Commercial Support - Apprentice

Locations: Liverpool, Norwich, Newport, Birmingham

Time Type: Full time

Posted on: Posted Today

Job Requisition ID: R0002854

Job Description

Band: 2

Salary: £29,795 - £33,073

Contract Type: Permanent - Apprentice

Number of Positions: 2

Hours: Full Time/Compressed

Closing Date: 31/05/26

Interview Date(s): WC 22nd June (subject to change)

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Job Summary

Commercial Support is an exciting and diverse role, and a key part of our Category Teams. You will have responsibility for the day-to-day tasks that effectively support the successful delivery of Commercial Agreements and provide support to the Commercial Agreements Management team, as well as contributing to customer and supplier relationship management processes. Successful candidates will have the ability to undertake administration tasks, both general and complex, as well as adding significant value through project ownership and supporting the delivery of spend growth through Commercial Agreements.

Join our elite team of procurement professionals managing over £34bn in public sector spend. Across fifteen specialist teams and three core categories, we provide expert guidance and a supportive environment dedicated to delivering value for the nation.

Our Categories:

• Corporate Solutions: Empowering the public sector through expert consultancy, legal advice, and comprehensive workforce solutions—from recruitment to professional development.
• Estates: Driving a greener, more sustainable future. Our experts ensure estates requirements are met cost-effectively and compliantly, aligning with critical net-zero and social value targets.
• Technology: Accelerating digital transformation. We bridge the gap between market innovation and customer needs, ensuring the public sector accesses cutting-edge technology efficiently.

We support government projects and programmes of national UK significance - helping the public sector to build back better.

Our Commercial Team is transforming to become even more flexible. Candidates should be aware that there will be opportunities to flex into other category areas as required, either to meet business needs and/or for staff development.

Current Vacancies:

• Cloud and Hosting: The Cloud and Hosting services team manages a small number of critical agreements, including G-Cloud. The category contributes a significant amount of commercial benefits and spend to CCS and is a growth area as more of the Government's services move towards the Cloud.
• Digital and Technology Services: The Technology Category Events Team supports Customer & Supplier engagement across all our frameworks. We deliver events across the UK sharing best practice, knowledge and expertise with Public Sector Commercial Teams & Technology SMEs.

Apprenticeship Details

We are seeking motivated individuals to join our procurement teams. We are committed to empowering talent and building a workforce that shapes the future of government commerce.

Your Development

As an apprentice, you will undertake the Level 4 Commercial Procurement & Supply Apprenticeship. This work-based programme provides the skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to excel in a commercial environment.

What We Offer:

• Fully Funded Training: Professional development at no cost to you.
• Protected Learning Time: At least 20% of your paid hours are dedicated to your studies.
• Peer Support: Access to a broad apprentice community and dedicated mentorship.

What We Expect

This programme is rigorous. Success requires dedication to both your daily role and your academic requirements, including coursework, exams, and a final 5,000-word project.

Apprenticeship Eligibility Criteria:

• This is a development role so to be eligible to apply, the training and development you receive during this apprenticeship must provide you with significant new skills and learning.
• You must not hold or be working towards a similar level or higher-level qualification to the apprenticeship unless this is in a significantly different subject/business area.
• Be aged 18 or over (there is no upper age limit).
• Have the permanent right to work in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK/EU/EA for 3 consecutive years before starting the apprenticeship.
• Have left full-time education by the time the apprenticeship starts and not be in receipt of funding for other learning programmes (including another apprenticeship).
• 5 GCSEs or equivalent in Maths and English at Grade 4/C or above or equivalent.
• 2 A-levels or equivalent.

Please Note: If you do not meet the above apprenticeship criteria, we cannot progress your application for this role and your application will not be considered.

Key Accountabilities:

• Support owners of Commercial Agreements through activities associated with the preparation and subsequent management of those agreements.
• Ensure necessary and appropriate management information is provided by suppliers on our Commercial Agreements in a timely manner.
• Management of effective compliance and assurance of appropriate certification (e.g. cyber security) pertaining to our Commercial Agreements.
• Supporting customers, effectively resolving issues and queries or promoting our Commercial Agreements.
• Financial monitoring of suppliers throughout the life of any agreement.
• Working closely and collaboratively with colleagues in the immediate and wider teams to achieve their targets, and will support and engage with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

Essential Criteria (to be assessed at application stage):

• Strong administration skills.
• Experience in the collation, management, analysis and presentation of information/data and competent in use of Microsoft and/or Google platforms including software applications such as Excel, Word or Google Sheets.
• Be able to demonstrate the ability to build positive relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Be able to demonstrate the ability to work at pace, proactively and collaboratively, in partnership with key stakeholders.
• Be able to demonstrate an interest in and understanding of public sector procurement and Category Management practices that help us to deliver a quality service.

Success Profiles (to be assessed at interview):

• Behaviours: Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Communicating & Influencing.

Valuing our people:

• Competitive salary.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A discretionary non-contractual performance related bonus.
• Working remotely in addition to working in advertised office location.
• Flexi time scheme (available for B1-B6).
• Minimum 25 days annual leave to a maximum service related 30 days excluding bank holidays.

Want to make a difference? Find out more about the rewarding work that we do in our candidate pack.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

We want to make our recruitment process accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you, please contact recruitment@gca.gov.uk.

Working flexibly, delivering outcomes

GCA operates a smarter working model that balances flexibility with collaboration. Successful candidates are expected to spend at least 26 days per quarter (approximately 2 days per week, pro-rata) at their contracted office, another GCA site, or off-site for meetings. For the remainder of the time, you may work from home or another suitable location that meets business needs.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Selection Process

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, which the Civil Service may use to fill future suitably similar vacancies across government for candidates who are considered appointable following interview. Should you be placed on a reserve list and want to be removed please contact recruitment@gca.gov.uk.

Please note that as part of this recruitment process, if you are unsuccessful at the interview stage but are close to the benchmark score you may be considered for and offered a role at a lower pay band within the same job family.