Apprentice Procurement Assistant

Summary

Dudley Council are seeking two motivated and detail-oriented Apprentice Procurement Assistants to join our dynamic Procurement team. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience while contributing to the Council’s strategic goals and supporting the delivery of best value in Council contracts.

Wage

£25,584 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Salary: £25,584 – £27,269 (depending on experience)

Training course

Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. Although most work is undertaken in core office hours you will be expected to work flexibly and outside of core office hours to ensure service delivery when required.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

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

Support the Procurement team in tender preparation, contract awards, and compliance with procurement legislation.
Assist in delivering social value, modernising procurement processes, and maintaining performance indicators.
Work with the Council’s e-procurement system (In-Tend) and contribute to contract register and spend analysis.
Engage with suppliers, conduct market research, and support strategic supplier relationships.
Collaborate with neighbouring authorities and support market engagement events.

Where you'll work

The Council House
Priory Road
Dudley
West Midlands
DY1 1HF

Training

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

College or training organisation

CIPS CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED

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

This training plan has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

3 Subjects (grade grade 4 equivalent or above)
English (grade grade 4 equivalent or above)
Maths (grade grade 4 equivalent or above)

A Level in:

3 Subjects (grade CCC 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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience

About this company

It’s an incredibly exciting time to work in Dudley Council as we embark on numerous multi-million pound regeneration schemes which will be real game-changers for the borough. In addition to the exciting schemes such as the Midland Metro we also have the ongoing and very serious challenges of ensuring vulnerable people across the borough receive the services they deserve. At Dudley Council we have a ‘one council’ ethos that builds an effective and dynamic organisation which grows the economy and creates jobs, creating a cleaner and greener place and supports stronger and safer communities. We are rightly proud to be the historic capital of the Black Country and, working with our partners, Dudley Council is also committed to looking forward and helping to deliver our borough vision of ‘Forge a Future for all’ www.dudleyboroughvision2030.org.uk We ensure communities influence council decisions and are committed to delivering services in partnership with communities. We provide flexible and responsive service in partnership and help communities help themselves. In joining a local authority that serves 320,000 residents you will become an integral part of a council that: • is ready to embrace change, providing an environment in which you will be encouraged to make your mark • is aware of its key challenges and the need for a new energy to innovate the council, in order to find cost effective ways of delivering services • has aligned its political and managerial leadership structures and is committed to protecting, securing and transforming the lives of children, families, the vulnerable and older people • wants borough residents to have their say through our community forums • dedicates time to meaningful consultation and listen to the views of our residents • is working with the community to encourage active involvement of our residents We want to leave a legacy of a better future for the borough that reflects Dudley borough’s potential and harnesses the ambitions of the people we serve. For more information see our Council Plan www.dudley.gov.uk/council-community/plan-policies-and-strategies/council-plan, Dudley Borough Vision for 2030, Forging a Future for All www.dudleyboroughvision2030.org.uk and key information about the borough and its communities at All about Dudley Borough www.allaboutdudley.info

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

Career in Procurement.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Tim Robbins

tim.robbins@dudley.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000328631.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Sunday 13 July 2025)

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