Procurement and Supply Assistant Apprentice

HORSTMAN DEFENCE SYSTEMS LIMITED

Avon (BA1 3EX)

Closes in 2 days (Tuesday 22 April 2025)

Posted on 7 April 2025


Summary

As a Procurement Apprentice, you will assist in sourcing products and services, managing supplier relationships and supporting the daily activities of the Procurement department within a defence engineering company, whilst gaining a nationally recognised qualification.

Wage

Competitive

Competitive wage offered

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Procurement and supply assistant (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Thursday 07:30 - 16:00, Friday 07:30 - 12:30

37 hours a week

Start date

Sunday 1 June 2025

Duration

1 year 6 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

  • Assist in the preparation and submission of purchase orders
  • Support the team in identifying and selecting suppliers, obtaining quotes, and evaluating supplier proposals
  • Help maintain accurate procurement records and databases
  • Liaise with internal departments to ensure timely delivery of goods and services
  • Assist in monitoring supplier performance, including delivery times and quality standards
  • Support the resolution of any procurement-related issues or discrepancies
  • Track and report on procurement spend, savings and assist with budget management
  • Participate in market research to identify potential suppliers
  • Work closely with internal and external stakeholders
  • Assist in the development and implementation of procurement processes and procedures
  • Perform general administrative duties, including filing, record keeping, and preparing reports

Where you’ll work

Locksbrook Road
Bath
Avon
BA1 3EX

Training

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

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

Procurement and Supply Assistant Level 3.


 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade C/4)
  • Maths (grade C/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

  • Communication skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental

Other requirements

This role will require the signing of the UK Secrets Acts, plus BPSS screening.

About this company

With a time-tested pedigree in design, development, project management and high-quality manufacture, Horstman is the pre-eminent mobility solution provider in the global heavy armoured and tracked vehicle suspension market.

https://horstmangroup.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Healthcare scheme 25 days holiday with Bank holidays on top Discretionary Annual bonus Pension matching up to 8% 2:2:1 Home Working

After this apprenticeship

  • Procurement and Supply Assistant
  • Project Buyer
  • Procurement and Supply Practitioner

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HORSTMAN DEFENCE SYSTEMS LIMITED

recruitment

recruitment@horstman.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000314302.

Apply now

Closes in 2 days (Tuesday 22 April 2025)

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

CV required