Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join Thames Water as a Commercial Assistant Apprentice. You will be learning the construction of market strategies to get the best value-for-money goods and services into Thames Water and so much more.
Wage
£21,500 a year
You’ll also receive 24 days holiday, pension and other benefits.
Training course
Procurement and supply assistant (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday: (hours TBC)
36 hours a week
Possible start date
Monday 1 September
Duration
2 years
Positions available
1
Work
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.
What you’ll do at work
What you’ll be doing as a Commercial Assistant Apprentice - Level 3
You will be working across the Procurement Teams during the apprenticeship and will have two placements, one within Capital Delivery and one within non-Capital delivery teams.
* Understanding internal stakeholder requirements in the short, medium and long term.
* Understanding the external supply market, what it can offer and what innovations or improvements can be delivered.
* Construction of market strategies to get the best value-for-money goods and services into the Thames.
* Creation and delivery of compliant sourcing exercises to select new suppliers.
* Negotiation and deal closure.
* Contract and Supplier management of supply relationships.
Where you’ll work
Clearwater Court
Vastern Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 8DB
Training
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
College or training organisation
APA PROCUREMENT TRAINING LIMITED
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
* Virtual with occasional workshop in Swindon
More training information
By the end of the apprenticeship, you will have achieved the Level 3 Procurement and Supply Assistant Information Apprenticeship Standard including the CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
* English (grade 4)
* Maths (grade 4)
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
* Team working
* Logical thinker
* Focused
* Well organised
* Time management
* Dedication to succeed