2026 Procurement Apprentice - Crawley
THALES UK LIMITED
Crawley (RH10 9HA)
Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026
Posted on 4 November 2025
Contents
Summary
Are you excited to start a career in procurement and supply chain? Do you have a keen interest in learning how to negotiate and manage supplier relationships? Are you motivated to play a key role in a dynamic centralised team? If so, your journey could start here with Thales.
- Wage
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£24,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays) • Company Pension • Health Care Cash Plan • Life Insurance • Discount Portal • Performance-related pay uplifts • 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
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Monday - Thursday, 8 hours a day. Friday, 5 hours.
37 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
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3 years
- Positions available
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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
What the role has to offer:
- Practical learning and hands-on experience in tactical buying and procurement
- Opportunity to support cost-saving initiatives and efficient purchasing decisions
- Exposure to supplier management and maintaining positive supplier relationships
- Training in core procurement processes and procedures
- Experience in purchase order creation and management
- Developing customer service skills by supporting internal stakeholders
- Building confidence in problem-solving within supply chain operations
- Experience in contract administration and the basics of procurement law
- Collaboration with a centralised UK team on supply chain activities
- Support in developing skills in responsible and sustainable procurement
- Introduction to risk identification and management in the procurement context
- Real prospects for growth and development within the procurement profession
As an Procurement Apprentice, you will become a valued member of our UK centralised procurement team, working at the very heart of supply chain operations. You will gain essential experience in tactical buying, negotiation, and supplier relationship management, helping to ensure value and compliance for the business. You’ll learn to create and manage purchase orders, solve day-to-day supply chain challenges, and deliver excellent service to internal customers. Working closely with colleagues across functions, you’ll also develop your skills in contract administration and risk awareness, all while learning to promote ethical and sustainable procurement. This role offers practical experience and a strong foundation to build your career and progress in the procurement profession.
Where you'll work
Manor Royal
Crawley
RH10 9HA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE APPRENTICE ACADEMY LIMITED
Training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
- Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
- Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
- Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
- Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
- Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
- Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
- Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.
Training schedule
As a Procurement Apprentice you will enrol onto a 3 year programme, which will include two parts. Firstly, you will complete a Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship over 12 months with the Apprentice Academy. Delivered via a virtual learning model, this part of the programme will introduce you to business in the context of procurement.
You will then progress onto a Level 4 Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship over a further two years with the same training provider. Upon completion you will hold both the Level 3 and Level 4 apprenticeship qualifications, plus your CIPS Level 4.
You will be based in our centralised procurement team in the UK, working alongside experienced professionals. Throughout the programme, you will receive on-the-job training, coaching, and support to develop your capabilities as a Tactical Buyer. Thales will support your professional qualifications as part of your development, and you’ll have access to a range of learning and development resources.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
A Level in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Team working
Other requirements
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all of our roles are subject to security restrictions. All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK, and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements below, prior to starting with us. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and / or educational history. For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels
About this employer
Together, we create the ingenious technological systems and innovations that impact and improve people's lives every single day. Even if you haven't heard the name Thales before, you've definitely benefited from our inventiveness. We reinvest 20% of our sales in Research & Development in the UK. We support businesses, organisations, and governments in addressing tomorrow’s major challenges by developing advanced Defence, Security, Cybersecurity, Digital Identity, and Aerospace solutions, in the most sustainable, responsible, and ethical manner.
https://careers.thalesgroup.com/global/en/united-kingdom-apprenticeship (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
At the end of the programme learners will transition into a permanent role within the procurement function and will have the opportunity to discuss progression onto the Level 5 and Level 6 CIPS Certificates. This is a fantastic opportunity to start your career in procurement, with scope for continued growth and progression.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THALES UK LIMITED
THALES UK LIMITED Thales Future Talent Team
suppearlycar@uk.thalesgroup.com
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000349374.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026
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