My Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship

Emily Orson is currently completing her Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship with JCB through Oxford Professional Education. Read on as Emily shares her experiences with her apprenticeship and the positive impact it has had on her career at JCB.

What was your background before starting your apprenticeship?

Before I started my apprenticeship, I had just finished my A levels at JCB Academy where I studied Engineering, Product design and Business. While I was completing my A levels, I completed work experience for 2 weeks at Presentation Design Services, where they design sets and events for upcoming new products that are about to come out onto the market. I also worked in a pub and bakery in my home village. This was a great opportunity for me to increase my confidence and team work skills by talking to people constantly and working together to achieve successful outcomes.

Why did you decide to sign up to the apprenticeship?

After finishing 6th form, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, the only thing I knew was that university was not for me. I definitely wanted to go down the apprenticeship route as it combines working with skilled and like-minded people and getting paid! Coming from JCB Academy, JCB’s apprenticeships were always something I was going to apply for. While I was doing work experience, I had the opportunity to not only paint sets but go behind the scenes into the offices to do some purchasing, I got tasked to design a set for a big brand with a budget – I loved doing this! Once I saw JCB was offering a purchasing apprenticeship, I jumped on this straight away.

How are you finding the apprenticeship?

I am really enjoying the apprenticeship. Although it is a big jump from school into a huge company, I like the independence and how far I have progressed since joining. I started out as a nervous wreck but found the apprentice calls helped me develop my confidence as a person. The teachers at OxPE are amazing and patient. If you are struggling, they will help as much as they can. We get set OneFile tasks to complete throughout the course, and I feel these are really beneficial as they test my understanding of what we have just learned, keeping it fresh in my mind. These tasks also help me see what I’m confident in and highlight areas where I could use more practice.

How does the apprenticeship support your daily work?

My apprenticeship allows me to apply what I’ve learned in real-world settings, such as JCB. This helps me develop my knowledge within my role and ultimately makes me more confident and efficient when performing tasks for suppliers and my manager. As I progress, I hope to gain greater responsibility and more independence in my role.

Tell us about the company and what your job role involves?

JCB stands for Joseph Cyril Bamford, the founder of JCB in 1945. JCB is a construction business specialising in tractors and backhoe loaders. In terms of my job role, I am focused on OEM engines. I communicate with our engine suppliers, raise orders, resolve blocked invoices, manage scorecards and ensure that suppliers deliver products on time.

How does Oxford Professional Education support you in your apprenticeship?

OxPE supports me in my apprenticeship by creating one-to-one meetings to review KSBs. This helps me track my progress, identify strengths and work on areas where I need improvement. They also provide guidance on work-based learning tasks to help me apply my knowledge effectively.

Would you recommend this apprenticeship to others?

I would definitely recommend this apprenticeship to others. I believe it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with such a big company and be taught by OxPE. The apprenticeship has helped me develop as a person, and I’ve grown in confidence since starting. It’s a chance to meet new, like-minded people, and through OxPE calls, you also meet others from different companies doing roles that may be completely different from yours but still relate to procurement. It’s fascinating to gain insight into what they do.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting an apprenticeship?

My best advice is to put your heart and soul into everything you do. It might feel daunting at first, but get your name out there! Take every opportunity that comes your way and say yes. You won’t regret it and those connections you make could help you with tasks in the future. If you stick with it and work hard, the rewards from completing this apprenticeship are incredible.

Oxford Professional Education offer a range of marketing, project management, and procurement apprenticeships. If you are interested in completing an apprenticeship or would like to hire an apprentice for your company, get in touch with our team to find out more.