Procurement &
Supply Chain
Procurement Apprenticeships
The Apprentice Academy have had the privilege of working with over 550 organisations supporting their procurement and supply teams to gain CIPS qualifications via the apprenticeship route. Our exam success rates consistently exceed global CIPS pass rates.
Every programme is delivered by industry-trained MCIPS professionals, and all our coaches are CIPS qualified.
The available apprenticeships within Procurement and Supply Chain include:
Procurement Fast Track (Level 3 & 4)
The only procurement apprenticeship designed specifically for employees starting their procurement career with zero buying experience. Learners progress from understanding business fundamentals all the way through to the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.
Procurement & Supply Assistant (Level 3)
Includes the CIPS Level 3 Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations, with CIPS pass rates higher than the global rate, and a 94% Apprenticeship Distinction rate.
Procurement & Supply Chain Practitioner (Level 4)
This apprenticeship is designed for employees who have lots of scope within their procurement role to include supplier selection/negotiation, benchmarking, budget management, bid evaluation, contract award and supplier reviews. This programme includes the CIPS level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.
CIPS Advanced Diploma (Level 5)
Unfortunately, there is no standard apprenticeship currently available that incorporates the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma; however, learners can gain this qualification by accessing our independent study resources.
Our CIPS pass rates, module by module
Across all 21 CIPS exam modules at Levels 3, 4 and 5, Apprentice Academy learners outperform the global pass rate, including a 100% pass rate across every Level 5 module. Figures cover the period Jan 2025 – Dec 2025:
| Level | Exam Module | Global Pass Rate | Apprentice Academy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | M1 – Procurement & Supply Environments | 73% | 83% Higher |
| 3 | M2 – Ethical Procurement & Supply | 82% | 89% Higher |
| 3 | M3 – Contract Administration | 73% | 83% Higher |
| 3 | M4 – Team Dynamics & Change | 84% | 86% Higher |
| 3 | M5 – Socially Responsible Procurement | 83% | 90% Higher |
| 4 | M1 – Scope & Influence of Procurement & Supply | 57% | 67% Higher |
| 4 | M2 – Defining Business Need | 71% | 94% Higher |
| 4 | M3 – Commercial Contracting | 62% | 83% Higher |
| 4 | M4 – Ethical & Responsible Sourcing | 77% | 77% Higher |
| 4 | M5 – Commercial Negotiation | 75% | 94% Higher |
| 4 | M6 – Supplier Relationships | 81% | 90% Higher |
| 4 | M7 – Whole Life Asset Management | 82% | 91% Higher |
| 4 | M8 – Procurement & Supply in Practice | 70% | 85% Higher |
| 5 | M1 – Managing Teams and Individuals | 83% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M2 – Managing Supply Chain Risk | 86% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M3 – Managing Contractual Risk | 82% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M4 – Advanced Contract and Financial Management | 69% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M5 – Managing Ethical Procurement and Supply | 92% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M6 – Category Management | 91% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M8 – Project and Change Management | 82% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M15 – Advanced Negotiation | 89% | 100% Higher |
Click a column heading to sort. Figures show percentage of candidates who passed each exam.
Other Popular Apprenticeships:
Learner Testimonials & Reviews
“Changing careers and studying again after a long period of time was a daunting prospect but the never ending support and guidance from the tutors and the coaches at the Apprentice Academy enabled me to pass my exams and complete the apprenticeship. The tutors and coaches have all had successful careers and have a wealth of impressive knowledge and experiences to share which I found incredibly inspiring and definitely helped me on my new career journey.” – Diane George, Buyer, AGA Rangemaster
“I found studying through the Apprentice Academy a really great way to achieve my Level 4 CIPS qualification, the learning sessions were a great way to meet others in the same profession and really aided in the learning process. Even during lockdown, the level of support from the tutor and coach were great they were always on hand to help in anyway. I highly recommend.” Cameron Guest, Contracts Officer, Cheshire Constabulary
“For me starting the CIPS Commercial Procurement and Supply apprenticeship programme as a mature student, with a full-time job, and family commitments was not to be taken lightly. However the benefits of what I have learned throughout the time, have had a major impact on my career in Procurement, and my personal growth. Throughout my whole journey I have been supported and kept up to date with brilliant learning material, which has run in parallel to the CIPS study guides. My Coach was with me every step of the way and got me through many challenges. Her advice, patience and guidance were invaluable to my overall distinction result. I couldn’t have been more thrilled and I encourage anyone who has the opportunity, to enrol!” Katie Gatenby, Purchasing Manager, Torque
“The apprenticeship route was an excellent way to study towards the level 4 in Commercial Procurement and supply. My journey through the apprenticeship was very well planned with key milestones set and reviewed on a frequent basis to ensure they were met. The timescales assigned were realistic and achievable and allowed for my existing day to day workload. Having an assigned coach was particularly helpful, especially with the end point assessment report and the presentation, providing great feedback and guidance throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed learning through the apprenticeship route and would recommend for others to consider it as an option for their studies.” – Stephen Jackson, Buyer, Unipart
“Deciding to start an apprenticeship after being out of education for a few years was quite overwhelming. However, with the constant support and feedback from my mentor I can confidently say that this has been a contributing factor to my apprenticeship success. And I now have the skills and tools needed to grow into a competent procurement professional. It has been a pleasure!” Connor McGee, Buyer, Balfour Beatty
“Completing the Commercial Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship has been one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had professionally or educationally. An effective combination of in-person classroom teaching, remote support, independent study, coaching, and mentoring has delivered the most solidified and concrete base of knowledge and new skills of any learning I’ve completed. The assessment methods were varied and ensured any gaps in understanding were quickly identified and could be addressed individually by my coach. My coach has been one of the most supportive and energising mentors I have ever had. I cannot thank her enough for her support. I am convinced that the ‘apprenticeship’ approach to learning – balancing learning with application in ‘real world scenarios’ at work – has led to a dramatically improved level of understanding, knowledge and skill level, as well as contributing to long-term behavioural changes. I would highly recommend this apprenticeship to others looking to upskill themselves in the tools and techniques needed to succeed in procurement and buying roles. It significantly improved my confidence and abilities at work, gave me a solid technical foundation and guided me to assess the behaviours and interpersonal skills required to succeed in my role.” – Ellie Pinfield, Buyer, Refreshments Systems
“The Apprentice Academy were extremely supportive and organised with my course from initial sign up, with regular communication and guidance I could not be more grateful for my experience throughout. They are a very professional organisation and their attention to detail really makes the difference on your apprentice journey.” – Jemma McDonough, BAM Construction Ltd
Funding
Employers paying the apprenticeship levy can use their funds to pay for this programme.
Smaller organisations with an annual payroll bill of less than £3 million per year will need to contribute 5% towards the cost of the apprenticeship for employees aged 22 +. The government will cover 100% of the cost for employees aged 16-21. From 1st Aug 2026 the government will fund 100% of the cost for employees aged 16-24.
Next Steps
Check out our latest Timetables or submit an enquiry using the form below.
