Apprentice Purchaser

Closes in 21 days (Saturday 3 October 2026)

This is an exciting entry-level opportunity for someone looking to start a career in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain. As Apprentice Purchaser, you will work alongside our experienced Warehouse & Purchasing Manager, learning the fundamentals of purchasing operations in a busy, real-world environment.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Annual Pay review

Training course Procurement and supply assistant (level
3)

Hours Monday to Thursday, 8:00am - 4:45pm. Friday, 8:00am - 3:30pm. With a 40 minute lunch break each day.

40 hours a week

Monday 12 October 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

1

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

As you grow in confidence and capability, your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Raising purchase orders where sales orders cannot be fulfilled from existing stock
• Ensuring purchase orders contain all necessary information so that goods and services are delivered correctly and on time
• Contacting suppliers to check pricing, confirm delivery dates, and chase outstanding orders
• Entering and processing delivery notes accurately into our systems
• Responding to queries from internal teams and suppliers by phone and email in a timely and professional manner
• Supporting the development of supplier relationships to improve service and responsiveness
• Maintaining accurate filing and records for the purchasing department
• Keeping purchase order due dates up to date and flagging potential issues proactively
• Following company procedures for record-keeping and system updates
• Supporting wider service departments and contributing to shared business goals
• Adhering to all company Health & Safety, Quality, and HR policies

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

COLCHESTER INSTITUTE

Procurement and supply assistant (level
3)

• 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 s 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…