Supply Chain Degree Apprentice
YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LIMITED
Leeds (LS10 1AB)
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 29 March 2026)
Posted on 13 March 2026
Contents
Summary
We have an exciting opportunity for two Supply Chain Degree Apprentices to join our Commercial services Team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?
- Wage
-
£24,309 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Annual incentive bonus is paid to Apprentices inline with the all colleague policy.
- Training course
- Senior procurement and supply chain professional (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 37 hours per week, the hours will be agreed with the line manager.
37 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 17 August 2026
- Duration
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4 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
Supporting procurement colleagues in developing and delivering sourcing strategies to maximise value and achieve target savings through the;
Delivery of compliant end to end sourcing projects- Application of whole life costing principles including risk mitigation, process efficiency and financial benefit
- In-depth market analysis and market engagement
- Key stakeholder relationship development across the business
- All activities must ensure compliance to the Utility Contracts
- Regulations (UCR 2016) and Procurement Act (PA23) and Internal Governance
- You will also develop competencies and skills in the following areas
- Commercial acumen - knowledge and practical application from water, construction or other relevant sectors to deliver savings targets, quality services and effective contract delivery
- Negotiation – Proven ability to negotiate effectively and resolve disputes efficiently throughout the contract lifecycle
- Sourcing – development and ongoing management of procurement strategies, managing the portfolio of simple & complex sourcing strategies, procurement processes and compliance with legislative and governance requirements.
- Stakeholder management – ability to lead engagement with different business leads to understand needs to develop suitable commercial approaches that can achieve business plan targets.
- Supplier management – application of supplier & vendor management, performance management and contract segmentation & treatment
- Procurement – to demonstrate a good understanding and application of relevant legislation and compliance in the procurement process
Where you'll work
1 Savannah Way, Leeds Valley Park
Leeds
LS10 1AB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY
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.
Training schedule
The Supply Chain Degree Apprentice will study the level 6 Supply Chain Leadership Professional Degree through Leeds Trinity University.
The training is delivered through a blended learning approach of on campus and virtual seminars to self-directed study. This is a 3-and-a-half-year programme with an additional period of 8 months end point assessment.
During the programme the Apprentice will develop their knowledge in planning, forecasting, inventory and warehouse management, technology and E-business as well as supply chain strategies.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (Literature or Language) (grade C/4/Pass)
- Mathematics (grade C/4/Pass)
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
- IT skills
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Team working
Other requirements
All Apprentices are required to complete a DBS check.
About this employer
Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.
We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.
New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. Our People team are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.
https://www.yorkshirewater.com/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 25 days holiday +bank holidays and wellness day
- Pension: Up to 12% Company contribution
- Life Insurance: 4 times pensionable salary
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
Upon completion of the Apprenticeship the Apprentice will move into a substantive role that has a progression plan linked to pay increases.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000021032.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 29 March 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.