supply chain

Creating future leaders: The Level 3 Supply Chain Practitioner apprenticeship programme

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In the complex supply chain world, Supply Chain Practitioners act as silent negotiators who organise processes in a dynamic environment.

It is important for prospective professionals to understand the processes, qualifications and valuable skills that apprentices in this area provide. Here we’ll look at an outline of the journey you’ll have as a Supply Chain Practitioner apprentice.

Level 3 Supply Chain Practitioner course overview

Created by industry veterans and sponsored by the Institute of Apprenticeship and Technical Education (IfATE), the Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship stands as a testament to the industry’s commitment to nurturing talent.

It’s not just a framework, it’s a gateway moving towards a world where efficiency, innovation and adaptability come first, and shapes future leaders of the supply chain world.

Hands-on experience

At the core of this course is a blend of on-hands learning and academic rigor.

Trainees are immersed in real-world scenarios, refining their skills through hands-on experience in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) supply chain.

This practical exercise offers structured learning sessions providing a solid theoretical foundation for successfully navigating the complexity of the supply chain management landscape.

Skills and Knowledge

The Supply Chain Practitioner apprenticeship is the way to gain the multifaceted skills required to succeed in the industry.

From working on tangible supply chain operations to analysing complex inventory systems, trainees emerge armed with a variety of skills:

Supply chain performance: Capturing complexity in sourcing, production, and distribution to improve performance.

Inventory management: Detailed organisational work in managing stock levels to meet demand while reducing costs and risk.

Procurement and supplier management: Cultivating strong relationships, building strategic partnerships, and fostering mutually beneficial supplier relationships.

Shipping and delivery: Establish a simple transportation schedule from starting point to the final destination, ensuring on-time delivery.

Data Analytics: Leverage the power of data to drive informed decision making, predict trends, and improve supply chain quality.

Problem solving: A sharp mind to identify and solve supply chain challenges.

Career Development

One of the most exciting aspects of training as a Supply Chain Practitioner is the potential for career advancement.

Graduates of the programme are usually equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to perform roles within the supply chain.

Individuals can progress from entry-level positions such as a Supply Chain Practitioner or Inventory Analyst to senior roles such as Supply Chain Manager or Operations Director.

Additionally, with advanced experience and education, opportunities can arise to specialise in areas such as logistics, or data analytics, opening the door to further growth and development at work.

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Characteristics

In addition to technical skills, learning places greater emphasis on acquiring practices that will lead to professional success.

Trainees are encouraged to adopt qualities such as:

Teamwork: Collaborate efficiently with colleagues from different backgrounds to achieve common goals.

Communication: For effective communication of ideas, it provides clear and concise changes in the supply chain ecosystem.

Adaptability: Embracing change as an opportunity for growth and innovation and staying agile in the face of ongoing market developments.

Attention to detail: Protect supply chain integrity and work hard to ensure accuracy and consistency across all efforts.

Time Management: Manage resources efficiently and prioritise tasks to consistently deliver results and meet deadlines.

Conclusion

The Supply Chain Practitioner apprenticeship provides a gateway to a field full of opportunities for growth and development.

Whether you are a recent graduate embarking on a fulfilling career journey or an experienced professional looking to transition into supply chain management, this course offers a transformative approach.

Married with practical experience, academic learning and essential practices, trainees will emerge ready to navigate the dynamic FMCG supply chain environment with confidence and skill.

By placing an emphasis on the importance of a Supply Chain Practitioner apprentice’s education, we aim to empower individuals to chart their career path in a clear and purposeful way, creating a career full of growth, learning and endless possibilities.

Find out more about beginning your journey as a Supply Chain Practitioner apprentice

Level 3 Supply Chain Practitioner programme

Start your Career with a Level 6 Supply Chain Leadership Degree

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Medium shot smiley man at warehouse, referencing a supply chain leader.
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Do you get satisfaction from solving difficult problems? Are you customer focused with the ability to adapt and influence? Then this blog may just be for you. The Level 6 supply chain leadership degree apprenticeship will give you valuable skills from industry experts, while earning a good starting salary. At the end of the course, you will be rewarded with a full bachelor’s degree and the necessary skills for a lifelong career.

What is a Supply Chain Leadership Professional?

A supply chain leadership professional procures, produces, moves and delivers a product from a supplier, to a customer. This is a collaborative role as you will be responsible for setting out clear production plans, organising product and service delivery, as well as working alongside:

  • Customers
  • Distributors
  • Manufacturers
  • Regulators
  • Sub-Suppliers
  • Suppliers

Why Choose a Supply Chain Leadership Apprenticeship?

Are you wondering if you should go down the apprenticeship or university route? With the supply chain degree, you can earn a nationally recognised qualification, whilst gaining real world experience alongside industry experts. As a bonus, you can earn a starting salary of around £23,000 which, once qualified, will increase to an average of £40,000.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of an apprenticeship, read our blog here.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will gain valuable skills to aid your future career. These include, but not limited to:

  • Ability to gather, analyse and interpret data from across the supply chain to make effective decisions
  • Use customer insight to construct end-to-end supply chain network
  • Utilise current market trends influence supply chain network design
  • Manage inbound and outbound logistic networks

What are Supply Chain Leaders’ Main Tasks?

As a supply chain leader, your main task will be to oversee vital business functions like finance, HR, IT, Marketing and sales to enhance growth, expand market share and boost profits. Core responsibilities involve coordinating product and service delivery throughout the supply chain, analysing marketing trends and making data driven decisions.

Entry Level Requirements for a supply chain degree

The minimum entry level requirements are:

  • The right to work in the UK
  • Currently not in full time education

All apprentices must have completed their Level 2 English and Maths prior to taking their End Point Assessment.

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A list of the key information on the apprenticeship. These are, Level 6, maximum funding of £21,000 and typical duration of 48 months not including EPA.

Conclusion

To conclude, a level 6 Supply Chain Leadership apprenticeship is a great way to gain the necessary skills and on job experience to become a supply chain professional. This qualification gives you the opportunity to obtain a degree alongside 4 years of real world experience. Many employers are keen to employ an apprenticeship to train them up to become the future face of the company. If you are interested in becoming a Supply Chain Leadership Apprentice, why not start your journey now.

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Level 3 – Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship (previously Operator Manager)

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Level 3 Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship (Previously Operator Manager)
ApprenticeTips banner displaying Level 3 – Supply Chain Practitioner (Previously Operator Manager)

Do you want to organise and coordinate a network of interconnected enterprises that provide goods and services to the end customer? The supply chain is at the heart of every organisation; engaged in the movement of goods and services from supplier to customer. Read on to find out how this level 3 apprenticeship can help kickstart your career!

What is the role?

The Supply Chain Practitioner Level 3 apprenticeship is major pillar in helping businesses build a stronger, more confident workforce equipped with greater skills. This qualification is designed for individuals who want to work in a logistics environment and acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to become a competent and confident supply chain practitioner.

This Apprenticeship is for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) Supply Chain Practitioners are responsible for maintaining the dynamicity of supply chain functions in FMCG industries. Effective and dynamic supply chains are especially critical in fast-moving consumer goods industries, such as food and beverage, retail, or consumables. 

FMCG Supply Chain Practitioners will have the opportunity to advance to management or specialist roles.

supply chain practitioner holding box in warehouse
Level 3 Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship

Key responsibilities of the role  

Depending on which part of the supply chain you’re in, day-to-day you may:

  • Work with procurement managers and buyers to select products that will sell well
  • Negotiate and manage contracts with suppliers
  • Plan the best way to get goods from suppliers to distribution centres and retailers
  • Track shipments and stock levels using computer software
  • Make sure retailers receive their goods on time and in the right condition
  • Look at ways to improve supply chain networks
  • Monitor overall performance to make sure targets are met
  • Prepare forecasts and inventories
  • Processing customer orders; and/or working with hauliers 
  • Influencing, stakeholder management  
  • Negotiate and manage contracts with suppliers

  • Level 3 Supply Chain Practitioner Data

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours 

Knowledge

  • Customer service: order capture and management concepts, from order receipt to delivery to clients, and the significance of customer fulfilment
  • Different consumer groups’ characteristics and specialised needs: retailers, business-to-business, online, and export
  • Logistics: the significance of logistics costs, the impact of short-lead time logistics, and the impact of high demand volatility logistics on network planning
  • Plan manufacturing: the principles of establishing and implementing a supply plan that takes capacity, product life, and critical success factors into account.
  • Use of supply chain IT systems. To be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently  

Skills

  • Identify, manage and heighten risks to your business.  
  • Business management skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
  • Knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
  • To be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • Customer service skills
  • Communication skills 
  • The ability to work well with others
  • Analytical thinking skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with frequently changing requirements.  Work with procurement managers and buyers to select products that will sell well

Behaviours 

  • Make decisions with courage and conviction and demonstrate a sense of responsibility for your work 
  • Build good relationships with others, cooperate with each other, contribute appropriately to ideas and issues, and lead by example 
  • A highly effective communicator at all levels and with various stakeholders: 
    Always act with integrity and respect 
  • Proud of my work: 
    Striving for excellence, time management and meeting deadlines 
  • Work safely: 
    Keep yourself and others safe and challenge safety issues 
  • Responding to change: 
    Demonstrate curiosity and encourage new ways of thinking and working to ensure that economic benefits are maximised   

Entry Requirements

English and Maths

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment for this apprenticeship.

Additional Information

Visit to learn about other apprenticeship opportunities: ApprenticeTips.com. 

If you would like to find out about other apprenticeships available visit: ApprenticeTips.com.

Procurement and Supply Assistant- Level 3

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Have you ever wondered how businesses get the things they need to operate? That’s where procurement and supply assistants come in! They’re the unsung heroes of the purchasing world, making sure that everything from office supplies to high-tech equipment is sourced and purchased in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.

As a procurement and supply assistant, you’ll work in all kinds of organisations. From the public sector, to the private sector to not-for-profit organisations. This means that you’ll have the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of industries, from healthcare to fashion to energy.

So, what does a Procurement and Supply Assistant do?

Well, they’re responsible for everything from sourcing new suppliers to managing existing contracts. They work closely with procurement teams and colleagues from other departments to make sure that everything runs smoothly.

One of the most important parts of the job is ensuring that all data is correctly administered and maintained in accordance with legislation and organisational procedures. This means that procurement and supply assistants need to have a good understanding of procurement regulations and policies, and be able to use this knowledge to support the wider procurement team.

But it’s not all paperwork and data entry! Procurement and supply assistants also get to interact with a wide range of people, both inside and outside the organisation. They work with suppliers to negotiate deals and ensure that value for money is obtained, and they liaise with internal departments to make sure that everyone has what they need to do their jobs.

Decorative Image of female Procurement and supply assistant in office environment

And if you’re a people person, this could be the perfect job for you. Procurement and supply assistants are known for their excellent communication and customer service skills, and they’re always striving to meet the demands of their customers in a timely manner.

“Before my apprenticeship my experience was limited- but now, I have the ability to extract and analyse data.”


Apprentice
Decorative Image of female Procurement and supply assistant in office environment

Entry requirements

  • English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment.
  • As part of this apprenticeship the Trailblazer Group would recommend that learners do the CIPS ethical test on -line. This is free to CIPS members and is recognised as an essential aspect of the procurement function in today’s competitive and complex supplier world.

So, if you’re looking for a fun and engaging career that will give you the opportunity to learn about different industries and work with a wide range of people, then a Level 3 apprenticeship in procurement and supply assistant could be just what you’re looking for!

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