Procurement Apprentice

Summary

Join NEPO today as our brand new Procurement Apprentice. This programme provides a route from level 4, through level 5, and then to degree level study in procurement, but without the student debt. This is an exciting role in public sector procurement, you'll help public sector organisations and member authorities to secure goods and services.

Wage

£25,584 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Salary bracket for this apprenticeship is: £25,584 - £26,835

Training course

Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Friday, typically 8.30am to 4.30pm

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

a. Studying towards the following qualifications:
• Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply (includes CIPS Level 4 Diploma)

• CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply

• Level 6 Senior Procurement Supply Chain Professional (includes CIPS Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply)

b. Supporting the development of procurement projects to help NEPO achieve its strategic objectives.

c. Supporting the ongoing contract management of procurement solutions to ensure expected outcomes are achieved.

d. Adopting NEPO’s processes, policies and guidance to safeguard consistency, quality and achievement of desired outcomes.

e. Supporting stakeholder management, liaising with members, suppliers and wider stakeholders in a professional, customer-focused manner.

f. Utilising digital tools and systems to maximise efficiency and ensure compliance.

g. Undertaking data analysis and collating management information accurately and within timescales.

h. Producing correspondence, tender documentation, and presentations to a high standard.

i. Communicating in a professional manner with diverse stakeholders in writing, by telephone and in-person.

Where you'll work

Northern Design Centre
Abbots Hill
Baltic Business Quarter
Gateshead
NE8 3DF

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

SR SUPPLY CHAIN CONSULTANTS LTD

Your training course

Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Manage relationships with stakeholders.
Interpret business requirements by assessing the demand for the product or service.
Undertake market analysis to establish potential routes to market.
Conduct benchmarking to evaluate costs against industry standards.
Prepare or contribute to the drafting of a sourcing plan which meets business needs, including corporate social responsibility factors.
Use the organisation's documentation designed for commercial procurement processes for the supply of goods and services.
Notify potential suppliers of proposal requirements.
Use selection and award criteria to source requirements from external suppliers evidencing how supplier bids are evaluated against them.
Analyse the financial implications of decisions and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Liaise and negotiate with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure the timely delivery of purchased goods and services.
Support contract award and briefing of suppliers in line with the organisations processes and governance.
Monitor and manage contract performance to meet time, costs, service, and quality objectives.
Manage contract performance and advise suppliers on any areas for improvement.
Maintain contract documentation such as change control, version control.
Use IT and software to produce spreadsheets and presentation packages to communicate information.
Identify, raise, and facilitate discussions with stakeholders to resolve any issues or risks.
Analyses sustainability challenges and risks at each stage of the product or contract life cycle.
Manage information in accordance with policy and processes.
Continuously review work processes to identify and eliminate inefficiencies and simplify workflow.
Use available systems and tools to identify relevant data.
Interpret, analyse, and evaluate data through questioning to drive actionable intelligence and support decision making.
Use horizon scanning to identify future changes in procurement and contracting.
Manage relationships with stakeholders.
Interpret business requirements by assessing the demand for the product or service.
Undertake market analysis to establish potential routes to market.
Conduct benchmarking to evaluate costs against industry standards.
Prepare or contribute to the drafting of a sourcing plan which meets business needs, including corporate social responsibility factors.
Use the organisation's documentation designed for commercial procurement processes for the supply of goods and services.
Notify potential suppliers of proposal requirements.
Use selection and award criteria to source requirements from external suppliers evidencing how supplier bids are evaluated against them.
Analyse the financial implications of decisions and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Liaise and negotiate with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure the timely delivery of purchased goods and services.
Support contract award and briefing of suppliers in line with the organisations processes and governance.
Monitor and manage contract performance to meet time, costs, service, and quality objectives.
Manage contract performance and advise suppliers on any areas for improvement.
Maintain contract documentation such as change control, version control.
Use IT and software to produce spreadsheets and presentation packages to communicate information.
Identify, raise, and facilitate discussions with stakeholders to resolve any issues or risks.
Analyses sustainability challenges and risks at each stage of the product or contract life cycle.
Manage information in accordance with policy and processes.
Continuously review work processes to identify and eliminate inefficiencies and simplify workflow.
Use available systems and tools to identify relevant data.
Interpret, analyse, and evaluate data through questioning to drive actionable intelligence and support decision making.
Use horizon scanning to identify future changes in procurement and contracting.

Your training plan

Working towards a Level 4 Procurement and supply chain practitioner apprenticeship standard. You will learn through a combination of face to face delivery at our site in Gateshead, where a tutor will visit you in person. You will also learn via live Teams sessions with your tutor. You will then sit exams to progress through your CIPS qualifications.

More training information

Your learning will be delivered by SR Supply Chain Consultants, in person and online. You will sit a number of multichoice and written exams each year, alongside your end point assessments.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English Language (grade 9-4/A*-C)

Other in:

Any Subjects (grade Must add up to 120 UCAS points)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working

About this company

NEPO works in partnership with councils in the North East and Tees Valley to deliver a programme of strategic procurement that creates economic, social and environmental benefits for the communities we serve. We also work closely with the region’s supply base to boost competitive skills, signpost tendering opportunities and improve procurement processes. We’re very excited about our apprenticeship vacancy! This is the first year of our regional procurement apprenticeship programme, where we are working with the twelve local authorities across the region to nurture the procurement talent of the future. This means that as well as being part of the NEPO team, you’ll be part of a community of region-wide apprentices. Whilst the regional programme is new, nurturing talent isn’t new to us, so you’ll be in safe hands! Based in modern offices at Gateshead’s Northern Design Centre, we offer a competitive apprenticeship salary, paid time to attend training, generous annual leave (28 days per year), and a local government pension. We also offer hybrid working with the opportunity to work from home following an induction period. We are committed to supporting you throughout your apprenticeship with a dedicated mentor, and additional training and development opportunities. Last but not least, our team are brilliant colleagues who will support you throughout your time at NEPO.

https://www.nepo.org/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Flexible and hybrid working available to apprentices (following period of onsite working).

After this apprenticeship

You will be supported to achieve the following qualifications:

· Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply

Upon completion, you will then begin:

· CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply

Before progressing on to:

Level 6 Senior Procurement Supply Chain Professional

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

North East Procurement Organisation

Brett Sharkey

brett.sharkey@nepo.org

07702637420

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000328106.

Apply now

Closes in 19 days (Wednesday 16 July 2025)

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