Apprentice Procurement Support Officer

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Barking (IG11 7LU)

Closes in 9 days (Wednesday 14 October 2026)

Posted on 1 October 2026

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Summary

Start your career in procurement with LBBD. Gain hands-on experience supporting procurement and contract management activities while working towards a recognised Procurement and Supply Chain apprenticeship.

These apprenticeship opportunities are open to eligible residents of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham only.

• Wage:

  £27,008 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Apprentices at LBBD are paid the London Living Wage which is currently £27,008 per year.

• Training course: Procurement and supply assistant (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. Some evening or weekend work may be required with prior agreement and advanced notice.

  35 hours a week

• Start date:

  Tuesday 1 December 2026

• Duration:

  1 year 6 months

• 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

• Carry out low value sourcing by running quotes and mini-competitions, and process purchase orders.
• Provide a help desk service, acting as the primary point of contact for new work requests and general queries for LBBD Procurement.
• Manage and maintain the library of procurement and contract documentation used by LBBD Procurement, including maintaining external reporting information.
• Carry out research on new procurement projects under supervision; assist the category workstream and, under supervision, carry out tendering activity.
• Assist in the development of customer relationships across LBBD, maintaining awareness of issues, planned changes and developments across the council, including internal communications, organising events, and liaising with suppliers and customers.
• Assist in compiling and distributing management information reports on the status of work across the function.
• Provide general assistance and carry out administrative tasks as requested by the line manager, including creating accurate spend reports under supervision and advising officers on the availability of suitable contracts.

Where you'll work

Town Hall
1 Town Square
Barking
IG11 7LU

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 assistant (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Monitor and order products, stock, equipment and services at appropriate times using the appropriate procurement method.
• Communicate to procurement's internal stakeholders, suppliers and other stakeholders in order to develop effective relationships and networks
• Create, maintain and amend purchase order and contract records.
• Interpret, evaluate and compare procurement information such as historical spend and usage using databases and spreadsheets.
• Present findings and data in all formats e.g. mathematically, written and oral.
• Determine value for money (VFM) and added value through the use of Total Cost of Ownership during the evaluation process, and apply the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) criteria to the evaluation of quotes and tenders to support the recommendation at award. This may include the inclusion of green, low carbon, sustainability, and ethical criteria.
• Utilise relevant Procurement computer systems or internal databases.
• Select the supplier of the most appropriate products and services for purchases within their remit and place purchase order.
• Undertake appraisal of adhoc and low spend suppliers including setting them up on the purchasing system.
• Effectively research and analyse demand, spend, trends, potential suppliers and industries utilising qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Develop specifications of requirements and requests for quotes/tenders in line with organisational requirements.
• Apply considerations of responsible procurement in evaluating potential suppliers, quotes and tenders.
• Investigate and resolve purchase order, delivery and invoice queries.
• Own low risk value projects such as supply contracts for stationery, personal protective equipment (PPE) or other consumables, and contribute to higher risk activities such as contracts for building services or machinery, and track, log, expedite and review outstanding orders and stock availability where applicable.
• Maintain knowledge on all open orders and their status' and provide assistance to all purchasing staff e.g. expediting and feeding information back to the relevant stakeholders.
• Able to consider the impact of the decision making process when interacting with the supply chain.
• Able to support the contract negotiations and mini competitions with suppliers.
• Monitor and order products, stock, equipment and services at appropriate times using the appropriate procurement method.
• Communicate to procurement's internal stakeholders, suppliers and other stakeholders in order to develop effective relationships and networks
• Create, maintain and amend purchase order and contract records.
• Interpret, evaluate and compare procurement information such as historical spend and usage using databases and spreadsheets.
• Present findings and data in all formats e.g. mathematically, written and oral.
• Determine value for money (VFM) and added value through the use of Total Cost of Ownership during the evaluation process, and apply the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) criteria to the evaluation of quotes and tenders to support the recommendation at award. This may include the inclusion of green, low carbon, sustainability, and ethical criteria.
• Utilise relevant Procurement computer systems or internal databases.
• Select the supplier of the most appropriate products and services for purchases within their remit and place purchase order.
• Undertake appraisal of adhoc and low spend suppliers including setting them up on the purchasing system.
• Effectively research and analyse demand, spend, trends, potential suppliers and industries utilising qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Develop specifications of requirements and requests for quotes/tenders in line with organisational requirements.
• Apply considerations of responsible procurement in evaluating potential suppliers, quotes and tenders.
• Investigate and resolve purchase order, delivery and invoice queries.
• Own low risk value projects such as supply contracts for stationery, personal protective equipment (PPE) or other consumables, and contribute to higher risk activities such as contracts for building services or machinery, and track, log, expedite and review outstanding orders and stock availability where applicable.
• Maintain knowledge on all open orders and their status' and provide assistance to all purchasing staff e.g. expediting and feeding information back to the relevant stakeholders.
• Able to consider the impact of the decision making process when interacting with the supply chain.
• Able to support the contract negotiations and mini competitions with suppliers.

Training schedule

The apprentice will work towards a Level 3 Procurement and Supply Assistant Apprenticeship Standard (or an alternative procurement apprenticeship at an appropriate level, subject to provider advice and eligibility).

They will receive a combination of workplace learning, coaching and off-the-job training. This will include developing knowledge and skills in public sector procurement, purchasing processes, supplier engagement, contract administration, commercial awareness, governance, data management and customer service.

The apprentice will be supported to apply their learning through practical work activities such as responding to procurement enquiries, obtaining quotations, supporting procurement exercises, processing purchase orders, maintaining contract records, producing reports and assisting with supplier and stakeholder communications. Progress will be reviewed regularly with the training provider and line manager.

More training information

Training will be delivered through a blend of workshops, online learning, one-to-one coaching, workplace activities and independent study. The apprentice will be given dedicated time within working hours to complete apprenticeship learning and assessment activities.

The apprentice will be supported by experienced procurement professionals within the Council's Corporate Procurement Service and will gain practical experience across a range of procurement and contract management activities. They will have opportunities to work with colleagues from different service areas, develop professional skills and build a strong understanding of how procurement supports the delivery of public services.

The successful candidate will be expected to complete all apprenticeship requirements, including coursework, workplace evidence, progress reviews and end-point assessment.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade A - C / 4 - 9)
• Maths (grade A - C / 4 - 9)

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
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative

About this employer

Barking & Dagenham is changing. It Starts Here.

Think you know Barking and Dagenham? Think again. While this small corner of east London might have a reputation for needing development, scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find active communities and a place that consistently punches above its weight. The borough is changing – and changing for the better. And It Starts Here.

Yes, the borough has its challenges. But it’s on the cusp of something exciting. With one of the youngest populations in the country, ambitions are high and rightly so. 98% of our schools are rated Good or Outstanding and every year more of our talented teenagers get into Russell Group Universities and hotly sought after apprenticeship schemes.

We have award winning parks, centuries old manor houses full of relics and artifacts you can go and see, and the ruins of one of Anglo-Saxon England's most powerful and wealthiest religious sites. We’re even bringing beavers and white storks to the borough to help rewild the local landscape and boost biodiversity.

Over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to improve how we deliver services and support our community. From tackling inequality to making sure our services are the best they can be, we’re focused on what matters most to local people. 

We’re creating the conditions for people to thrive - so everyone can enjoy a good quality of life, feel proud to call this place home, and be part of something bigger.  

#ItStartsHere - with our streets, our schools, our neighbourhoods. And with your application to join our determined team who are passionate about doing what’s best for the future of Barking and Dagenham. 

As an Investors in People Gold Award employer, we’re serious about supporting our staff. From flexible working, professional training and career development to wellbeing initiatives, we want our people to feel valued and supported in everything they do.

Our values, known as

• DRIVE, shape how we work: Deliver our best every day – and do what we promise
• Respond in a prompt, positive way to our community’s needs
  Inspire others with our attitudes and actions
• Value people for who they are and what they can do
• Engage with others to improve our resilience and flexibility

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.
We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

At the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, we offer a competitive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, development and future career. This includes membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working opportunities, access to Perkbox employee benefits and discounts, wellbeing support, learning and development opportunities, and a range of staff networks and initiatives.

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

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

This apprenticeship is a fixed-term opportunity designed to help you develop the knowledge, skills and experience needed to build a successful career in procurement, commercial services, contract management or supply chain management.

During the final three months of the apprenticeship, once training has been completed, you will receive support to prepare for your next career step. We actively support apprentices to secure permanent employment, either within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham or with another employer.

Successful completion of the apprenticeship will provide a strong foundation for progression into procurement, commercial and business support roles, with opportunities to continue developing professional qualifications and experience.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SR SUPPLY CHAIN CONSULTANTS LTD

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000056569.

Apply now

Closes in 9 days (Wednesday 14 October 2026)

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