At a Glance
- Tasks: Support strategic sourcing and supplier management on real procurement projects.
- Company: Join National Grid, the UK's critical energy infrastructure company.
- Benefits: Earn £25,946 pro rata, enjoy 26 days' leave, and access mentorship.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working available; apply early as roles close quickly.
- Why this job: Kickstart your career in energy with hands-on experience and growth opportunities.
- Qualifications: Must be in your penultimate year, expecting a minimum 2.2 degree.
The predicted salary is between 25946 - 25946 £ per year.
The Procurement Summer Internship is a 12-week placement designed for current university students seeking meaningful work experience during their studies. This structured programme offers training and development within National Grid’s Procurement function, with the potential to progress directly onto the Graduate Development Programme upon successful completion.
As a Procurement Intern, you’ll be part of a team responsible for strategic sourcing and supplier management across key business areas. Reporting into a Category Manager or Senior Buyer, you’ll support the development and delivery of category strategies, gaining exposure to real procurement projects and helping drive value for the organisation. This internship offers a valuable opportunity to explore a career in procurement, build commercial awareness, and contribute to the energy transition by supporting the sourcing of goods and services that enable National Grid’s critical infrastructure projects.
What You'll Do
- Support strategic sourcing events by working with Senior Buyers, Category Managers, and stakeholders to understand and challenge business demand.
- Assist in researching supply markets, suppliers, and industry trends to inform procurement decisions.
- Help execute sourcing processes from market engagement through to contract award.
- Collaborate with Contract Managers to ensure successful delivery of contracted activities and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Contribute to tender events for key products and services, ensuring best-in-class procurement practices.
- Support forward planning by identifying future requirements and helping to build robust forecasts.
- Assist in drafting contractual agreements that meet stakeholder needs and expectations.
- Gain exposure to procurement systems, governance, and commercial strategy.
What You'll Need to Apply
You’ll need to be in your penultimate year and expecting to achieve a minimum 2.2 degree in any discipline.
Location
This role is based in National Grid House, Warwick and may offer flexible hybrid working, where possible.
What You'll Get In Return
We are proud to offer a salary of £25,946 (pro rata) for the duration of your 12 week Summer Internship. As a first step in your career within the energy industry, our Summer Internship offers a unique opportunity to develop your skills, gain valuable experience, and gain insight into what a career with National Grid can offer. Alongside a tailored development programme, you'll also enjoy a range of fantastic rewards and benefits, including:
- Meaningful, hands-on experience working on real projects that contribute to the future of energy.
- The opportunity to develop valuable professional, technical and leadership skills.
- A dedicated support network, including mentorship, regular feedback and guidance from experienced colleagues.
- 26 days' annual leave (pro-rated where applicable), plus statutory holidays.
- The opportunity to participate in our employee wellbeing programmes and initiatives.
You’ll gain more than just experience. We believe in nurturing talent and recognising exceptional performance. If you excel during your placement, you may receive an offer to join our Graduate Programme after you successfully complete your degree.
About our Summer Internship Programme
Our 12-week Summer Internship offers you the opportunity to kickstart your career within the energy sector. Throughout your placement, you’ll receive a tailored development programme designed to support your growth and development. This includes a combination of in-person and virtual training sessions led by our development team, as well as access to a range of digital learning tools to help further enhance your skills. Throughout your placement you’ll have opportunity to make connections amongst your cohort as well as regular check ins with a mentor and our Early Careers Team. Day-to-day, your placement manager will provide you access to a variety of on-the-job opportunities where you’ll take on real assignments and projects to make a genuine impact within your respective function. By the end of your placement, you’ll have developed your understanding of our business and the energy sector for your future career.
About National Grid
National Grid is the UK’s critical energy infrastructure company, operating the electricity network and infrastructure that connects millions of people to the energy they use every day, supporting homes, businesses and communities across England and Wales. We know the future of energy won't be shaped by what we know today. It will be shaped by what's possible tomorrow. That's why we're investing in the next generation of talent, giving apprentices, undergraduates and graduates the opportunity to learn from experts, gain hands-on experience and contribute to work that matters from day one.
More Information
You can apply for only one opportunity across all Early Careers and Career Changer programmes. Before applying, please carefully review all available programmes and choose the one that best matches your interests and career goals. We recruit on a rolling basis across our Early Careers Roles. We may close our vacancies early once we have enough applications. We therefore encourage you to apply as early as possible. National Grid's Early Careers opportunities in the UK are open to all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria including an existing and valid right to work in the UK. As part of the application process this will need to be evidenced and verified before you can start the programme. Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin. Please be aware that it’s your responsibility to explore avenues of working in the UK, as we're not able to provide advice on this.
Procurement Summer Internship, Warwick employer: natgridProd
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Warwick that promotes innovation and collaboration. With a strong focus on employee development, you will have access to numerous growth opportunities while enjoying a flexible hybrid working model that supports work-life balance. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that values your contributions and empowers you to make a meaningful impact in the energy sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Summer Internship, Warwick
✨Engage with Industry Events
Keep an eye out for procurement and supply chain events or webinars in your area or online. These can be fantastic places to meet professionals, learn about the latest trends, and even score an internship at companies like natgridProd that are often scouting for fresh talent.
✨Utilise University Resources
Don’t forget to tap into your university’s career services. They often have connections with companies looking for interns in procurement, such as natgridProd. Attend any career fairs they host; they can be a goldmine for opportunities!
✨Get Involved with Relevant Clubs
Join or get involved in any business or procurement-related student clubs or societies. This is a great way to meet like-minded individuals, share knowledge, and maybe even get a direct lead on internships at places like natgridProd. Plus, it fills your CV with tangible experience!
✨Showcase Your Interest Online
Start sharing content related to procurement on social media, like LinkedIn or Twitter. Comment on industry news or share articles to demonstrate your passion. This will help you stand out when applying to internships, especially at companies like natgridProd, as they’ll see you’re not just interested but actively engaged!
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Summer Internship, Warwick
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Analytical Skills:In procurement, being able to analyse data is crucial. Highlight any experience you have with Excel, data analysis, or market research in your CV. If you have done any projects during your studies that involved these skills, mention them to show us you’re capable of diving into the numbers!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Since this is an internship, we want to see your enthusiasm and your potential to learn. In your cover letter, discuss why you’re interested in procurement and how this role at natgridProd will kickstart your career. Make it personal and let us know what you hope to gain from this experience.
Mention Relevant Coursework:Include any relevant courses or projects you’ve done related to supply chain management or purchasing in your CV. We love to see applicants who are actively engaging in topics that matter to the role. If you’ve handled any case studies, be sure to highlight those experiences as well!
Demonstrate Teamwork Experience:Procurement often involves collaboration, so tell us about any group projects or teamwork experiences in your application. Highlight your role, how you contributed to the project’s success, and how this experience has prepared you for an internship with us at natgridProd.
How to prepare for a job interview at natgridProd
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
In procurement, being able to analyse data and assess supplier performance is crucial. Prepare to talk about any experience you have with data analysis tools or software. If you’ve worked on projects related to cost savings or efficiency improvements, share those stories to highlight your analytical mindset.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Sourcing Strategies
Research common sourcing strategies used in procurement like competitive bidding and supplier negotiations. Be ready to discuss these during your interview with natgridProd and show that you understand how they can benefit the organisation. It’ll demonstrate your initiative and knowledge about the field!
✨Highlight Your Willingness to Learn
As an intern, your eagerness to learn and develop is just as important as your technical skills. Be prepared to explain what you hope to gain from the internship at natgridProd and how you plan to apply those learnings in real-world situations. Hiring managers love a fresh perspective that’s hungry for knowledge!
✨Preparation for Role-Playing Scenarios
Procurement often involves negotiating and communicating with various stakeholders. Practice answering situational questions where you might need to negotiate terms or handle supplier issues. This will help you feel confident in demonstrating your communication skills and problem-solving abilities during the interview.
