V05226 - Higher Apprentice Procurement and Supply Chain

BAE SYSTEMS PLC

Crewe (CW2 5PG)

Closes on Saturday 28 February 2026

Posted on 28 November 2025


Summary

A career at BAE Systems Land is rewarding work that truly makes a difference, and as you tackle critical projects, you’ll work alongside a supportive team driven by a shared ambition to protect what really matters.  At BAE Systems Land, you’ll find an extraordinary career where you can realise your true potential.

Wage

Competitive

Competitive wage offered

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

We offer a competitive salary with annual increases throughout the apprenticeship and a range of employee benefits including, free higher education as well as access to the Company pension and share saving scheme

Training course
Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)
Hours
Shifts to be confirmed

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

2 years

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

As a Procurement and Supply Apprentice you will be involved in the process of procurement, or buying goods and services. However, these roles can be much broader than just procurement.  The role can extend to a huge range of related commercial activity such as, influencing policy, financial analysis, engaging in contract law, and developing strategy to deliver services. 

As a Procurement and Supply Apprentice working within the Direct Procurement team in the Land UK business unit, you will build your personal networks and gain experience in the full procurement life cycle, from initial supplier engagement to managing formal requests for quotation, sourcing new business, agreeing new contracts and influencing the direction of how the sourcing is achieved. This will require regular engagement with both internal & external stakeholders.

You will gain experience in Category management, such as how specific areas of procurement spend can be organised into appropriate categories and the impact of this approach across the procurement life-cycle.

You will also gain experience in the Supply Quality team ensuring deliveries are compliant to our requirements and also the Governance area ensuring we are compliant to all relevant rules and legislation.

Where you'll work

BAE Systems
Radway Green Road
Barthomley, Radway Green
Crewe
CW2 5PG

Training

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

Training provider

BAE SYSTEMS PLC

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

  • Procurement and supply chain practitioner Level 4 (Higher national certificate)
  • An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation
  • At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

5 GCSE Inc Maths, English (grade A*-C or 9-4 (or equivalent)

A Level in:

STEM Based Subjects (grade 72 UCAS points, 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
  • Organisation skills
  • Team working

Other requirements

Please be aware of qualification entry criteria when applying for this role. This is clearly displayed on the advert under the section qualification requirements. To be eligible for the role you must meet these entry requirements

About this employer

At BAE Systems, we provide some of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions. We employ a skilled workforce of more than 93,000 people in around 40 countries. Working with customers and local partners, we develop, engineer, manufacture, and support products and systems to deliver military capability, protect national security, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure.

https://careers.baesystems.com/locations/uk/apprentices (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing & lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts.

Disability Confident

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

  • Approximately 95% of apprentices choose to stay on with us. As a global business there are a world of opportunities – whether you decide to stay in the UK, or explore an overseas role

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BAE SYSTEMS PLC

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000002832.

Apply now

Closes on Saturday 28 February 2026

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