Purchasing Apprenticeship
Qualities Needed
The Opportunity - Level 4 Purchasing Apprenticeship
Start Date - September 2024, typically for 2 years
Starting Salary- £15,000
Minimum Entry Criteria - You’ll need at least four GCSEs including Maths and English at C/4 or above and an A- Level or an equivalent qualification at grade C or above.
What does the Purchasing Apprenticeship scheme involve day to day?
Purchasing is the process of buying goods and services needed by JCB to operate efficiently. This includes finding suitable suppliers, negotiating prices, placing orders, and making sure quality products arrive on time. As a purchasing apprentice, you will handle relationships with stakeholders, monitor inventory, and learn important skills to help materials move smoothly in the business.
Your training will be geared towards getting you up to speed with everything you need to thrive once you take the reins for real. You’ll work on real-life projects and contribute to the general flow of ideas in our fast-paced area of the business, by practically understanding commercial reviews, purchasing project management and so much more.
What could I be doing?
Category Buying - In this position, you will create and carry out global category strategies to aid our manufacturing processes in the UK, India, US, China, and Brazil. You will need to connect and negotiate with suppliers worldwide to enhance value and boost competitiveness and performance. This role also involves collaborating with internal teams like engineering and sales to find, assess, and implement new technologies.
Operational Buying - In this position, you handle daily purchasing tasks to ensure sourcing is timely and cost-effective, following the purchasing strategy to keep production running smoothly. You will manage supplier relationships, negotiate prices and terms for the best results, and create orders. Additionally, you will work with internal teams to understand their needs and improve the supply chain.
Purchasing Project Lead (PPL) - In this position, you will coordinate and assist with all purchasing activities related to the New Part Introduction Process (NPIP) and localization projects. You need to collaborate closely with stakeholders and purchasing teams to manage all procurement tasks, making sure that requirements are met according to technical, cost, and performance standards while aligning with the group purchasing strategy.
Non- Production Buyer - In this position, you will build and keep strong relationships with suppliers to guarantee timely delivery and quality products and services. Your focus will be on purchasing needs outside of the production process. You will negotiate contract terms and pricing with suppliers to get the best deals and reduce costs for the non-production areas you manage. Additionally, you will assess supplier performance and give feedback to encourage ongoing improvement and uphold high quality and service standards.
What comes next?
- We’ll be shortlisting and sending out links to our online assessments in December 2024.
- Through December 2024 to February 2025, if you've been shortlisted following your online assessment you will be sent an invite to one of our in-person Assessment Centres.
- In-person Assessment Centres will take place from January to April 2025.
- We aim to call all candidates whether successful or unsuccessful a few weeks after the Assessment Centre has taken place.
- All of our apprentices and graduates will start their exciting journeys with a full induction week in September 2025!
What’s in it for you?
This is your chance to join a company that’s not only picking up awards for its Early Careers schemes but also opens up opportunities for the long term. On a JCB Early Careers Scheme as a standard you’ll get a competitive salary, 33 days’ holiday, and access to our company pension. Not only that, but you’ll also benefit from access to our onsite gym, in-house doctor, dentist and visiting optician. There’s also a JCB Rewards Hub, which gives you discounts at many high street fashion and food retailers. And if you feel like biking to work? There’s our Cycle to Work Scheme.
Building a Brighter Future
We value diversity and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.
We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is fair and inclusive. If you face any accessibility challenges with your online application and require additional support, you have the option of speaking to a member of our Resourcing team who can support you to complete an application in an alternative format. If you would benefit from this support, please email recruitment@jcb.com, and a member of the team will be in touch.