Procurement Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Degree Apprenticeship
Procurement
Macclesfield
Review Submitted: February 2025
Overall Rating
3.6 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
3/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Procurement Apprentice:
Daily duties:
Emails, stakeholder management and communication
Meetings
Training
Stakeholder catchups
Excel analysis
Document reviews such as contracts, statements of work etc
Working on requests for proposals RFP, category strategy creation and implementation, and negotiation internally and externally.
Development discussions with managers .
Daily duties:
Emails, stakeholder management and communication
Meetings
Training
Stakeholder catchups
Excel analysis
Document reviews such as contracts, statements of work etc
Working on requests for proposals RFP, category strategy creation and implementation, and negotiation internally and externally.
Development discussions with managers .
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy my procurement apprenticeship a lot, rating it 8/10. The variety of tasks keeps things interesting, and I appreciate the opportunities to learn negotiation, sourcing, and supplier management. It’s a great balance of challenge and growth, though there are moments of repetition that could be improved.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Yes, I have developed and improved many skills.
Supplier management
Negotiation
Contract drafting
Market research
Cost analysis
Inventory management
Sourcing strategies
Budgeting
Risk assessment
Data analysis
Supplier evaluation
Purchasing systems
Compliance
Communication
Problem-solving
Supplier management
Negotiation
Contract drafting
Market research
Cost analysis
Inventory management
Sourcing strategies
Budgeting
Risk assessment
Data analysis
Supplier evaluation
Purchasing systems
Compliance
Communication
Problem-solving
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
My procurement apprenticeship is fairly well-organized, with a solid structure for learning and tasks. I receive clear guidance from mentors, and the workflow is mostly efficient. However, there are occasional gaps in communication or scheduling, which could be improved to enhance the overall experience.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My employer provides strong support throughout my procurement apprenticeship, offering guidance and resources to help me succeed. They encourage my development with regular feedback, hands-on experience, and access to training opportunities. Although there’s room for improvement, I feel supported overall. I would rate the support 8/10.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
The support from the education provider is below expectations. Response times are slow, and the assistance provided lacks clarity and depth. There's little proactive support, and when issues arise, it isn't easy to get the help needed. Overall, the experience feels impersonal and insufficient.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
The qualification provided by the training provider offers some useful knowledge, but it doesn’t fully translate to improved performance in my role. While the foundational concepts are helpful, practical application and deeper insights are lacking. Overall, it provides moderate value but isn’t transformative.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
There are events to go to, but I personally don't go to them.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Great work-life balance,
Great support from the employer
Attentive and responsive to your needs.
Flexible working arrangements.
The opportunity to develop and progress is immense.
Great support from the employer
Attentive and responsive to your needs.
Flexible working arrangements.
The opportunity to develop and progress is immense.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
Be yourself.
Conduct background research.
Come prepared to the interview.
Conduct background research.
Come prepared to the interview.
