Procurement Apprentice Review

Sitting in meetings, shadowing line manager, managing suppliers, creating and managing contracts, sitting in supplier proposals, engaging in Supplier Diversity and Environmental and Social Governance initiatives, networking with fellow colleagues and others in the business, procuring and providing training for the tools the team uses, reporting and filing supplier spend.

Developed using Microsoft Excel, developed liaising through emails and teams meetings as well as via phone, learnt about networking, learnt about the outsourcing process, learnt about the proposal process through to contract creation and signature, learn about managing suppliers and contract terms, learnt how to do an effective presentation and organise events.

I enjoy my programme a great deal, I allows me to experience the world of work and interact with lots of different people from different lines of the business whom I would have never had access to otherwise, while still achieving a qualification and excelling academically in a new field.

My programme is very well organised but not too strictly structured, there is a mixture of home working and in office working which allows a lot of freedom and responsibility to be on top of your work and balance work and life. There's always tasks to do and the our line managers always look out for us.

I receive lots of support from my employer, we have regular check ins to make sure we're ok both with our line managers and our apprenticeship team, we are also frequently encouraged to ask for help whenever we need it and that no question is too silly to ask.

I receive lots of support from my training provider, we have regular check ins to make sure we're ok, we are also frequently encouraged to ask for help whenever we need it and that no question is too silly to ask. They have created a very safe space for us to learn.

I feel that my qualification (through my training provider) helps me to perform better in my role as it allows me to put what I have learnt into practice and to better understand the logic and thinking behind certain procurement processes so that I am better equipped to deal with them.

We have a team charity day where we volunteer at a charity to give back and do something productive, we as apprentices also regularly organise networking events both randomly and for certain occasions such as Christmas. In addition to this, there is lots to get involved in throughout the business through the different networks.

Yes

Everyone is so friendly and down to earth, they have very good cultural values that they try and stick by in every arena, there is always help available, they harbour a very inclusive and friendly environment with lots to do together, there's always new initiatives to get involved it, there's never a dull moment.

Be yourself, everyone is so kind so you'll be accepted very easily. Also, go for any role within the business - I did not know I would find myself in my role or think I was suited to it but I love it so much and don't regret a thing