Commercial Assistant Apprentice

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

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

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

About this company

At Thames Water, our purpose is crystal clear - to deliver life’s essential service so our customers, communities and planet can thrive.   Water is life’s great leveller. Every living thing needs it, every single day. From people to plants, birds to bees, farms to factories, we all need it to thrive, and we’re committed to taking care of it for us all.   But keeping water flowing is becoming harder. From scorching summers to wetter winters, extreme weather affects everything from our pipes to our local rivers. We must keep millions more kettles boiling, public services operating, washing machines spinning, showers running and more, so every drop is more precious than ever. Are you ready to play your part?

http://www.thameswater.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Permament role

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

APA PROCUREMENT TRAINING LIMITED

earlycareers@thameswater.co.uk

0118 952 0101

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000302845.

Apply now

Closes in 3 days (Wednesday 26 February)

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