Procurement Apprentice

The Sky is not the limit; your journey starts here, join us help make things fly every day!

A Truly Global Business

Every day, around the world, we help aircrafts fly further, faster and greener. We’re the world’s leading tier one aerospace supplier of systems and components. With over 15,000 employees across 38 manufacturing sites in 12 countries serving over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers with sales of £2.5bn.

Together as “one GKN” we’re moving our business and industry forward developing technologies that rapidly decarbonise aircraft, and innovating to help build a new generation of planes that produce zero emissions. We’re putting sustainability at the heart of what we do; driving our objective to becoming a net zero greenhouse gas emissions business before 2050!

It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers.

Sitting across our three business lines; Civil, Defence and Engines at our East Cowes manufacturing plants you’ll do just that. Established in 1901, one of our older production sites with a workforce of cira 800 employees. Our East Cowes plants, Isle of Wight are where we design, manufacture, test and repair high performance structures and systems. We have two facilities on the Island; Falcon Yard, Ferry Road and Osborne Site, Saunders Way. Both locations employ the company’s distinct competencies in major assemblies and composite structures for the global aerospace market. Our customer base includes Airbus, Astronics, BAE Systems, Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, Cessna, Cobham, Honeywell, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce and Triumph.
What You'll Be Doing

As a Procurement Apprentice, reporting into the Apprenticeships & NVQ Programmes Manager, you’ll join our 4 year programme which will provide you with development and training across a wide range of skills and processes, enabling you to complete a Level 3 or Level 4 standard and progress onto a professional qualification in Procurement. Learning skills and knowledge across a range of subjects including Global Supply Chain creation and management, you will become competent in all stages of the procurement cycle enabling you to investigate, analyse and recommend solutions for non-routine complex problems; including budgeting, costing, risk, whole lifecycle costing, increasing efficiency and effectiveness whilst using a range of IT systems. You will interact with key operational interfaces; both within the department and interdepartmentally, including shop floor environments. You will need to be both flexible and adaptable when working within these teams with the ability to use the data provided to make key decisions.

Programme Summary - Levels 3 & 4 – Procurement Apprenticeship

Over the duration of the 4 year programme, you will undertake a series of rotations across a range of departments to meet the Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours within the standard; as well as getting to understand the business in terms of what each department is responsible for. You will also meet with our Training Provider on a monthly basis, where further training will be delivered along with a variety of tasks set to enable you to complete the modules contributing towards your end point assessment.

Subject to your qualifications, you will commence work in conjunction with one of the following apprenticeship standards:

• Level 3 – Procurement and supply assistant, OR
• Level 4 - Commercial Procurement and Supply

On completion of your first apprenticeship standard, there may be the opportunity for progression to a higher level: i.e. Level 3 to Level 4 OR Level 4 to a Degree Qualification.
Career Opportunities

On competition of your apprenticeships, you are likely to move into one of the following career disciplines;

Operational Procurement Buyer – The teams’ responsibilities include: A multitude of transactional activities including order placement through to Supplier performance and relationship management.

Programme Buyer - The teams’ responsibilities include: Commercially orientated activities such as; Supplier contracting, price negotiation, dispute resolution, change management and ownership of Programme material budget.

How You'll Contribute

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and enthusiasm with you every day. In return we ask for you to observe the following points:

Whether working or in training, to be diligent and punctual at all times.

To attend courses, keep records and undertake any tests determined by the company in order to measure & achieve your training objectives and quality gates.
To successfully complete all activities documented in the Apprenticeship Training Agreement.

To behave in a responsible manner and in accordance with the requirements of Health & Safety legislation relating to the individual’s responsibilities.

To become an ambassador of the Company’s name and image.

Qualifications

You must have at least Three A-Levels, Grade A*-C, one of which would preferably be in Business Studies OR

A Level 3 qualification in a Procurement related accreditation OR

2 years full time experience in a procurement related role

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In addition to this, you must have GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4 or above.

What We'll Offer

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

Industry Leading Pension Scheme – A defined contribution scheme where GKN will pay 1.5 times the member contributions (up to a maximum company contribution of 12%).
As a member of the Pension Scheme, Death in Service cover (Life Assurance) of 8x salary
Group Income Protection (as part of the Pension Scheme)
190 hours holiday + bank holidays
Shopping Discounts
Cycle To Work Scheme
Employee Assistance Programme and access to a Bereavement helpline
Dedicated Wellbeing Champions, qualified in Mental Health First Aid
A collaborative, dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you!

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’ last year. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

Support us Making GKN the trusted and most sustainable partner in the sky for our customers.

Ready to take your first flight…