End of an Era, Start of a Career. A-level results land on Thursday 13 August, and GCSE results follow a week later on Thursday 20 August. For hundreds of thousands of young people, those two Thursdays close one chapter and open another. Exams are behind them. What comes next is genuinely open, and for many, that means looking properly at their options for the first time rather than following a path they’d simply assumed was the only one. For some, that includes options like procurement apprenticeships they’ve never had reason to consider before.
Most of them won’t be thinking about procurement. Almost none of them will have been taught what it actually involves. That’s exactly why it’s worth their attention, and yours.
In short, a procurement apprenticeship combines a paid job with structured training in buying, supplier management and supply chain, usually leading to a CIPS-recognised qualification. That combination, real work plus real accreditation, is exactly what makes it worth a proper look this results day.
A gap between what young people know and what employers need
Careers advice at school tends to cover the same handful of options. Universities visit, apprenticeship providers in more visible sectors get airtime, and procurement rarely gets a look in, despite being one of the professions employers are actively struggling to fill. Industry research from CIPS found that 60% of employers had struggled to find the right procurement and supply chain talent in the past year, and roughly half of those with hiring plans are specifically looking for entry-level people to bring in and train up. It’s also a well-paid profession to be missing out on: UK procurement salaries average £56,677 a year, apprentices earn a wage from day one, and the route from procurement apprentice to specialist buyer is well trodden for anyone willing to learn.
That’s an unusual gap to see: strong demand from employers, and almost no awareness among the people who could fill it. For someone leaving school or college this month with no fixed idea of what comes next, that gap is an opportunity, not a problem. Getting into procurement apprenticeships now, while most of their peers are choosing between the same well-worn options, means starting a career with far less competition for the opportunities available.
The same gap looks a little different from an employer’s side of the table.
Why procurement apprenticeships matter for your business, not just theirs
Procurement isn’t just a good career for the person doing it. It’s one of the functions with the clearest, most measurable impact on a business. Done well, procurement improves margins by negotiating better supplier terms, reduces waste and duplication across a supply chain, and protects a business from the kind of cost surprises that come from poor supplier management. For an SME, where every pound of overhead is felt directly, having someone in the business who understands how to buy well, manage suppliers properly, and spot where money is being lost is a genuine commercial advantage, not just a nice-to-have.
Building that capability through an apprentice, means you shape those skills around how your business actually works from day one. It also helps that the people coming through right now, straight off the back of exams, tend to arrive with exactly the right attitude for it. That skills gap won’t close on its own, and results day is exactly when the talent to close it, motivated, exam-fresh, and not yet committed to another path, is looking for somewhere to go.
Proof we deliver the training properly
None of this works without training that actually lands. Dan Peacock, who completed a Level 3 Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship while working at R&G Fluid Power Group, put it this way: “Aspire Procurement Training were not only fantastic learning opportunities, but they gave me the chance to network with other procurement students from very different business backgrounds and sectors. I’d definitely recommend taking an apprenticeship with Aspire. You’ll learn procurement and supply chain concepts and skills that genuinely apply to day-to-day work. You also gain industry-recognised accreditation through CIPS, alongside proof that you can apply your knowledge in a real workplace.”
That last point matters as much as the qualification itself. An apprenticeship through Aspire isn’t just study; it’s proof, built into the programme, that someone can actually do the job. And when that training lands properly, the results tend to show up on both sides of the employment relationship.
A benefit that runs both ways
The strongest apprenticeships work because both sides get something real out of them. The apprentice gets a recognised qualification, genuine hands-on experience, and a career path with strong long-term earning potential: qualified procurement professionals in the UK average over £40,000 a year, well above where most school leavers start out. The employer gets someone trained specifically around their business, motivated to prove themselves, and often ready to take on real responsibility faster than people expect.
Manisha Binning began her Level 4 apprenticeship with Aspire while working at Moat Homes Ltd, and was promoted to Assistant Procurement Officer during her training:
“Since starting my apprenticeship, I have been able to develop my knowledge of procurement and apply this to my projects at work. As a result, I have been able to make a real positive difference at Moat through the procurement of various projects and was promoted to Assistant Procurement Officer.”
That’s a business seeing a direct return on its investment within the apprenticeship itself, not years down the line. None of that happens, though, if the process of getting started puts employers off before they begin.
If you’ve never done this before, we’ll walk you through it. So let’s talk.
Taking on a new apprentice around can feel like a lot to organise at once. It doesn’t need to be. At Aspire, we are here to help you throughout the process, so you can focus on investing in the right person for the job.
If results day has you thinking about procurement apprenticeships for the next addition to your team, get in touch with Aspire. We’ll help you understand what funding applies, what the right pathway looks like, and how to get started, even if this is the first time you’ve taken on an apprentice.
Call 0808 231 2477 | qualify@cips-training.com | http://www.cips-training.com
Procurement apprenticeship FAQs
What is a procurement apprenticeship?
It’s a paid role combined with structured, work-based training in buying, supplier management and supply chain, leading to a CIPS-recognised qualification such as Level 3 or Level 4.
Is a procurement apprenticeship a good option for school leavers?
Yes. Employer demand is high and awareness among school and college leavers is low, so those who move now tend to face far less competition than in more familiar career routes.
How do I take on a procurement apprentice as an employer?
Get in touch with Aspire. We’ll talk you through the funding that applies, the right pathway for your business, and how to get started, even as a first-time employer.
Is procurement a well-paid career?
Yes. Apprentices earn a wage while they train, and qualified procurement professionals in the UK average over £40,000 a year, with senior roles paying significantly more, a strong return for a career that’s still largely overlooked by school and college leavers.