Apprentice Buyer

Job overview

Start a career that makes a real impact—every single day.

As an Apprentice Buyer at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, you’ll play a vital role in supporting one of the UK’s largest and most respected NHS teaching trusts. Our Supplies and Procurement teams ensure that clinicians and services have the right products and services, at the right time and value, to deliver outstanding patient care.

In this role, you’ll learn how procurement works in a complex, fast paced NHS environment—supporting sourcing activities, placing and managing orders, working with suppliers, and developing strong commercial and analytical skills. You’ll be guided by experienced professionals and gain a nationally recognised procurement qualification as part of your apprenticeship.

What does it take?

We’re looking for someone enthusiastic, organised and keen to learn. You’ll enjoy working with people, be comfortable with numbers and data, and have an eye for detail. Most importantly, you’ll be motivated to develop a long term career in NHS Supplies and Procurement—no previous experience required.

If you want a career with purpose, opportunity and real responsibility from day one, this is where it starts.

• Interview Date: 7 July 2026
• 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy.  Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

As an Apprentice Buyer, you will support the Trust’s procurement function to ensure goods and services are purchased efficiently, compliantly and in support of high quality patient care. Key duties include:

• Assisting Buyers and Procurement Managers with the purchasing of goods and services for clinical and non clinical areas
• Raising and managing purchase orders using the Trust’s Procurement and Finance systems
• Liaising with suppliers to place orders, agree delivery dates and resolve queries or issues
• Monitoring order progress, chasing late deliveries and helping to resolve invoice discrepancies
• Supporting tendering, quotation and market testing activities in line with NHS and public sector regulations
• Analysing basic spend, price and supplier data to support value for money decisions
• Working closely with wards, departments and clinical teams to understand requirements and provide Supplies and Procurement advice
• Maintaining accurate records, contract information and audit trails
• Supporting compliance with NHS Supplies and Procurement policies, sustainability goals and ethical purchasing standards
• Actively participating in apprenticeship training, assessments and workplace learning activities
• Demonstrating NHS values in all interactions, with a strong focus on teamwork, integrity and continuous improvement

This role offers hands on experience, structured development and a clear understanding of how procurement directly supports frontline healthcare services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Why work with us?

At Newcastle Hospitals, you’ll be part of a supportive, forward thinking organisation with a strong focus on learning, innovation and improvement. We invest in our people, offer clear development and progression routes, and provide the chance to build a meaningful career while contributing to healthcare for our local communities and beyond.

Flexible working?

We offer flexible working arrangements, including a hybrid working model, which would be introduced from nine months into the apprenticeship.

• Be part of a small team of buyers, supervised by a Team Leader which will be responsible for the order processing and customer service activity relating to a discrete group of requisitioning departments
• Ensure that ‘requisitioned to order’ lead times are adhered to
• Ensure that goods/services ordered are progressed and delivered to the requisitioning department in a timely manner
• Ensure that invoice queries relating to orders placed are resolved satisfactorily within set target time
• Ensure effective communications with requisitioning departments
• Ensure that the procurement process is compliant with the Trust’s Corporate Governance
• Completion of NVQ Level 3 Business Administration

You will be appointed at a Band 2 salary for the duration of the Apprenticeship (12 - 18 months), upon successful completion you will move to a Band 3.

Apprenticeship Posts “You will need to be able to meet all the eligibility requirements as prescribed by the apprenticeship criteria to undertake the role”.

To be eligible for an apprenticeship you must:

• Have the right to work and remain in the UK.
• Have lived in the UK for at least 3 years.
• Provide original evidence of required English and maths qualifications.

Further information:

• You will not be considered if you have an equivalent or higher qualification in the same or a very similar subject.
• You must not be engaged in any other funded training or education programme.
• We cannot sponsor applicants during or on successful completion of the apprenticeship so please ensure you meet visa status eligibility.
• We cannot accept applications from student visa applicants.

Please be advised if you are a 'Non-UK National' applicant you must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfil the settlement requirements of the apprenticeship course funding. Your settlement status will need to be verified as eligible for funding, by the relevant apprenticeship provider, for you to formally enrol on the course.

Further details can be found on the UK Government website.