Procurement Projects Apprentice

Job Introduction

Eager to dive into the dynamic world of procurement and kickstart your career? 

This could be the perfect opportunity for you!  Interested in understanding what it’s like to be a Procurement Projects Apprentice?  Keep reading to find out more….. 

As a people person with an eye for detail, you’ll be working alongside our supportive and friendly Procurement Team as they share their knowledge and expertise with you about the Procurement process here at Yorkshire Housing.  In a nutshell, procurement is the strategic process of buying goods and services and here’s how it works:  First, we develop a plan, then we work with colleagues and explore different options. Next, we procure and select the best suppliers, set up contracts, and manage them throughout the contract management cycle process. It's all about making sure everything runs smoothly from start to finish and we get the best outcome for our colleagues and customers! 

At Yorkshire Housing, we’re all about investing in the next generation! This higher-level apprenticeship is your chance to gain invaluable skills and experience to build the foundations of your career in Procurement. It’s a great opportunity to kickstart your career while making a real difference to the future of housing!   

What qualification will I be working towards? 

You’ll be working towards completing a CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.  Your learning will be via online study sessions, with reviews every 12 weeks with both the training college and our team here at Yorkshire Housing.  We’ll make sure you have dedicated time each week for your studies and provide plenty of chances to apply what you’ve learned in real-life situations!  

What will I be doing?  

You’ll be working with a great team, who will support, guide and mentor you as you learn more about the world of procurement. You’ll be supporting and working with colleagues in different Business Areas across Yorkshire Housing, including Development, Investment, Finance, Governance, Technology and People. 

Here’s what you’ll be getting up to: 

• Helping with all stages of the procurement process, working closely with different teams. 
• Spotting and reducing risks to make sure procurement follows the correct process. 
• Managing suppliers and working with colleagues to make sure goods and services are delivered as promised. 
• Researching suppliers and the market to find opportunities and risks. 
• Supporting YH colleagues in managing contracts and maintaining good relationships with suppliers. 
• Looking at the total cost of contracts to make sure value is being delivered throughout. 
• Analysing spending and checking supplier performance to make sure everything’s on track. 
• Helping negotiate terms with suppliers to get the best deal. 

But that's not all – you’ll also spend time with our internal teams to understand more about contract and supplier management side. It’s your chance to learn, grow, and be part of something exciting!  

You can find out more about the Procurement Cycle here and how we work with suppliers at Become a Supplier | Yorkshire Housing 

What you’ll bring to the role: 

• 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade 4 (C) or above including English and Maths 
• 3 A Levels (or equivalent) at Grade D or above 
• Good skills in Microsoft Office software such as Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint 
• The ability to work on your own initiative, but also as part of a team 
• Great with numbers 
• Great problem-solving skills 
• Excellent communication skills – we’re looking for a people person who is able to confidently talk to colleagues from across the organisation 
• An eagerness to develop your own skills and a keen interest in the procurement project cycle 
• A great work ethic and a commitment to your own learning and development 
• Attention to detail  

It would be a bonus if you had: 

• Some experience of working within a procurement or supply chain team 
• Some experience in writing reports and compiling presentations 

If you’re sitting there thinking, I can’t quite bring everything to the role that they’re asking for, but I’m pretty confident I have a ton of other skills that make me stand out… Don’t let the bullet points put you off, we’re a friendly bunch and want to get the best people in the best roles and if that’s you, we’d love to hear from you! 

A bit more about us  

At Yorkshire Housing, we own and manage over 20,000 homes across the Yorkshire region. Providing our customers with a place they’re proud to call home is at the core of what we do. But our service doesn’t stop when the keys are in the door.  

As we continue to develop new homes and our customer base expands, it’s more important than ever that we look towards our future talent and ensure we have the best people in place to provide excellent support to our customers. As a Procurement Projects Apprentice, you’ll play a key role in making this happen.  

What’s in it for you?  

In return, we offer a salary of £17,290 up to £20,020 per annum (depending on experience) for 35 hours per week, 25 days annual leave (rising annually to 30 days) plus Bank Holidays.   

We also work (truly) flexibly, and believe work is something you do, not somewhere you go.  

But that’s not all. We offer a reward package to suit everyone. At YH, you can claim back for prescriptions, eye tests and more with our cash plan, make the most of a variety of retail discounts and take advantage of our pension scheme where we’ll match your contributions up to 9%, just to name a few.  

Our people’s health and wellbeing is one of our top priorities, and you can make the most of our readily available wellbeing support package. This includes access to a library of free fitness classes, as well as an instant My GP service and free counselling sessions with a trained professional.  

So, now you’re really interested?  

At YH, we’re actively building a work environment that’s inclusive as well as diverse, where everyone can contribute their best work and be themselves. We believe difference is what makes us stronger and recognise the importance of our teams reflecting the communities we serve, so we welcome and encourage candidates from all backgrounds for this role.  

We’re committed to recruiting top talent and valuing our customers unique experiences to help us stay customer-focused. That’s why we’re actively encouraging our customers to apply.  

If you require additional support with your application, or have any further questions, please contact our recruitment team via email at recruitment@yorkshirehousing.co.uk.  

The fine print  

The closing date for applications will be Sunday 16th March 2025, but we might close it early if we get lots of fab candidates, so don’t hang around. As this role is an apprenticeship, it’s a 24-month fixed term contract, but once you’re fully qualified we’d work with you to secure you an opportunity with us at Yorkshire Housing as we know good talent when we see it! 

Please remember to complete your application is as much detail as possible, if your CV isn’t the most detailed, your application is your time to shine! 

We know not everyone excels at interviews which means we don’t always get the best out of people in a traditional interview. So, as you can probably tell we don’t do things the ‘typical’ way here at Yorkshire Housing so the next step of the process will involve a super exciting assessment centre approach where we get to see you face to face!