Procurement/Sourcing Manager Trainee Programme
Over the years, APUC has led a variety of programmes to develop a pipeline of talent for our sector. The Supply Chain Management Trainee programme has been hugely successful with many senior procurement appointments in the HE/FE sector (including APUC) being secured by former participants of the programme (see comments below from our former trainees).
Currently, we oversee three different development routes to reach Operational/Practitioner Procurement Manager level:
1. The classic Procurement/Sourcing Management Graduate Trainee Programme (placement/fixed 18-month duration)
This is our traditional Graduate Trainee programme (in place since 2012) which is based on placements of 6-month duration - usually a Strategic Sourcing placement, a placement within a College and a placement within a University. The expectation is that the incumbent achieves readiness for an Operational-level Procurement Manager role within an FE or HE institution, or within APUC's Strategic Sourcing team. Occasionally this programme will take a slightly different form to accommodate a particular geographic location such as the North-East of Scotland, whereby the placements will all be based within that area, with no placement taking place within the Strategic Sourcing team (which is based in Central Scotland).
This programme is varied in placements and will lead to the incumbent being able to apply for a variety of vacancies after 18-months. Learning is on-the-job, fast-paced with formal development activities available throughout the programme.
2. The focussed Procurement/Sourcing Management Graduate Trainee Programme (specialist/fixed 18-month duration)
This route allows the incumbent to develop a specific type of procurement expertise, such as ICT sourcing or Responsible Procurement, by undertaking the entire programme within the same role/team before "qualifying" after a fixed period of 18 months. There must be a commitment by both parties to ensure the postholder reaches Operational-level by the fixed period. Some shorter placements may be undertaken, such as institutional exposure if the Trainee role is within the Strategic Sourcing team or vice versa, but this is not a requirement of the focussed route. Qualification to Operational-level is usually through promotion within the team you are based in, as the aim of this route is for the incumbent to become specialist within that area - at least for the short-medium term.
3. The flexible Procurement/Sourcing Trainee Development Programme (placement/non-placement /no fixed duration)
The most flexible route to becoming an Operational-level Procurement Manager is our entry-level programme where you will be based in a team within a College, University or within our Strategic Sourcing team working on APUC Framework Agreements. The incumbents may undertake institutional placements, or may not, they could potentially become ready for an Operational-level role within 12 months, for example when the postholder brings previous relevant experience, but we'd usually expect it to take around 18-30 months, and they will usually be promoted within their team at this point rather than applying for roles externally (although the incumbents are welcome to apply for internal vacancies as suitable vacancies arise).
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Comments from our trainees
Sophie Graham
Procurement Management Trainee (North East Scotland)
Simion Bogdan
Procurement Manager (Development) - Forth Valley College
Grace Taylor
Sourcing Manager - Graduate Trainee
After earning an HND in Supply Chain Management from City of Glasgow College, I went on to complete an Honours Degree in International Business Management at Robert Gordon University. Upon graduating, I faced the challenge of finding a role that aligned with my interests. To gain professional experience in an office setting, I initially worked in recruitment before discovering the APUC traineeship opportunity on LinkedIn. The traineeship immediately caught my attention, as it allowed me to return to the fields of supply chain and procurement - two areas I found peaked my interest during my studies. Taking the leap into this program has been one of the best decisions I've made. It has given me the opportunity to travel across Scotland for APUC and sector-wide events, connect with professionals in the Scottish procurement network, and gain valuable insights into the full Higher Education (HE) procurement cycle. During my traineeship, I worked directly with universities in Aberdeen, enabling me to understand institutional processes while building meaningful connections in the academic sector. APUC offers exceptional support, from one-on-one meetings with line managers to a dedicated CIPS support group. If challenges arise, there's always someone with the expertise to provide guidance. Completing the traineeship opens the door to incredible opportunities within the HE/FE procurement sector. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their procurement knowledge, expand their professional network, develop collaboration skills, and build confidence in a corporate environment.
While studying supply chain management at Glasgow Caledonian University, I developed an interest in procurement, specifically in public procurement, and how it can benefit society as a whole, which made my career choice obvious. Lucky enough, I, with my baggage of theoretical knowledge and lack of field experience, was the right fit and managed to land a role as a procurement manager in development at APUC. The support I receive for my professional advance as part of the flexible Procurement/Sourcing Trainee Development Programme is exceptional. Besides APUC being a company that is clearly invested in the growth of its employees, it would be a shame not to mention the organisational culture. A culture in which, people are open, supportive and helpful; a culture in which the employer gives flexibility to each member to decide on its own schedule and accommodate out of work responsibilities; a culture in which people are given all necessary to be productive and have the work-life harmony. To conclude, if you are a person, like me, who desires not only to 'buy,' but also to positively influence existing practices and promote ethical behaviour in organisations through supply chains - starting from the working conditions of people in emerging economies to the improvement of local communities; and at the same time, not work yourself to the grave, then APUC is the right place.
