Apprentice (Procurement Degree)

Summary

As a Procurement Apprentice, you will be employed directly by Durham County Council, gaining hands-on experience in public sector procurement while working alongside experienced colleagues. At the same time, you'll be part of a wider regional cohort of apprentices supported by the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO).

Wage

£24,027 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Senior procurement and supply chain professional (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm but with flexible and hybrid working available for this role

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years

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

To learn and support Procurement Category Specialists (PCS’s) in the management of procurement projects and tendering activities to establish the required contractual relationships and ensure that procurement spend is strategically managed to achieve sustainable social and community benefits and continuous improvement in service delivery
To learn and support PCS’s in the provision of professional procurement consultancy support and advice to service groupings, and partner organisations in their procurement activity for devolved procurement projects
To learn and support PCS’s in the development and implementation of category management processes to secure quality and deliver value for money across the council
To learn and support PCS’s in developing strategies that are commensurate with the requirements of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan
To learn and support PCS’s in the management of their spend categories utilising category management processes to secure quality and deliver value for money across the council

Where you'll work

Corten House
Aykley Heads
Co Durham
DH1 5TS

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

Senior procurement and supply chain professional (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Identify and apply a consistent approach to risk assessment.
Use impact analysis to influence the decision making process.
Develop category strategies and implement them.
Apply project management skills in order to lead projects for procurement.
Negotiate and challenge external stakeholders in order to create innovative commercial solutions.
Influence and persuade internal clients and stakeholders.
Create and implement intervention strategies to correct a contractual failure.
Identify opportunities, and lead change to continually improve the procurement function.
Able to align the procurement or functional strategy with the business strategy.
Analyse, interpret and evaluate findings from qualitative and quantitative research and benchmarking methods to support the decision making process.
Deliver sustainable solutions which include corporate social responsibility factors.
Lead and be accountable for due diligence in supplier selection and contract award.
Use horizon scanning and conceptualisation to deliver high performance strategies focusing on value and sustainable outcomes.
Identify supply chain vulnerabilities and opportunities ensuring the delivery of supply chain improvements.
Prepare and provide commercial and procurement guidance for business cases for organisational approval.
Apply and work within guidelines relating to sustainability, Governance and Regulatory compliance.
Develop sustainable procurement practices which allows the organisation to future proof themselves against changes in social, economic, and environmental factors.
Contribute to projects and the transformation of procurement services across organisational boundaries such as those impacted by sustainability and the UK Net Carbon Zero target.
Identify emerging technology and software relevant to the procurement processes.
Lead and facilitate learning and continuous development for their stakeholders.
Use quality management systems or improvement methodologies to optimise procurement spend and deliver procurement and supply chain objectives.
Coach and mentor individuals within their business.
Identify and apply a consistent approach to risk assessment.
Use impact analysis to influence the decision making process.
Develop category strategies and implement them.
Apply project management skills in order to lead projects for procurement.
Negotiate and challenge external stakeholders in order to create innovative commercial solutions.
Influence and persuade internal clients and stakeholders.
Create and implement intervention strategies to correct a contractual failure.
Identify opportunities, and lead change to continually improve the procurement function.
Able to align the procurement or functional strategy with the business strategy.
Analyse, interpret and evaluate findings from qualitative and quantitative research and benchmarking methods to support the decision making process.
Deliver sustainable solutions which include corporate social responsibility factors.
Lead and be accountable for due diligence in supplier selection and contract award.
Use horizon scanning and conceptualisation to deliver high performance strategies focusing on value and sustainable outcomes.
Identify supply chain vulnerabilities and opportunities ensuring the delivery of supply chain improvements.
Prepare and provide commercial and procurement guidance for business cases for organisational approval.
Apply and work within guidelines relating to sustainability, Governance and Regulatory compliance.
Develop sustainable procurement practices which allows the organisation to future proof themselves against changes in social, economic, and environmental factors.
Contribute to projects and the transformation of procurement services across organisational boundaries such as those impacted by sustainability and the UK Net Carbon Zero target.
Identify emerging technology and software relevant to the procurement processes.
Lead and facilitate learning and continuous development for their stakeholders.
Use quality management systems or improvement methodologies to optimise procurement spend and deliver procurement and supply chain objectives.
Coach and mentor individuals within their business.

Your training plan

The apprenticeship programme is delivered by specialist training provider SRSCC, combining face-to-face teaching at the Northern Design Centre in Gateshead with remote tutor support

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level in:

any (grade C or above)
any (grade C or above)

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
Problem solving skills
Team working

About this company

Durham County Council is the largest council in the North East, we employ over 16,000 people and have a budget of around £1.3 billion which helps us provide services for more than 513,000 people. We are a forward-looking council and recognise that we need passionate people who share our enthusiasm to deliver fantastic services to the people of County Durham.

http://www.durham.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

We are unable to guarantee a job role but there will be progression opportunities available on completion of the apprenticeship where suitable

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Durham County Council

Antonia Smith

antonia.smith@durham.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000328616.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Sunday 13 July 2025)

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

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