Procurement Apprentice

Summary

Build capability for progression into specialist roles such as Buyer, Tooling Engineer or Capital Project Coordinator. Develop core skills in procurement, commercial decision‑making and supplier management, with hands‑on exposure to tooling, machinery and capital equipment sourcing in an automotive manufacturing environment.

Wage

£15,600 to £24,784.50, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Planned salary increases set over a 3 year period.

Salary increases based on set criteria.

This criteria can be discussed in detail with the successful candidate.

Training course

Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Thursday, 08:30 - 17:15. Friday, 08:30 - 13:00. There will be no shift work or opportunity for overtime. There is a bus link, with a small walk from the bus stop and Birmingham International train station near by.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

1 year 5 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

• Gain practical experience across real manufacturing projects and capital investments.
• Learn and apply relevant procurement, safety, quality and regulatory standards relating to manufacturing equipment and tooling.
• Support procurement activities for capital equipment, production tooling and manufacturing services across customer programmes. Apply defined procedures to resolve straightforward issues and seek guidance when problems fall outside agreed processes.
• Work with suppliers to request quotations, evaluate capabilities, analyse deliverables and track progress against agreed timelines.
• Analyse cost, technical and commercial data, including cost breakdowns, technical specifications and contractual terms.
• Assist with purchase order preparation, documentation, data accuracy and record management within procurement systems.
• Participate in cross‑functional project reviews with engineering, quality and manufacturing teams.
• Monitor tooling and equipment milestones, delivery schedules and supplier performance.
• Assist with capital approval processes by compiling business cases, cost models and investment proposals.

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

• Unit 1-2, Progress Way, Birmingham, B40 1AB
• Building 2 Elmdon Trading Estate, Bickenhill Lane, Solihull, West Midlands, B37 7HE

Training

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

Training provider

THE APPRENTICE ACADEMY LIMITED

Training course

Procurement and supply chain practitioner (level 4)

What you'll learn

• 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

The apprenticeship provider will be The Apprentice Academy. The qualification will be done remotely.

Exams will need to be attended face to face (there are various places where these can attended).

All qualifications, exams and joining fees for professional bodies will be paid by Artifex Interior Systems.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4 and above)
• Maths (grade 4 and above)

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
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Proactive
• Accountability