Summary
The National Composites Centre is recruiting for a Procurement Apprentice to start in August 2025. This is a great opportunity to begin a career in Purchasing/Procurement, with pathways into Finance or Project Management.
Wage
£18,000 a year
£18,000 plus Benefits including 5 weeks holiday - with bank holidays on top and the ability to buy an additional 5 days holiday.
Training course
Procurement and supply assistant (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 37 hours (including study time). Times to be confirmed.
37 hours a week
Start date
Monday 4 August 2025
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
What You Can Expect to Be Doing:
* Study CIPS Procurement and Supply Assistant Apprenticeship Level 3, gaining fundamental knowledge and skills.
* Assist Category Leads with drafting tender documents, running supplier competitions, and evaluating responses.
* Gain hands-on experience in contract negotiations, supporting senior team members and leading certain activities.
* Monitor supplier performance, generate reports, and ensure contract compliance.
* Help maintain records, track negotiations, and update contracts and correspondence.
* Identify risks in the procurement process, ensuring the best outcomes for the business.
* Use the ERP system for processing requisitions, raising orders, and onboarding new suppliers.
* Engage with stakeholders across the business to support procurement activities.
* Source new suppliers, conduct market research, and stay updated on industry trends.
* Attend meetings, collaborate with teams, and support the drafting of import/export requirements and contracts.
Where you’ll work
National Composite Centre Bristol & Bath Science Park
Feynman Way
Emersons Green
Bristol
BS16 7FS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND STROUD COLLEGE
Your training course
Procurement and supply assistant (level 3)
Equal to A level
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.
Your training plan
The programme will be delivered at the Bristol Filton site (SGS College, Filton Campus).
The apprenticeship blends theoretical learning with practical workplace application.
· The programme includes three main phases:
o Foundations: Essential industry knowledge.
o Development: Skill-building through practical experience.
o Final Assessment: A project and formal evaluation to demonstrate competence.
· Apprentices will gain critical thinking, problem-solving, and project management skills, preparing them for real-world challenges.
Work-Based Commitment:
You will spend 20% of your working week in college and engaging in off-the-job training activities, such as shadowing or participating in relevant meetings.
More training information
How the Apprenticeship Works:
You’ll embark on up to two years of learning - 18 months of study + 6-month end-point assessment. During the first 18 months, you will complete the CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate.
The apprenticeship is graded pass, distinction, or fail based on the end-point assessment. Completion of the Advanced Certificate is required before the final assessment.
You will be required to attend learning at SGS College, Filton on a weekly basis, term time only.
Assessment:
The CIPS qualification includes 5 multiple-choice exams at the end of each module (remote or in-person).
End-point assessment (EPA):
A 3000-word work-based project, presenting solutions to a business issue, followed by a presentation and professional discussion based on your portfolio.
Requirements
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Number skills
* Team working
* Initiative
* Commitment to personal growth
* Enthusiasm
* Interest in business
Other requirements
The role is Hybrid - a mandatory 2 days a week in the office is expected. We are based in Emersions Green.