Procurement and Supply Chain Higher Level Apprenticeship
Babcock International
Warrington (WA4 6HL)
Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026
Posted on 3 December 2025
Contents
Summary
Our Procurement and Supply Chain Apprenticeship is a great opportunity to learn how we source, manage and deliver the materials and services that keep our operations running safely and efficiently. You’ll gain the professional skills needed to support major projects that make a real difference.
- Wage
-
£21,205 a year
- Training course
- Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
2 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
- Procurement and supply chain management sit right at the centre of how we work. Every contract, piece of equipment and supplier relationship plays a role in helping us deliver for our customers.
- During your apprenticeship, you’ll be part of a team that ensures we get the right products and services, from the right suppliers, at the right time. You’ll learn how to assess and select suppliers, source materials strategically, and support the development and management of contracts. Alongside this, you’ll gain experience in building strong supplier relationships and monitoring performance to make sure everything runs smoothly.
- As your experience grows, you’ll start to see how each element fits together to keep complex projects moving – from tendering and negotiation through to delivery and long-term supplier partnerships. You’ll work closely with teams across engineering, project management and commercial functions, developing a clear understanding of how different parts of the business collaborate to deliver critical work.
- Throughout the programme, you’ll be supported by mentors, line managers and our Emerging Talent team, who’ll guide your learning, help you apply your skills, and make sure you get the most out of every opportunity.
Where you'll work
Warrington
WA4 6HL
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 Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard through APA Procurement and Supply Training.
This programme aligns with the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Level 4 Diploma and will give you a strong foundation in the principles of sourcing, negotiation and supply management.
Training is delivered online over 18 to 24 months, with time each week dedicated to study and structured learning. You’ll also take part in a business project focused on tendering, sustainability or social value, applying what you’ve learned in a real setting.
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 4(C) and above)
A Level in:
- Any subject (grade A-C)
- Any subject (grade A-C)
- Any subject (grade A-C)
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 & opportunities
Min 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
Competitive pension scheme
Employee share scheme
Flexible benefits including cycle2work 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
By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll be ready to take on a role as a Procurement and Supply Chain Specialist, equipped with the skills and confidence to support projects of national importance.
Upon programme completion, you can expect to earn a competitive salary exceeding £30,000.
You’ll also have the opportunity to continue your professional development with support towards higher-level CIPS qualifications and the chance to progress into more senior roles as your experience grows.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
APA PROCUREMENT TRAINING LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000003107.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026
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