Procurement Apprentice at SOAS University of London

Summary

During your time as a Procurement Apprentice, you will. Gain a full understanding of the procurement and supplier management life cycle to help promote best practice and compliance across SOAS.

Wage

£25,733 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Procurement and supply assistant (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday. Times to be confirmed.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 28 April 2025

Duration

1 year 9 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

Learn about SOAS procurement policies and procedures, and how to follow them.
Organise and attend customer and supplier meetings to learn about how the supply chain works.
Attend relevant meetings and sector webinars to gain an excellent understanding of procurement in higher education and the wider public sector.
Learn industry best practice around public and private procurement, contract management, supplier relationship management, and risk management including how Framework Agreements contribute to success.
Learn about the role of sustainability, quality, diversity and inclusion in procurement
Work with colleagues across SOAS to develop professional relationships, understand how departments work together and how a university operates.
Study Level 3 of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)

Key Tasks

Provide guidance and advice to internal and external stakeholders based on the content of the SOAS procurement policy.
Support Procurement processes by conducting appropriate market research, drafting simple specifications and requesting quotes.
Evaluate/analyse supplier bids/tenders and provide advice to stakeholders on which presents the best value and where risk lies.
Produce ad-hoc data analysis, presentations, guidance and reports regarding procurement activity to aid strategic department and stakeholder decision-making.
Take responsibility for supporting departments in setting up new suppliers on our finance system.
Support departments by answering questions about raising purchase orders on our finance system.
Working with the Accounts Payable team (1–2 days per week), take responsibility for inputting invoices, expense claims, and other purchase ledger/general ledger transactions in accordance with the School’s financial regulations and procedures.
Assist in departmental or supplier meetings, recording minutes and keeping stakeholders updated with information.
Using appropriate, identified tools, analyse and present supplier data to provide departments with the information to make informed decisions regarding their requirements.
Support the delivery of training to those interested in Procurement, presenting information and answering questions as appropriate.
Lead on the development of a suite of training / guidance / information documents which easily explain procurement activity.
Using Microsoft Office applications develop and present appropriate information for the procurement team, including writing news stories and content for the SOAS Intranet.

Where you’ll work

School Of Oriental & African S, 10 Thornhaugh Street
London
WC1H 0XG

Training

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

College or training organisation

THE WKCIC GROUP

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

Procurement and supply assistant (Level 3).

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

Organisation skills
Communication skills

About this company

SOAS University of London is the leading Higher Education institution in Europe specialising in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East. SOAS University of London is positioned to play a leading role in reimagining higher education globally, with a new strategic plan in place as the basis for the renewal and revitalisation of the School which commits SOAS to both student responsiveness and research intensity. SOAS is moving towards a new model of international partnerships which is responsive to the transnational character of our global challenges.

After this apprenticeship

Following the successful completion of this apprenticeship, it is expected that the individual would be able to apply for Buyer or Junior category manager roles within higher education or the private sector.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE WKCIC GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000314290.

Apply now

Closes in 8 days (Sunday 27 April 2025)

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