Apprentice Purchasing Assistant
PRIORS COURT FOUNDATION
THATCHAM (RG18 9NU)
Closes in 14 days (Friday 7 August 2026)
Posted on 23 July 2026
Contents
Summary
Do you have strong administrative and organisational skills and an interest in finance? Do you want to be a part of an organisation that makes a difference to the lives of Autistic young people whilst gaining a qualification and hands on experience in a purchasing environment?
- Wage
-
£23,000 a year
- Training course
- Procurement and supply assistant (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday- Friday
09:00- 17:00
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Sunday 1 November 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 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
- Placing and confirming purchase orders in line with purchasing processes and timelines
- Monitoring order confirmations, delivery schedules and updates
- Receipting in goods onto the system accurately
- Maintaining accurate purchasing data and ensuring systems are kept up to date
- Managing the purchasing inbox and responding to supplier and internal queries in a timely manner
- Acting as a key point of contact for supplier communication, including order updates and issue resolution
- Identifying and resolving order discrepancies, delays or supplier issues, escalating where necessary
- Providing resources on site from a centralised store including stationery, uniform and hygiene supply requests
- Ensure compliance with internal purchasing policies and controls
Where you'll work
Priors Court School
Priors Court
Hermitage
THATCHAM
RG18 9NU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
FAREPORT TRAINING ORGANISATION 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
- Weekly training
- Onsite and at home
More training information
- Tutor support throughout the course
- Allocated time every week for training
- Mixture of independent learning and coaching
Requirements
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
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
Other requirements
- An offer of employment at Prior's Court is conditional, subject to referencing and an Enhanced DBS check. These checks must be completed prior to joining us
- Due to our location, you must drive and have access to your own vehicle
About this employer
Prior's Court is a registered charity providing education and residential care for autistic young people with complex needs aged 5-25, helping them build a brighter, more independant future.
https://www.priorscourt.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Pension scheme – Prior’s Court contributes 5% of your basic salary, with a minimum 3% contribution from you
- 248 hours annual leave including Bank Holidays
- 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme – confidential advice, guidance and support whenever you need it
- Life assurance – offering additional peace of mind
- Flexible Benefits and Discount Platform – access savings and tailored offer
- and more!
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
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- This apprenticeship will equip you with the skills and knowledge to progress further within the procurement function
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
PRIORS COURT FOUNDATION
Recruitment
recruitment@priorscourt.org.uk
16135 247202
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000044446.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Friday 7 August 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.