About this role
Job summary
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.
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Freeman Hospital Newcastle Dental Hospital Cramlington Manor Walks Urgent treatment centres Newcastle Fertility Centre Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria Northern Genetics Service These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description Job responsibilities
Why work with us?
At Newcastle Hospitals, youll 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 Trusts 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.
Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE Essential
Understand a range of work procedures and practices, which require a base level of theoretical knowledge through formal training or equivalent experience
SKILLS Essential
Good keyboard skills with experience of MS Office Suite including Word and Excel Good customer service skills Good numeric and literacy skills Good communication and organisational skills
EXPERIENCE Essential
Experience of working in a team
Desirable
Previous purchasing experience
QUALIFICATIONS Essential
5 GCSEs (or equivalent), including the English and Maths English and Maths at Level 2 (GCSE 9-4 or A*-C, or Functional/Key Skills at Level 2)
Desirable
European Computer Driving Licence
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Regent Point
317 Regent Point
NE3 3HD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)