Job market information
Finding out about wholesaling
The wholesaling industry is part of the logistics sector, represented by the Skills for Logistics Sector Skills Council, which also includes: air freight; road haulage; storage and warehousing; freight forwarding; postal services; and couriers. Logistics is the movement and supply of all goods (or freight) from raw materials, through all stages of the manufacturing process to the delivery of the finished product to companies and consumers. This is known as the ‘supply chain.’ Nearly 2,320,000 people work in the logistics sector, which accounts to 8% of the UK workforce. It has been estimated that the logistics sector is worth £86.54 billion to the UK economy.
The role of wholesaling is to supply goods to trade and business customers for whom dealing directly with suppliers is not feasible or practical. Wholesalers enable small traders to buy as much, or little, as their businesses need by buying in bulk and selling on by case loads. There are three main types of wholesale company:
- Wholesale merchants – who buy and sell merchandise on their own account, they generally operate from warehouse or office locations and distribute from their warehoused stocks or arrange for the shipment of goods directly from the supplier to the client.
- Wholesale agents, brokers and commission agents – who buy and sell merchandise owned by others on a fee or commission basis, they generally operate from an office location. This group includes business‐to‐business electronic markets that use the internet or electronic data exchange to facilitate wholesale trade.
- Manufacturers’ sales branches and sales offices – which market and sell manufacturer’s products mainly to retailers and industrial users, usually coordinating distribution without handling stock themselves.
Key facts:
- There are approximately 700,100 people employed in the UK wholesale industry, in 124,700 workplaces.
- 41% of the logistics sector workforce is employed within the wholesale industry.
- Over 80% of wholesaling workplaces employ only 1 ‐10 people.
- 23% of all wholesalers specialise in the sales of household goods.
- Wholesale employs a much greater proportion of women than the other logistics industries.
- A large proportion of the industry workforce is self‐employed.
Jobs in the industry range from: sales manager, sales assistants, marketing manager, warehouse assistants, branch manager, van driver, forklift truck driver, LGV driver, buyer, stock control clerk, transport and distribution clerks, transport and distribution managers.
Entry and progression
Entry requirements and qualifications vary depending on occupational role. There are a range of industry endorsed courses (both undergraduate and postgraduate) and foundation degrees, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and training schemes available to those wishing to enter the industry. Recognised qualifications from professional bodies, such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM) and Managing and Marketing Sales Association (MAMSA) are available to those who wish to enter sales and marketing.
LGV and Van drivers require the relevant licences. Forklift Truck Drivers require specialist training.
The following HND or degree subjects are likely to be an advantage: transport and distribution management; logistics; supply chain management; business and management; and foreign languages with business studies.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
700,100 |
|---|
| Number of UK workplaces: |
124,700 |
|---|
| Gender: |
67% male |
33% female |
|---|
| Age: |
10% of the workforce is aged 25 and under, whilst 41% are aged over 45 years |
|---|
| 9% of the workforce in England has a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background |
| 14% of the workforce in England is part‐time and 11% are self‐employed |
| 19% of those in wholesaling has an NVQ level 4 or above qualification |
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Population Survey, 2008.]
Employment trends and future prospects
Working Futures III projects that 843,600 additional workers will be required to work in the logistics sector by 2017. Considerable demand will be seen for managers (169,200), customer service positions (132,100) as well as for transport and machine operatives (107,600).
There are no data on employment trends for this industry.
Skill requirements and shortages
The wholesale industry has fewer job vacancies than the logistics sector as a whole. 13% of wholesale employers have at least one vacancy, which compares to 16% of logistics employers.
Occupational trends
23% of the wholesale workforce is employed as ‘marketing and sales managers,’ ‘retail and wholesale managers’ and ‘sales representatives.’
There are no data on occupational trends by industry. The following data are for the logistics sector as a whole.
For the logistics sector as a whole, all occupational groups are anticipated to have an increase in the total requirements, including:
- 20% (150,000) in managerial or senior official positions
- 16% (117,000) in sales and customer services roles
- over 54,000 in skilled trades occupations, this replacement demand is due to the ageing workforce – 51% are over the age of 45 years
Logistics sector occupational distribution
| Other goods handling and storage occupations (i.e. Warehouse operatives) |
378,100 |
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| Large (heavy) goods vehicle drivers |
312,900 |
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| Post workers, mail sorter, messenger or couriers |
200,800 |
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| Van drivers |
202,200 |
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| Transport and distribution managers |
85,200 |
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| Storage and warehouse managers |
75,100 |
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| Transport and distribution clerks |
67,500 |
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| Other occupations |
1,001,500 |
|---|
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Population Survey, 2008.]
National and regional data
East Midlands – 156,600 employees work in the logistics sector in this region. Of these 62,800 people work in wholesaling, which equates to 40% of the logistics workforce in the region.
East of England – 186,700 workers are employed by the logistics sector in the East of England. 75,600 of these individuals work in wholesaling. This is 40% of the logistics workforce in the region.
London – 178,800 employees work in logistics in London, of which 75,200 work in wholesaling. This accounts for 42% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North East – The logistics sector employs 55,000 workers in the North East, of which 24,100 are employed in wholesaling. This is 44% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North West – 193,400 are employed in the logistics sector in the region, of which 73,600 are employed in wholesaling. Wholesaling employment accounts for 34% of the logistics workforce in the region
South East – 256,300 employees work in logistics in the region. Wholesaling companies in the region employ more people than in any of the other English region. The wholesaling industry employs 98,300 employees, this equates to 38% of the logistics workforce in the South East.
South West – 135,100 employees work in the logistics sector in the region. Of these 61,500 people work in wholesaling, which equates to 46% of the logistics workforce in the South West.
West Midlands – The logistics sector employs 187,500 workers in the West Midland. Of these, 79,100 people are employed in wholesaling. This is 42% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Yorkshire and the Humber – 158,100 workers are employed by the logistics sector in the region. 66,600 of these individuals work in wholesaling. This is 42% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Northern Ireland – There is an estimated 16,000 employees in wholesaling, accounting for 52% of the logistics sector, in around 3,635 workplaces.
Scotland – There is an estimated 45,600 employees in the wholesaling industry, accounting for 41% of the logistics sector, in around 7,700 workplaces.
Wales – There is an estimated 23,900 employees in wholesaling, accounting for 40% of the logistics sector, in around 4,500 workplaces.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Population Survey, 2008, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007 and Inter‐Departmental Business Register, 2007.]
Salary levels
Annual salaries in the industry range from:
- Sales manager – £18,000 to £25,000 plus commission, whilst experienced sales managers can earn between £25,000 ‐ £55,000 (Top salaries can be over £70,000)
- Sales Assistants – £11,000 to £15,000
- Supervisors – £15,000 to £20,000
- Marketing Manager – £25,000 to £40,000
- Senior managers and marketing directors – £50,000 plus
- Warehouse Assistants – £12,000, rising to £18,000 with experience
- Van Driver – £12,000 to £20,000
- Forklift Truck Driver – starting between £12,000 to £13,500, rising to between £14,000 and £21,000 with experience
- LGV Driver – starting between £13,000 to £14,000, rising to between £15,000 and £30,000 with experience
- Buying administrative assistants or assistant buyers – starting between £12,000 and £20,000 , rising to between £16,000 and £35,000 with experience
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Skills for Logistics AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
