Commercial Support - Apprentice in Liverpool

Location: Liverpool/Birmingham/Norwich/Newport

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)

Insight into GCA - Webinar: Watch our Webinar on the above link and gain valuable insight into GCA and our recruitment processes.

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.

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.

Your Development: As an apprentice, you will undertake the Level 4 Commercial Procurement & Supply Apprenticeship. This work-based program 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 program 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. In addition, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.