Apprentice Procurement Assistant Level 4

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Bootle (L20 3NJ)

Closes in 14 days (Thursday 15 October 2026)

Posted on 30 September 2026

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Summary

Sefton Council's Procurement Team are looking to recruit an Apprentice Procurement Assistant who is committed and motivated to complete the 21 month programme and will learn how to provide a professional sourcing, procurement and supplier management function while studying for a Level 4 Procurement & Supply Chain qualification.

Wage

£25,060 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Age 16-17  £15,768  (£ 8.40 per hour)

Age 18-20   £21,381  (£11.39 per hour)

Age 21+      £25,060  (£13.35 per hour)

Training course
Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm (7.20 hours per day on a flexitime basis).

36 hours a week

Start date

Monday 16 November 2026

Duration

1 year 9 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

  • Establish and maintain an operational knowledge of the applicable Procurement Act 2023 and how they impact the procurement operation of the Council
  • Establish and maintain an operational knowledge of the Council’s Contracts Procedure Rules and related governance, and how they impact the procurement operation of the Council
  • Apply knowledge and understanding of both the applicable Procurement Act 2023 and the Council’s Contracts Procedure Rules, to support public procurement exercises controlled by legislation and governance on behalf of the Council
  • Undertake Request for Quotation (RFQ) procurement exercises and prepare tender documentation by liaising with Procurement Team colleagues compliant to the Procurement Act 2023, and our Contract Procedure Rules
  • Support colleagues in managing compliant end to end procurement procedures, including contract award
  • Learn how to conduct complex and high value sourcing exercises, including invitation to Tender (ITT) exercises conducted via the Councils Tendering Portal
  • Support the preparation of contract documents, including specifications and evaluation criteria, in consultation with Heads of Service, Procurement Officers and other internal stake holders
  • Learn to design, build and put into operation, Microsoft Excel based evaluation matrices to capture and record the results of supplier evaluation activity carried out within procurement process

Where you'll work

Magdalen House
30 Trinity Road
Bootle
L20 3NJ

Training

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

Training provider

SR SUPPLY CHAIN CONSULTANTS LTD

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

  • Level 4 Procurement and Supply Chain Standard
  • The training will be delivered at the workplace

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade Grade C - above or equivalent)
  • Mathematics (grade Grade C - above or equivalent)

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
  • Patience

About this employer

Sefton Council is a local authority within the Liverpool City Region. Sefton is a diverse and exciting borough and is a great place to live and work. As an employer we can offer a diverse range of job roles across a variety of settings. We offer attractive conditions of service which allow for a good work life balance and invest in our staff through our learning and development programme.

https://www.sefton.gov.uk/jobs-volunteering-and-training/ (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

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).

  • Apprentice will receive on-programme support from an Apprenticeship Officer and Careers, information, advice and guidance support during the last 2-months of their apprenticeship contract
  • Job-seeking support is also included

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

The Corporate Apprenticeship Team

Apprenticeships@sefton.gov.uk

+441519342448

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000056119.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Thursday 15 October 2026)

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