Have you considered a career in procurement?

It’s a fantastic choice, with continuous professional development, varied and rewarding work, as well as great career prospects! With our procurement apprenticeship, you will benefit from a structured learning programme, get hands-on experience, and earn a salary.

Wage

• £26,403 a year
• Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
• Full Time (37 hours per week)
• Starting salary £26,403 – rising to £27,694
• You will receive any cost of living increases as agreed by the Local Government Association.

Training course

• Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)

Hours

• 37 hours per week, core hours between 9 am and 9 pm, with flexi-time available. Flexi-time must be taken around the requirements of business needs.

Start date

• Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

• 3 years 6 months

Positions available

• 1

What you'll do at work

The key duties of this post will include:

• Studying towards the following qualifications:
  • Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply (includes CIPS Level 4 Diploma)
  • CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply
  • Level 6 Senior Procurement Supply Chain Professional (includes CIPS Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply)
• Supporting the development of procurement projects to help NEPO achieve its strategic objectives.
• Supporting the ongoing contract management of procurement solutions to ensure expected outcomes are achieved.
• Adopting NEPO’s processes, policies, and guidance to safeguard consistency, quality, and achievement of desired outcomes.
• Supporting stakeholder management, liaising with members, suppliers, and wider stakeholders in a professional, customer-focused manner.
• Utilising digital tools and systems to maximise efficiency and ensure compliance.
• Undertaking data analysis and collating management information accurately and within timescales.
• Producing correspondence, tender documentation, and presentations to a high standard.
• Communicating in a professional manner with diverse stakeholders in writing, by telephone, and in-person.

Where you'll work

Northern Design Centre
Abbots Hill
Baltic Business Quarter
Gateshead
NE8 3DF

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.