Procurement and Supply Chain Apprenticeship
Babcock International
Bristol, GB (BS3 2HQ)
Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026
Posted on 3 December 2025
Contents
Summary
Our 2-year Procurement and Supply Chain Apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to develop the skills that keep our projects moving and our operations running smoothly. You’ll learn how to source, manage and deliver the materials, equipment and services that help us create a safe and secure world.
- Wage
-
£23,776 a year
- Training course
- Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
4
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
Procurement and supply chain management sit at the heart of what we do, making sure the right materials and services reach the right place at the right time.
From the moment you join, you’ll be part of a team that helps deliver vital projects supporting the Royal Navy and our international customers.
During the programme, you’ll rotate through several placements across materials, logistics, category management and contracts. Each placement will introduce you to new ways of working and broaden your understanding of how supply chains operate in a global engineering business. You’ll gain experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, inventory control, logistics and contract development, all essential areas for anyone building a future in procurement.
You’ll be supported throughout by a mentor and our Emerging Talent team, who’ll guide your learning, help you connect with colleagues across the business and ensure you make the most of every opportunity to grow.
This is an amazing opportunity to work on real projects to equip the Royal Navy fleet and play an integral role in creating a safe and secure world.
Where you'll work
Bristol, GB
BS3 2HQ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
APA PROCUREMENT TRAINING 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
- As part of your apprenticeship, you’ll study for the Level 4 Procurement and Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard through APA Procurement Training
- This programme includes working toward the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Level 4 Diploma, a respected professional qualification that provides a strong foundation in sourcing, contracting, supplier management and commercial awareness
- Training is delivered online through a mix of workshops, coursework and self-study, supported by your dedicated assessor
- You’ll apply what you learn directly to your role, with regular opportunities to reflect, develop and demonstrate your progress
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- Any subject (grade 4(C) and above)
- Any subject (grade 4(C) and above)
- Any subject (grade 4(C) and above)
- English (grade 4(C) and above)
- Maths (grade Grade C or above)
A Level in:
- Any subject (grade Grade C or above)
- Any subject (grade Grade C or above)
- Any subject (grade Grade C 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
- Team working
Other requirements
Many of our apprenticeship programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) clearance. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels
About this employer
Babcock is an international defence company providing support and product solutions to enhance our customers’ defence capabilities and critical assets. We provide through-life technical and engineering support for our customers’ assets, delivering improvements in performance, availability and programme cost. Our c27,700 employees deliver these critical services to defence and civil customers, including engineering support to naval, land, air and nuclear operations, frontline support, specialist training and asset management. We also design and manufacture a range of defence and civil specialist equipment, from naval ship and weapons handling systems to liquid gas handling systems. We also provide integrated, technology-enabled solutions to our defence customers in areas such as secure communications, electronic warfare and air defence.
https://earlycareers.babcockinternational.com/apprenticeships/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
• Fully funded qualification • Personal development training and opportunities • Minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays • Competitive pension scheme • Employee share scheme • Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme
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
- When you complete the programme, you’ll be ready to take on a permanent role as a Buyer within one of our core business teams
- You’ll have a well-rounded understanding of procurement and supply chain management, along with the professional confidence to deliver real value to our projects and customers.
- Upon programme completion, you can expect to earn a competitive salary along with opportunities to continue your development through higher-level CIPS qualifications and further progression within Babcock
Through the Babcock Role Framework, you’ll have a clear view of how your career can progress, with mapped-out pathways, development opportunities and the tools you need to get wherever you want to go
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
APA PROCUREMENT TRAINING LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000002482.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026
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