Category Specialist Apprentice

SOUTHERN WATER SERVICES LIMITED

Brighton, Worthing

Closes in 25 days (Monday 17 November 2025)

Posted on 17 October 2025

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Summary

You’ll work alongside experienced procurement professionals to support sourcing, supplier management, stakeholder engagement, and commercial decision-making. You’ll develop the skills and experience needed to grow into a confident Category Specialist- helping shape the future of our supply chain strategy.

Wage

£24,288 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 12 January 2026

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

As an Apprentice, you’ll gain hands-on experience in areas such as:

  • Supporting the development and delivery of category strategies
    Gathering and analysing data to inform procurement decisions
    Assisting with procurement events and negotiations
  • Contributing to contract management and supplier engagement
    Collaborating with internal teams and external suppliers to deliver value
  • Participating in supplier performance reviews and improvement initiatives
  • Planning and coordinating procurement activities using tools like MS Project or Gantt charts

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • Southern House, Lewes Road, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PY
  • Southern House Yeoman Road, Worthing, BN13 3NX

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

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

This training schedule 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:

  • English (grade C/4 or above)
  • Maths (grade C/4 or above)

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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills

Other requirements

passing background checks

About this employer

Great things are happening here at Southern Water, there has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a resilient water future for the South East. We can only build this future if the water keeps flowing from our customers taps and waste is effectively removed. Maintaining our network is essential and the ICA (Instrumentation, Control and Automation) team work on this front line.

https://www.southernwater.co.uk/about-us/careers/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • Upon completion, you’ll achieve a Level 4 CIPS qualification and be well-prepared to take the next step in your career, for example as a Category and Sourcing Specialist

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOUTHERN WATER SERVICES LIMITED

Julia

julia.chiesa@southernwater.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000347229.

Apply now

Closes in 25 days (Monday 17 November 2025)

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