Procurement Apprentice

Artifex; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Artifex in Birmingham offers an excellent development opportunity to build a career in procurement, tooling, and capital project delivery within an automotive manufacturing environment. You will gain hands-on experience supporting real projects and supplier management, while learning procurement processes and regulatory requirements.

You will work with engineering, quality, manufacturing, and procurement teams, contributing to projects that support customer programmes and operational

Qualifications

• Interest in procurement, manufacturing engineering, or project coordination.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret technical, commercial, and financial information.
• Good communication and organisational skills.
• Willingness to learn new processes, systems and industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Support procurement activities for production tooling, capital equipment, and manufacturing services.
• Engage with suppliers to obtain quotations and assess capabilities.
• Evaluate commercial and technical proposals and monitor delivery timelines.
• Prepare purchase orders and maintain procurement records.
• Contribute to business cases, investment proposals, and cost models.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Cross-functional collaboration

Organisational skills

Proactive problem solving

Job description

About The Role

This is an excellent development opportunity for someone looking to build a career in procurement, manufacturing engineering, tooling, or capital project delivery within an automotive manufacturing environment. The role is designed to develop capability for progression into specialist positions such as Buyer, Tooling Engineer, or Capital Project Coordinator. You will gain hands‑on experience supporting real manufacturing projects and capital investments, developing practical knowledge of procurement processes, commercial decision‑making, supplier management, tooling, machinery, and capital equipment sourcing. Working alongside experienced colleagues across engineering, quality, manufacturing, and procurement, you will contribute to projects that directly support customer programmes and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

You will support procurement activities for production tooling, capital equipment, and manufacturing services, ensuring processes are followed accurately and efficiently. The role involves engaging with suppliers to obtain quotations, assess capabilities, evaluate commercial and technical proposals, and monitor delivery performance against agreed timelines. You will analyse cost, technical, and contractual information to support informed decision‑making, while maintaining accurate procurement records and assisting with purchase order preparation. Working closely with cross‑functional teams, you will participate in project reviews, monitor tooling and equipment milestones, and contribute to capital approval activities by compiling business cases, investment proposals, and cost models. You will also learn and apply relevant procurement, quality, safety, and regulatory requirements within a manufacturing environment.

About You

You are eager to develop a career within procurement, manufacturing engineering, or project coordination and have a genuine interest in how tooling, equipment, and supplier relationships support manufacturing success. You have strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret technical, commercial, and financial information. Comfortable working collaboratively across functions, you communicate effectively with colleagues and suppliers and are organised in managing multiple priorities. You are proactive in solving straightforward issues, willing to seek guidance when required, and motivated to learn new processes, systems, and industry standards. An interest in automotive manufacturing, continuous improvement, and commercial decision‑making will help you succeed and grow within the role.