Procurement and Chain Supply Practitioner Apprentice

Hartlepool Borough Council

Cleveland (TS248AY)

Closes in 29 days (Friday 10 July 2026)

Posted on 11 June 2026

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Summary

Have you considered a career in procurement?
It’s a fantastic choice, with continuous professional development, varied and rewarding work, as well as great career prospects! With our procurement apprenticeship, you will benefit from a structured learning programme, get hands-on experience and earn a salary.

Wage

£26,403 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

The salary band for this apprenticeship is £26,403 - £27,694

Training course
Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Thursday, 8.30am - 5.00pm. Friday, 8.30am - 4.30pm.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

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

Key duties and responsibilities:

  • To work collaboratively with service areas to understand their needs and help deliver procurement solutions that align with the council’s strategic objectives and value‑for‑money principles.
  • Contribute to the development of high-quality procurement documentation, such as invitations to tender, specifications and evaluation criteria, under supervision from senior colleagues.
  • To support the delivery of procurement activities across the council, including market research, tender preparation, evaluation support, and contract award processes.
  • Participate in tender evaluations, including coordinating responses, supporting scoring panels, and preparing summary reports.
  • Help maintain accurate procurement records, ensuring all activity complies with audit requirements, transparency rules and national and local government procurement regulations.
  • Engage with both internal and external stakeholders, attending meetings and contributing to discussions to help shape procurement strategies and service improvements.
  • Use procurement systems and digital tools, helping to publish opportunities, manage workflows, and ensure data accuracy across procurement platforms.
  • Collate accurate data and provide information that can inform procurement decisions.
  • Study towards Levels 4, 5, and 6 procurement qualifications, completing all required learning, assessments, and off‑the‑job training in line with the apprenticeship programme.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement, seeking opportunities to enhance processes, develop professional knowledge, and contribute to the wider procurement team’s goals.

Where you'll work

Civic Centre
Victoria Road
Hartlepool
Cleveland
TS248AY

Training

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

Training provider

SR SUPPLY CHAIN CONSULTANTS LTD

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.

Training schedule

The successful candidate will undertake the following qualifications via hybrid training, taking you from a level 4 qualification, right through to degree-equivalent Level 6 MCIPS status:

  • Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply
  • CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply
  • Level 6 Senior Procurement Supply Chain Professional

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Any (grade 4 or above)
  • Any (grade 4 or above)
  • Any (grade 4 or above)
  • English Language (grade 4 or above)
  • Maths (grade 4 or above)

A Level in:

  • Any (grade UCAS points of 120)
  • Any (grade UCAS points of 120)
  • Any (grade UCAS points of 120)

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
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Number skills
  • Team working

About this employer

Hartlepool is a vibrant and energetic town. As an authority we want to make Hartlepool the best it possibly can be and want dedicated, driven and committed staff to help us achieve that. The authority is structured into 7 departments: Adult Services and Public Health, Children's Services, Housing Growth and Communities, Finance, IT and Digital Services, Neighbourhoods & Regulatory Services,Legal, Governance and HR and The Office of The chief Executive collectively the departments provide vital services to the public

After this apprenticeship

The successful candidate on completion of their apprenticeship will have the opportunity to apply for any related vacancies as and when they arise.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SR SUPPLY CHAIN CONSULTANTS LTD

apprenticeships@hartlepool.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000036698.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Friday 10 July 2026)

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