retail or warehouse work may give you an advantage.

What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- customer service skills
- active listening skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- concentration skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- making sure paperwork is correctly filled out
- checking stock levels and ordering new stock
- updating stock information on computer systems
- receiving deliveries
- moving stock with a forklift truck
- making sure orders are despatched on time
- answering customer enquiries online, over the phone and face-to-face
- carrying out spot checks and audits
Working environment
You could work in a stock room or in a warehouse.

Career path and progression
You could become a stock supervisor or manager. In these jobs, you would lead a team, forecast stock levels and work closely with suppliers.
You could also work as a retail buyer, looking at consumer trends and selecting which products your company will sell.