Purchasing Apprentice - BEL Valves

BEL VALVES LIMITED

Newcastle On Tyne (NE6 1BS)

Closes in 5 days (Sunday 18 January 2026)

Posted on 12 January 2026

---

Summary

You will be supporting a wide range of activities and working alongside experienced staff members who will support you in gaining new skills and your qualification. You will work with many different business areas, which will help you to build a strong understanding of how the procurement process works within the business.

• Wage:

  £18,278 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Pay reviewed each January

• Training course: Procurement and supply assistant (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday - pattern not confirmed.

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 14 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

• Learn to raise relevant documentation required in the purchasing process
• Develop a foundational understanding of BEL Valves quality requirements
• Ensure documentation is accurate and maintained to a high standard
• Support the business in ensuring procurement processes are being adhered to and are operating effectively
• Convert quotations into Purchase Orders in order to complete direct orders
• Support with budget pricing and deliveries, using knowledge and experience of team members
• Contribute to product quality by assisting in supplier investigations, gaining insights into corrective actions for continuous improvement

Where you'll work

11 Glasshouse Street
St Peters
Newcastle On Tyne
NE6 1BS

Training

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

Training provider

CIPS CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED

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

You will complete a 2 year apprenticeship specialising in sourcing, purchasing and managing the acquisition of goods and services for BEL Valves and will study with our Training Partner, completing a portfolio of evidence to prove your competence to achieve a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship Standard in Procurement and Supply (CIPS) as well as receiving additional role specific training. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 9-4)
• Mathematics (grade 9-4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Team working
• Initiative

About this employer

BEL Valves, part of the British Engines Group, is a global business with a strong brand delivered over 60 years. BEL Valves offers design, manufacture, testing and aftermarket care of high integrity valves and actuators to critical offshore and onshore projects, within the oil and gas, power and renewables sectors. Core activities are managed from the head office in Newcastle upon Tyne, with international projects supported from a local and satellite network.

https://www.britishengines.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• Hands-on experience 
• Get paid to learn 
• Industry recognised qualifications 
• Wellbeing app (Employee Assistance Program) 
• Mentorship 
• Training & development

After this apprenticeship

The right candidate might move into any number of roles, including:

• Buyer
• Senior Buyer
• Purchasing Manager

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CIPS CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000007985.

Apply now

Closes in 5 days (Sunday 18 January 2026)

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