Hi
I just bought a gorgeous cocker spaniel puppy and she will be collected in 2 weeks time when she is 8 weeks old.
I am trying to get all prepared and am wondering how soon does one require proper grooming tools? I have purchased a grooming glove to start with as she is only a puppy but when would I need to start proper grooming?

I'd start straight away, she won't take more than a couple of minutes to run the brush and comb over, and that'll be plenty for her as a baby to start getting used to the process.

I'd say start now...but I'm a poodle owner.Get the pup used to being handled...I like to put mine on a table every day,even for just five minutes when they are pups....the  vet will love you for this in the future ! The pup gets used to being handled and everything becomes  stress free.
With your breed you will need a slicker brush, a pin brush(two sided) a greyhound comb, a hound glove for the brush through.
The ears should be looked at each week and you could invest in some Thornit ear powder. As you will need to pluck out the dead hairs and keep the ear nicely aerated.
Later you may want to get some stripping knives..a medium to start with,to get the dead hair from the saddle area of the dog....later a finer one for the top of the head and face area.
Oh, and don't forget eye wipes...simple eye makeup remover,cotton pads  and some ophthalmic boric acid eye wash for a quick eye clean each day.
finally  ,nail clippers  and kwik stop are another good buy.

Definitely start your puppy right away with grooming, almost as soon as you bring her home. Initially it's just a few strokes with a brush working up gradually to longer sessions. I also reward the end of a grooming session. I also talk to my dogs as I groom them, nonsense stuff really, telling them what gorgeous dogs they are and how pretty they look etc etc. I'm sure your friendly relaxed voice helps them to keep calm. Currently have a 15 week old GR pup who wanted to grab the brush and chew it when I first started brushing her, so I started stroking her back with my hand gradually lengthening the strokes, so from head to tail and becoming firmer and also using my nails so she would be used to the feel of a dog rake (which I like to use on retrievers). Now she loves being brushed especially the biscuit when I've finished. Doesn't require much grooming yet, so doesn't take long.

I too am about to pick up my new pup next week, he is a coated breed ( new for me) and I have already invested in most, but not all the grooming tools I need, clippers, brushes and what not, I have been guided by my breeder in what to buy and she is going to clip my pup when I go to pick him up next week while I am there, to show,teach me how to do it...

I think the sooner you do it the better , best to get them used to grooming sooner than later.

As well as grooming get them used to having their feet touched. Also just touching the feet with scissors and then gradually trimming little bits off as needed.
Cockers grow really hairy feet and will need regular trimming, they may also from time to time need to have their nails trimmed or filed, depending on the surface they are walked on.
If you get them used to having their feet touched at an early age it will make life a lot easier later.
I used to have Cockers years ago, and now have another Gundog breed, and I find that when they are on your lap and just drifting off to sleep is a good time to gently stroke the feet, also as some one else suggested standing them on a table for a few minutes, pick up each foot gently and examine it, touch the nails so they become accustomed to it.