Procurement Apprentice
PORTAKABIN LIMITED
York (YO32 9PT)
Closes in 19 days (Monday 13 April 2026)
Posted on 17 March 2026
Contents
Summary
We’re offering a great opportunity to start your career through a Procurement Apprenticeship. You’ll receive structured training, hands‑on experience, and develop long‑term skills while supporting the Procurement Manager and working with the central team to meet business needs.
- Wage
-
£19,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Annual Salary Review
- Training course
- Procurement and supply assistant (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday. Flexible approach to working hours (core hours 10.00am - 2.30 pm).
Specific working pattern to be determined - dependent on the apprentice and team requirements.
36 hours 15 minutes 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
Process requisitions: Manage and process requisition orders to ensure timely procurement of goods and services required by the company.
Resolve invoice queries: Address and resolve any discrepancies or issues related to invoices to maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records.
Enquire about and pricing new products: Conduct inquiries and obtain pricing information for new products to support cost-effective purchasing decisions.
Run reports for spend analysis for Category Managers: Generate and run detailed spend analysis reports to provide Category Managers with insights for budget management and strategic planning.
Validate documents submitted for new suppliers: Review and validate all documents submitted by potential new suppliers to ensure compliance with company standards and reliability within the supply chain.
Validate project tender packages and the analysis of the data that is returned.
Where you'll work
Portakabin Ltd
New Lane
Huntington
York
YO32 9PT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ENCOMPASS CONSULTANCY 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
Your apprenticeship will be delivered through a blended learning approach, supported by our learning provider. As part of the programme, you will work towards achieving your Level 3 CIPS Diploma in Procurement and Supply, providing you with a strong foundation for a future career in procurement.
Our apprenticeship has been designed to support you at every stage of your development, and throughout the programme you will be stretched, challenged and fully supported by a business that is committed to your professional growth.
Throughout the duration of your apprenticeship you will be appointed a workplace mentor to support you with your learning.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- 3 x Non Specific (grade 4 - 9 (C - A*))
- English (grade 4-9 (C-A*))
- Maths (grade 4-9 (C-A*))
Desirable qualifications
A Level in:
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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
At Portakabin, we design and deliver high-quality modular buildings for organisations of all sizes, in various sectors including manufacturing, education, health, transport, utilities and construction. Delivering our products sustainably, and safely to our customers is of utmost importance.
Portakabin now employs more than 2,200 people across the UK and Europe. Our people are at the heart of business and the reason for our success. We offer career progression, support and development opportunities giving our employees space to grow.
Portakabin is a Disability Confident Committed and equal opportunities employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and to the fair and consistent treatment of all current and prospective colleagues.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and value the contribution that diverse experiences bring to our teams.
Reasonable adjustments will be made throughout the application, recruitment, and onboarding processes where required. If you need any additional support or experience any difficulty applying, please contact our recruitment team on resourcing@portakabin.com
http://www.portakabin.com (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
25 days annual leave + bank holidays
Health and Wellbeing Services
Employee Assistance Program
Volunteering Day
Cycle to Work Scheme
Discount at shops, gyms, restaurants and holidays!
After this apprenticeship
We have lots of fantastic success stories from previous apprentices who have gone on to achieve industry recognised qualifications through their apprenticeships and many of our past apprentices are still working within the business today or have gone onto have successful careers elsewhere. Our workplace culture will allow you to pick up not only the knowledge and skills to be used in your future career but also experience working in a professional but relaxed environment that will give you the confidence to excel in your role and develop as a professional.
We truly believe that we put our people at the heart of everything we do, and you will have the job security and development opportunities that are rare in the current climate, so why not join us, and be a part of our continuing growth and success? With exciting future ambitions, we couldn’t think of a better time for you to join us!
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
PORTAKABIN LIMITED
Jo Brownsword
apprenticeships@portakabin.com
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000021558.
Apply now
Closes in 19 days (Monday 13 April 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.