Apprentice Buyer Review

I went into Procurement with no real understanding of what the role involved. Over the course of my three-year apprenticeship, I’ve developed a strong knowledge of procurement processes and gained valuable hands-on experience. I am now working as a Buyer, where my day-to-day responsibilities include reviewing and managing supplier contracts, maintaining relationships with suppliers, and discussing orders and requirements. I also run tenders and mini-competitions, giving suppliers the opportunity to bid for work, and support the wider business by ensuring best value for money and compliance with procurement regulations. This role has helped me build confidence, commercial awareness, and strong communication and organisational skills.

I would say the apprenticeship is structured really well. You spend 10 months working across three completely different procurement areas. For example, I worked within Asset Maintenance, Energy and Renewables, and the Systems and Process team. Each placement helps you understand not only the differences between categories and suppliers, but also how the entire business functions, as procurement plays a key role across the organisation.
There are also many support functions at Severn Trent that are there to help you with any needs along the way. In my experience especially, my colleagues are not just colleagues but have also become friends, which has made the whole experience even more positive and enjoyable.

There was plenty of support throughout my apprenticeship. I always felt comfortable seeking advice, and everyone was more than happy to answer any questions. At the start of my role, one of the Category Managers even took time out of her own schedule to help me with CIPS teaching and studying, which made a huge difference and really showed how supportive the team is.

I currently receive as much support as I need. Personally, I am not someone who reached out to the training provider frequently; however, whenever I did contact them, they always responded quickly to emails and were consistently willing to help wherever possible.

The impact has been massive. I can’t fully explain how important the CIPS teachings have been to my understanding of procurement—they have supported my learning enormously. There isn’t a day that goes by in my role where I don’t apply knowledge gained from CIPS, whether directly in my work or as supporting information to guide decisions and best practice.

Yes

I have genuinely loved my time at Severn Trent. I look forward to new challenges every day, and alongside the great workplace atmosphere, there are excellent opportunities for growth and progression within your role if you are motivated and want to progress up the ranks. Which all add up to a great work life culture