Senior procurement and supply chain professional
Level 6 · DegreeSales, marketing and procurement 2.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This Level 6 apprenticeship trains professionals to lead procurement and supply chain operations at a senior level within large or complex organisations. Apprentices manage supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and design supply chain strategies that deliver value and manage risk. It can lead to roles such as Head of Procurement, Supply Chain Director, or Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) membership.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Strategic sourcing and category management techniques
Contract law and commercial negotiation principles
Supply chain risk assessment and mitigation strategies
Sustainability and ethical sourcing standards
Financial analysis and total cost of ownership modelling
Supplier performance management frameworks
Change management and stakeholder influencing skills
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Lead negotiations with suppliers to secure best-value contracts
Analyse spend data to identify cost-saving opportunities
Develop category strategies aligned to business objectives
Monitor supplier performance against agreed KPIs
Manage supply chain disruptions and contingency plans
Present procurement recommendations to senior leadership
Ensure contracts comply with legal and ethical requirements
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
No employer videos yet for this apprenticeship. Employers offering it can add one to show young people what the role is really like.