Job Description

To provide day-to-day support to the Procurement team by helping manage purchasing requests, liaising with suppliers, tracking orders, and maintaining accurate documentation. The apprentice will gain hands-on experience across the full procurement cycle while studying towards a recognised qualification.

Objectives:

• Build a working knowledge of the company's purchasing processes, including requisitioning, sourcing, purchase order creation, and order tracking.
• Assist the Procurement team with raising, reviewing, and maintaining accurate purchase orders in the Business System.
• Communicate professionally with suppliers to request quotations, confirm delivery dates, and follow up on outstanding orders.
• Maintain up-to-date supplier information to support the Procurement team's decision-making.
• Help identify opportunities for cost savings, improved lead times, and better supplier performance through accurate data gathering and basic analysis.
• Escalate risks such as delays, price variances, or quality concerns promptly.
• Follow delegated authority rules, audit requirements, and procurement governance at all times.
• Support good record-keeping to ensure accurate audit trails and process visibility.
• Work towards the chosen procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS Level 3 or equivalent apprenticeship standard).
• Demonstrate good time management, communication, and organisational skills while balancing study and work commitments.
• Suggest and contribute to small improvements in procurement processes, templates, or internal workflows.
• Participate in team meetings and support the delivery of procurement KPIs.

Responsibilities:

• Purchasing & Administration
• Assist with raising, reviewing, and processing Purchase Requisitions and Purchase Orders in the Business System.
• Ensure all purchasing documentation is completed accurately and maintained in line with policies and procedures.
• Support order tracking, ensuring delivery dates are monitored and communicated to the wider business.
• Supplier Interaction
• Contact suppliers to request quotations, confirm pricing, check lead times, and follow up on outstanding orders.
• Support the maintenance of supplier records and documentation to aid compliance.
• Escalate supplier issues such as delays, quality concerns, or price discrepancies.
• Data & Reporting
• Assist in collecting and updating purchasing data, such as pricing, delivery performance, and spend information.
• Help prepare basic reports or summaries to support Procurement KPIs and decision-making.
• Maintain accurate and timely data entry to support strong audit trails.
• Operational Support
• Work closely with internal stakeholders (Stores, Logistics, Planning, Engineering, etc.) to understand purchasing needs and provide updates.
• Support the Procurement team with general administrative tasks, filing, and document control.
• Assist with the coordination of urgent or critical material requirements.
• Compliance & Governance
• Follow all procurement procedures, delegated authority levels, and audit requirements.
• Ensure purchasing activity is compliant, transparent, and aligned with internal controls and SOPs.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling supplier and commercial information.
• Continuous Learning & Improvement
• Participate in ongoing training and development as part of the procurement apprenticeship programme.
• Seek opportunities to improve processes, templates, or communication flows.
• Contribute positively to team meetings and support a culture of continuous improvement

Qualifications/Experience:

• Essential Qualifications
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths, typically at grade 4/C or above.
• Willingness to work towards a recognised Procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS Level 3 or equivalent apprenticeship standard).
• Basic IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word).
• Desirable Qualifications
• A-Levels or equivalent Level 3 qualification.
• Any prior study related to business, supply chain, or administration.
• Essential Experience
• No formal procurement experience required.
• Some experience in a customer service, administrative, or retail environment (part-time work, volunteering, or school projects) is beneficial but not mandatory.
• Demonstrated interest in business, supply chain, engineering, or administrative work.
• Desirable Experience
• Experience working in an office, workshop, or manufacturing environment.
• Any exposure to procurement, logistics, data entry, or stock control.
• Experience using business systems or databases (e.g., raising requests, updating records).
• Personal Attributes & Aptitude
• Strong willingness to learn and develop new skills.
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Confident communicator, both in writing and verbally.
• Ability to work as part of a team and build positive relationships.
• Professional attitude, reliability, and good time management.