Kickstart Your Career in Procurement with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Have you ever wondered how councils buy the things they need to run essential services? Or even what procurement means?
Put simply, procurement is the art of buying the goods, works and services that help the Council deliver for our communities every single day. From bin wagons for waste collection, to home care services for our elderly residents, to food for school meals - procurement is at the heart of it all. And it doesnt stop at buying - we also manage contracts to make sure suppliers deliver what they promise.
About the Role
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council spends around £220 million each year on vital services for our residents, with over 550 live contracts in place. As part of the NEPO (North East Procurement Organisation) Regional Procurement Apprenticeship Programme, were offering two exciting Trainee Procurement roles to help shape the future of public sector procurement.
Based at our New Headquarters at Dunedin House in Thornaby (which we procured and renovated), youll join a friendly, supportive Procurement Team and gain hands-on experience while working towards three nationally recognised qualifications:
Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply (via an apprenticeship)
CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply
Level 6 Senior Procurement Supply Chain Professional (via an apprenticeship)
The programme runs for up to 48 months (subject to CIPS qualification completion) and on completion, youll be well-positioned to apply for procurement roles across the 12 North East local authorities. You will work with members of our procurement team as well as with officers from other Council Directorates to give you a sound understanding of procurement in a local authority context and how we contribute to delivering the services we provide for our residents.
You will train alongside other apprentices from Tees Valley and North East councils, giving you a broader understanding of procurement across the region. Travel costs will be covered when attending your CIPS training at other council locations.
Who Were Looking For
To apply for these positions, you will need to have:
* A minimum of 5 x GCSEs, including English Language and Maths at Grade C / 4 or above
* 3 x A-levels (or equivalent) with 120 UCAS points or a degree
* Strong ICT skills, a collaborative mindset, and a genuine enthusiasm to learn and take on new challenges
If youre curious, driven, and ready to make a difference, this could be the perfect opportunity to launch your career in procurement.
Why Join Us?
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council prides itself on being a great place to work where staff are trusted, valued and supported to make a positive contribution at work.
We offer an excellent total reward package, including:
* A competitive salary, starting at £25,583p.a. with career progression on completion of qualifications (Level 5 £27,254p.a. / Level 6 £32,061p.a subject to pay awards)
* 27 days annual leave per year rising to 32 with 5 years Local Government service (plus bank holidays). Ability to purchase additional leave is also available.
* Generous Pension Scheme through the LGPS with ability to pay extra and plan for retirement.
* Access to a number of other employee benefits including additional learning and development opportunities, discounts at high street and online retailers, an employee assistance programme and physiotherapy services
* A modern, collaborative workspace designed to inspire innovation and teamwork - our newly refurbished office environment supports flexible working and creative thinking, helping you thrive professionally.
And thats not all - you can also work part of your week at home under our Remote Working Policy (subject to operational and training needs).
For more information about working for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, please visit the Careers section on our website:
Our Values
We are:
- One Team - working together across the Council and with partners.
- Community Focused - putting communities at the heart of everything we do.
- Inclusive - embracing diversity as our strength.
- Ambitious - striving to achieve our best every day.
- Accountable - delivering on our promises.
These values underpin everything we do and shape the way we work with each other and our communities.
To apply:
Take a look at the attached job description, person specification and and career development plan for more information on the role. If youd like to have a conversation about the role and training opportunities, please get in touch with Angela Miles on or via email
The closing date for the online application stage is Thursday 9th October 2025
Shortlisted candidates will be required to undertake an online written assessment on 16th October 2025 (completed from home) - if you dont have a suitable device at home we can arrange for you to do this at Dunedin House.
Successful candidates will then be invited to interview on Wednesday 22nd October
Guidance for applicants
You must ensure that anything submitted in your application is factually accurate. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Whilst we accept candidates may use AI tools within job applications; submissions must be truthful and relevant to your own experience.
Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered with North East Jobs, including your invite to interview if you are short-listed. Please check your email after the closing date for notification from .ORG.UK. All communication will also appear in the My Messages section of your North East Jobs account.