Procurement Industrial Placement, Warwick

National Grid; Warwick; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Mentorship

Job summary

The National Grid Industrial Placement in Warwick offers a 12-month, structured programme for current university students to gain hands-on experience in procurement. You will support strategic sourcing, supplier relationships, and category strategies while benefiting from tailored development and mentoring.

You’ll work with Senior Buyers and Category Managers across two six-month placements, with potential progression onto the Graduate Development Programme upon successful completion, and a

Qualifications

• Penultimate year student aiming for a 2.2 degree classification.
• Open to applicants from various backgrounds with a drive to apply knowledge.
• No specific degree required.

Responsibilities

• Support multiple strategic sourcing events, working with Senior Buyers, Category Managers, and stakeholders to understand and challenge demand and help identify the best solutions for National Grid.
• Assist in researching supply markets, suppliers, and trends to inform category strategies and identify risks and opportunities.
• Support Senior Buyers and Category Managers in developing and delivering category strategies that drive continuous improvement and procurement performance.
• Help execute strategic sourcing processes from market engagement through to contract award.
• Collaborate with Contract Managers to ensure successful delivery of contracted activities and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Manage tender events for key products and services, ensuring best-in-class procurement practices and value for money.
• Contribute to forward planning by identifying future requirements and supporting robust forecasting.
• Support the scoping and development of contractual agreements that meet stakeholder needs and expectations.Gain exposure to procurement systems, processes, and governance, building a strong foundation for a future career in commercial and procurement roles.

Education

2.2 degree

Job description

Procurement Industrial Placement, Warwick

About the Position

The Procurement Industrial Placement is a 12-month opportunity designed for current university students looking to gain hands-on experience during their studies. This structured programme offers training, development, and exposure to strategic procurement operations, with the potential to progress directly onto National Grid's Graduate Development Programme upon successful completion.

As a Procurement Undergraduate, you'll report into a Category Manager or Senior Buyer, supporting strategic sourcing activities across two six-month placements. You'll work closely with procurement professionals and business stakeholders to support the development and delivery of category strategies, manage supplier relationships, and deliver value across a range of goods and services.

What You'll Do

• Support multiple strategic sourcing events, working with Senior Buyers, Category Managers, and stakeholders to understand and challenge demand and help identify the best solutions for National Grid.
• Assist in researching supply markets, suppliers, and trends to inform category strategies and identify risks and opportunities.
• Support Senior Buyers and Category Managers in developing and delivering category strategies that drive continuous improvement and procurement performance.
• Help execute strategic sourcing processes from market engagement through to contract award.
• Collaborate with Contract Managers to ensure successful delivery of contracted activities and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Manage tender events for key products and services, ensuring best-in-class procurement practices and value for money.
• Contribute to forward planning by identifying future requirements and supporting robust forecasting.
• Support the scoping and development of contractual agreements that meet stakeholder needs and expectations.Gain exposure to procurement systems, processes, and governance, building a strong foundation for a future career in commercial and procurement roles.

What You'll Need to Apply

You’ll need to be in your penultimate year and expecting to achieve a minimum 2.2 degree classification. There are no specific degree requirements for the role and we welcome applications from other backgrounds. We just need you to be eager to apply your knowledge in a real-world setting.

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 for the duration of your Industrial Placement.

As a first step in your career within the energy industry, our Industrial Placement 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 the Industrial Placement Programme

Our 12-month Industrial Placement 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 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.

Are you ready to unlock the power of the possible?

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.

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it’s everything we put into everything we do. It’s our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner with and support the communities where we live and work. It’s all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a fair and affordable energy future.

Your salary is reviewed each year against the market for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.

Incentive

Annual performance plan or bonus (depending on your role) rewards your contribution to our success each year.

Retirement

Generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%.

Private medical insurance for self and family.