Level 4 Procurement Apprentice

AstraZeneca; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company is looking for a Level 4 Procurement Apprentice in Macclesfield. This 22-month apprenticeship offers a starting salary of £24,570, plus benefits. The role involves learning the procurement process, evaluating suppliers, and contributing to sustainability goals. Applicants should have 5 GCSEs including Maths and English, and ideally an A-level at Grade C or equivalent. Join a supportive team and work on impactful projects that contribute to life-changing medicines.

Benefits

11% benefits fund

Bonus

Relocation package for candidates living more than 60 minutes away

Responsibilities

• Join the Global Procurement team and help deliver life-changing medicines.
• Learn the whole buying process over about 22 months.
• Evaluate suppliers and improve collaboration.

Skills

Good communication skills

Good team working skills

High organisation skills

Confidence to work independently

Logical thinking

Concerns for standards

High numeracy and literacy skills

Digital literacy

Ability to learn

Self-motivation

Initiative

Education

5 GCSEs Grades 9-4 including minimum 4 grade in Maths and English

A-level at Grade C or equivalent (96 UCAS points)

Job description

Level 4 Procurement Apprentice

Macclesfield, UK

Starting base salary of £24,570 + 11% benefits fund + bonus

At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. We’re deeply committed to our strategy of being a great place to work. For us, that includes fostering an environment where everyone can be inclusive, supportive individuals with curious minds.

A company that genuinely follows the science and values individuals at all levels, you’ll be backed and encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and share ideas to push the boundaries of science and continuously learn and explore.

Make the start of your journey a life changing one

As part of our Early Talent Programme, you’ll be involved in projects and learning opportunities that have real impact from day one.

Being part of our journey and helping us to provide life changing medicine to patients all over the world and transform lives for the better. Making important contributions and embracing our values to deliver on our purpose. Because regardless of role or level, we all have an important part to play in making a positive difference.

Join AstraZeneca as an Apprentice in our Global Procurement team and help us make and deliver life‑changing medicines. Procurement is about helping the business buy the products and services we need. Your work will help us spend money responsibly, support our Sustainability goals (including 100% ethical spend), and move towards our Ambition Zero Carbon target.

You’ll work with experienced colleagues who buy many different types of goods and services that help AstraZeneca stay competitive. Over about 22 months, you’ll learn the whole “buying” process: planning what we need to buy, finding and choosing suppliers, agreeing contracts, checking how suppliers are performing, and looking for ways to improve how we work.

You’ll also build the skills and professional behaviours needed to succeed. Across the program, you’ll rotate through different Procurement teams—Operations, Research & Development, Commercial, and IT—so you can see how Procurement supports many parts of the company.

Examples of what you might do:

• Find and evaluate the best company to make a new diagnostic device.
• Work with an existing supplier to improve how we work together—for example, introducing automation, lowering costs, or speeding up delivery—while collaborating with people around the world.

All in a truly global environment.

Training and Development

The apprenticeship combines working, earning a full-time salary, with fully funded part-time learning (on average 1 day/week). This will give you the opportunity to gain a CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply with the advantage of gaining relevant work‑life skills and the excitement of helping to develop new medicines while taking your first steps towards a rewarding career.

We truly value Early Talent – their thoughts, ideas and contributions. Throughout the programme, you’ll be encouraged and inspired to speak up, have a voice and make an impact.

Skills and Capabilities

• Good communication skills
• Good team working skills
• High organisation skills and confidence to work independently
• Logical thinking to be able to apply processes
• The ability to apply a rational approach to problem solving; making judgments based on sound reasoning, approaching problems in a logical manner
• Concerns for standards
• High numeracy and literacy skills
• Digital literacy
• Ability to learn
• Self-motivation
• Initiative

Entry Requirements

5 GCSEs Grades 9-4 including minimum 4 grade in Maths and English.

To have achieved or predicted to achieve a A-level at Grade C or equivalent (96 UCAS points).

Benefits, open and close dates

This is a 2-month fixed term contract opportunity based at Macclesfield with a starting base salary of £24,570 + 11% benefits fund + bonus.

At AstraZeneca, we aim to set you up for success and we recognise the challenges that starting a new job can bring. We therefore offer a relocation package to help with the costs and process of moving for candidates who currently live more than 60 minutes from the site location for this Apprenticeship.

Opening date of advert: 12th January 2026

Closing date of advert: 15th February 2026

Successful candidates will be asked to attend a virtual Assessment Day during week commencing 23rd March 2026.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments or accommodations, please let us know on your application.

Start date for the apprenticeship programme is 7th September 2026.

Equal Opps

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.

These positions are not open to those already educated to Bachelors degree level or above – for which we have specific Graduate Programmes, see our website for more details.

#EarlyTalent

Date Posted

12-Jan-2026

Closing Date

14-Feb-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.