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L6Apprenticeship7322 approved providers
The Level 6 Senior procurement and supply chain professional, and the 2 providers delivering it.
Set the procurement and supply chain strategy.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices develop the knowledge and skills needed to lead procurement and supply chain functions at a strategic level. The programme covers category management, supplier due diligence, contract lifecycle management, cost and price analysis, and procurement budgeting. It also addresses sustainability and circular economy principles, including how procurement decisions affect carbon emissions and whole-life resource use. Alongside commercial skills, apprentices build competence in leadership, stakeholder management, risk assessment, and the regulatory landscape, including legislation on modern slavery, competition, and data protection.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Week to week, an apprentice in this role develops and reviews procurement strategies, manages supplier relationships, and leads contract negotiations. They produce supplier performance reports, analyse spend data, identify cost-saving opportunities, and manage category strategies across one or more business units. They work closely with finance, logistics, and sustainability teams, and present findings or recommendations to senior leadership. Typical tools include spend analytics platforms, contract management systems, and procurement policy frameworks. They are also expected to mentor junior team members and contribute to continuous improvement plans.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship positions someone for senior procurement roles across a wide range of sectors, from central government and local authorities to manufacturing, retail, construction, and financial services. Typical job titles include Procurement Manager, Category Manager, Supply Chain Manager, and Commercial Manager, with a clear path toward Head of Procurement roles. Organisations that regularly hire at this level range from NHS trusts and central government departments to large private sector companies with complex, multi-site supply chains. Chartered status through CIPS is a common next step for those wanting to formalise their professional standing.
2 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
APA Procurement & Supply Training
Employer: 3.0
APA Procurement & Supply Training is a specialist procurement training provider and CIPS Centre of E...
Aspire Procurement Training
Employer: 4.0
Aspire Procurement Training delivers apprenticeships and professional training focused on procuremen...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads into roles such as Procurement Manager, Category Manager, Supply Chain Manager, or Commercial Manager. Some completers step into Senior Buyer positions with cross-functional responsibility, while others move directly into Head of Procurement roles in mid-sized organisations. The level 6 qualification and the breadth of strategic experience gained during the programme mean employers often treat completers as ready for roles with budget accountability and supplier relationship ownership from day one.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, many practitioners move into Head of Procurement, Head of Supply Chain, or Director of Procurement positions. Two distinct tracks tend to emerge at this point: a leadership track focused on managing larger teams, setting departmental strategy, and working at board level; and a specialist track concentrating on complex category management, sustainability and ESG compliance, or global supply chain risk. Beyond that, Chief Procurement Officer and Group Commercial Director are realistic longer-term destinations for those who build a strong commercial track record.
Where these roles sit
Demand for this level of procurement professional spans almost every part of the UK economy. Central and local government bodies, NHS trusts, and other public sector organisations recruit heavily, particularly given public procurement law requirements. On the private side, manufacturers, construction firms, retailers, logistics businesses, and financial services organisations all maintain procurement functions at this level. Large and multinational employers are the most common hirers, though fast-growing mid-sized businesses also recruit for these roles when formalising their procurement operations.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, the learner works in a senior procurement or supply chain role while building knowledge, skills, and behaviours set out in the standard. This covers areas such as category strategy, risk management, stakeholder influence, sustainable procurement, and financial management. Before moving to final assessment, the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice is ready, a stage commonly called the gateway. Final assessment then establishes whether the apprentice can perform at the level expected of the occupation. Assessment models for many Level 6 standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Building strong evidence throughout the programme makes the final stages far less pressured. Learners should keep records of real work from early on, including decisions made, strategies developed, supplier negotiations led, and any change or improvement activity they have driven. Working closely with both the employer and training provider to review progress against the standard, rather than leaving this to the end, helps identify gaps while there is still time to address them. Keeping a portfolio current as work happens is more effective than trying to reconstruct evidence later.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with achievement rates above 65% on their FATP profile, and strong employer satisfaction scores, since at Level 6 with a 30-month programme, employer engagement in workplace projects is critical to completion. Providers delivering this standard well will typically have tutors with real-world procurement or supply chain backgrounds, not generic business lecturers. Check whether the curriculum explicitly covers public procurement law, sustainability and circular economy thinking, and supplier due diligence, all of which feature prominently in the end-point assessment. Learner reviews mentioning live category management work or contract negotiation practice are a positive signal.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers with high cohort volumes but declining achievement rates, particularly on this standard where drop-off often reflects weak employer integration. Vague answers about how the apprenticeship connects to the learner's actual procurement role suggest off-the-shelf delivery that ignores workplace context. Providers unable to demonstrate experience across sectors relevant to you, whether public sector procurement law or private sector supply chain risk, may not tailor content appropriately. If sustainability, ESG supplier criteria, and modern slavery compliance are not mentioned at enrolment, that is a gap worth probing.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What is your achievement rate for this standard, and how has it trended over the last two years?
- How does the programme incorporate the learner's actual category management responsibilities rather than generic procurement scenarios?
- Can you show us how public procurement regulations and relevant legislation (including the Procurement Act 2023) are covered and kept current?
- How do you support learners to evidence sustainability and ESG decision-making for the end-point assessment?
- What is the background of the tutors delivering this standard, and do any hold MCIPS or equivalent practitioner credentials?
- How do you structure off-the-job learning for a senior professional who already holds significant procurement responsibilities?
- Which sectors do you have the most experience delivering this standard in, and can you connect us with employers in a similar context?
Common questions
Who is eligible to start this apprenticeship?
There are no fixed national entry requirements, so employers set their own criteria. Most organisations look for candidates already working in a procurement or supply chain role with some prior experience at a tactical or operational level. Apprentices must have a contract of employment for the duration of the programme. English and maths requirements apply at Level 2 if not already achieved. Check the current standard on gov.uk for any updated eligibility conditions.
How long does the apprenticeship take and what does the time commitment look like?
The typical duration is 30 months, though the actual length depends on the individual's starting point and how the employer structures the programme. Apprentices remain employed throughout and apply their learning directly in their role. A portion of working time is set aside for off-the-job training. The specific minimum requirement for that is subject to revision under current Skills England reforms, so check gov.uk for the up-to-date figure before planning delivery.
How is the apprentice assessed at the end?
Before sitting end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through the gateway, at which point the employer, training provider, and apprentice confirm that all required knowledge, skills, and behaviours have been demonstrated to the necessary standard. Assessment methods for many standards are being updated, so visit the gov.uk standard page for the current end-point assessment plan. The assessment will test strategic procurement competence, ethical leadership, and the ability to manage complex supply chain decisions.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £18,000. Levy-paying employers draw training costs from their digital apprenticeship service account. Smaller employers who do not pay the levy co-invest with the government, currently paying 5% of the training cost with the government covering the rest. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing. All funding arrangements are managed through the apprenticeship service on gov.uk.
What does a day-to-day job look like for someone on this apprenticeship?
Day-to-day work is senior and strategic. The apprentice will develop and manage category strategies, lead supplier due diligence, negotiate complex contracts, and manage supplier performance against KPIs. They will work with board members, finance teams, and logistics leads to align procurement activity with business objectives. Sustainability is a running thread, covering carbon reduction targets, greenwashing risk, and circular economy thinking. They also mentor junior procurement staff and produce performance and spend reports for senior stakeholders.
What can an apprentice do after completing this apprenticeship?
Typical job titles after completion include procurement manager, category manager, supply chain manager, commercial manager, and head of procurement and supply chain. The Level 6 standard is degree-equivalent, which may support entry to postgraduate study or professional membership at a senior level with bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. Employers in sectors from central government to manufacturing, retail, and healthcare recruit at this level, giving strong options for progression into director-level roles.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 732.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.