Procurement Apprentice

Procurement Apprentice

If you want the chance to develop your commercial business and buying skills whilst making a real difference to the lives of the people around you why not pursue an exciting career path in procurement? We have an apprenticeship opportunity available within the Council's Procurement Team. Whether you're at the start of your career or looking for a career change you will join a fast paced and agile environment supporting procurement activity across a broad range of service areas.

The successful candidate will provide general procurement support to various stakeholders within the busy Corporate Procurement Service team based at the Council House in Solihull. The role will include assistance in the management of all steps in the procurement process: user needs analysis; market research; sourcing activity; structure of tenders; market engagement; tender evaluation; negotiation; and contractual matters.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate a keen interest in procurement; the ability to work to time sensitive deadlines with attention to detail; be able to work well on their own as well as part of a team; possess good communication and interpersonal skills; and have high levels of integrity, honesty, reliability and confidentiality.

You will work in a supported learning environment to develop the skills and knowledge required for your apprenticeship. We will assist you to complete a Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply apprenticeship to help you to progress in your future career.

If you are a dynamic individual who is flexible, organised, motivated and ready for an exciting and challenging role this is the opportunity for you.

Our previous Procurement Apprentice (recently promoted to Category Manager) had this to say:

"The apprenticeship offered numerous opportunities to develop my skills. From working on diverse projects to engaging in various hands-on tasks, I was constantly challenged and motivated to improve. Throughout the apprenticeship, the support and guidance from the team were invaluable. This supportive environment fostered my growth and helped me overcome any challenges I faced. This position is designed to welcome beginners, making it accessible to those eager to learn and grow. The learning curve might seem steep at first, but the structured training and supportive environment makes it manageable, exciting and incredibly rewarding. As a former procurement apprentice reflecting on my experience, I can wholeheartedly recommend this role. The abundance of learning opportunities makes it an ideal starting point for a successful career in procurement. Supported by a dedicated and encouraging team, this apprenticeship is the perfect challenge for ambitious
professionals looking to make a significant impact in the field."

You need a minimum of GCSE Grades C / 4 or above in Maths and English. In addition, you will need a minimum of 2 A-Levels Grades C / 4 or above or equivalent (provisional predicted grades are acceptable at application stage).

We've implemented a new system from Monday 4th March which will improve your candidate experience! To access your candidate portal for our new system, head to https://solihull.wm-jobs.co.uk/members, About Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Solihull is regarded as a popular and vibrant place to live in the UK. As one of the most prosperous towns in the Midlands, almost two thirds of our borough is designated as green belt. We have over 1,500 acres of parks across the borough, with 16 Green Flag Awards. Solihull is very well connected, with great transport links such as the M40, M42 and M6 all close by, and an excellent rail network, plus, of course, an international airport. We are home to the award-winning Touchwood Shopping Centre, National Exhibition Centre, Resorts World Birmingham, and the Resorts World Arena.

It is an exciting time for Solihull, although we are a relatively small local authority (c. 6000 employees), we still have ambitious plans including the development of UK Central and HS2.

Here at Solihull Council, we want to ensure that all our citizens have an equal chance to share in Solihull's success. We do this by putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.

We recognise that our employees are the key factor in achieving our vision and as such, we are always on the lookout for talented individuals, who want to make a real positive difference to people's lives and can help us to continue building on our success.

Both Smarter Ways of Working and Employee Wellbeing are key Council Priorities.

The transition to Smarter Ways of Working has presented us with the opportunity to re-think how and where we work. With the option to access portable technology, dependent upon the requirements of the role, a lot of our people are not bound to a single workplace or traditional ways of working, with many choosing to spend a good proportion of their week working from home.

Our people told us that they value flexibility, and that choice enables them to have a better work-life balance, manage family responsibilities, enhance their personal wellbeing, and continue to deliver excellent outcomes for the residents of Solihull.

Our people are our number one asset, and our aim is to have a healthy, happy engaged and thriving workforce.

Wellbeing is at the heart of our employee offer and we are a bronze accredited West Midlands Combined Authority Thrive at Work employer. This recognises our commitment and action in support of employee wellbeing; we are currently working towards silver accreditation.

Unpaid carers carry out a key role within our community and know that this can be challenging when combined with employment. Our Carer's Policy and the ongoing support we give to our employees has resulted in us winning Employer of the Year 2022 at the Carer Friendly Awards.

• learn while you work


• develop practical skills and knowledge


• gain job specific qualifications


• learn from experienced procurement professionals


• possible progression into permanent employment and further learning and development


We can offer:

• high quality training, development and work experience


• recognised apprenticeship qualification


• paid annual leave and flexible working hours


• a good support network throughout your qualification, Competitive salaries including, for those at the top of their scale, the opportunity to receive a non-consolidated lump sum;


• A range of flexible working options;


• Annual leave starting at 25 days and rising to 30 days after 5 years' service in addition to public holidays with an opportunity to purchase up to 10 additional days' holiday per year;


• A generous flexitime scheme (available for most roles);


• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme;


• A wide range of learning and development opportunities;


• A range of family friendly policies;


• Employee benefits including subsidised travel passes, Cycle 2 Work Scheme, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and staff discounts.


Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

As users of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who demonstrate they meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

For roles eligible for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check this will be indicated in the advert and supporting recruitment documents. Where the post involves working with children, other vulnerable groups or in a position of trust it is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Further guidance is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945449/rehabilitation-of-offenders-guidance.pdf

Please note, where sufficient numbers of applications are received, we reserve the right to close a vacancy before the advertised closing date. We therefore advise that you submit your application as soon as possible.