Apprentice Buyer - Manchester

NG BAILEY GROUP LIMITED

Salford (M5 3EF)

Closes in 22 days (Sunday 8 March 2026)

Posted on 3 February 2026

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Summary

NG Bailey is offering an exciting opportunity to join our Engineering procurement team as an Apprentice Buyer. You’ll support the delivery of mechanical and electrical building services projects, from commercial offices to complex infrastructure and energy projects. 

Wage

£20,000 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday, working hours are between 07:00am to 17:30pm, shift dependent on the project.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Wednesday 26 August 2026

Duration

3 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

During your apprenticeship you’ll learn how to support the procurement and supply chain activities for major mechanical and electrical projects.

This will include:

  •    Assisting with the purchase of materials, equipment and services
  •    Helping to ensure materials are ordered, delivered and available on site in line with project programmes
  •    Working closely with site teams to support smooth logistics and project progress
  •    Supporting cost tracking, forecasting and basic project reporting
  •    Assisting with supplier and contract administration
  •    Helping monitor supplier performance against agreed KPIs such as cost, quality and delivery
  •    Supporting the management of commercial agreements, including tracking any agreed rebates, cost recoveries or savings agreements
  •    Using systems and spreadsheets to support buying and commercial decisions
  •   Attending supplier meetings, supply chain engagement events and performance reviews, helping build strong, collaborative relationships across the supply chain

Where you'll work

5 Exchange Quay
Salford
M5 3EF

Training

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

Training provider

OXFORD PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION GROUP 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

  • You will train at one of the top performing colleges or training providers in the country.
  • You will work towards CIPS membership 
  • Block release at college
  • You will regularly attend in house training and development as part of the programme.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

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

A Level in:

  • STEM (grade C or above)
  • STEM (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
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Excellent timekeeping
  • Are keen to learn
  • Safety Conscious

Other requirements

  • Work indoors and outdoors
  • Be prepared for early starts and travel away from home when necessary

About this employer

NG Bailey is the UK's leading independent engineering and services business. Our vision is ‘to be the best – creating exceptional environments for present and future generations’. We work across a variety of sectors within the building and infrastructure industry, and our innovative, responsible and forward-thinking approach allows us to work on fantastic ground-breaking projects. Our company has two divisions, Engineering and Services, which together we bring buildings and infrastructure to life.

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

Company benefits

  • Pension and employer contribution
  • Personal Wellbeing/Volunteer days
  • Life Assurance
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Discounted gym memberships

After this apprenticeship

Once qualified there is the potential of a permanent position within the company. If you successful gain a permanent position there are many opportunities to advance your career

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

OXFORD PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000010387.

Apply now

Closes in 22 days (Sunday 8 March 2026)

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