Procurement Assistant
Also advertised as: Junior Buyer, Procurement Administrator, Procurement Assistant, Purchasing Assistant, Purchasing Coordinator
Supports the buying of goods and services a business needs to operate.
What the job involves
Procurement assistants help source suppliers, raise purchase orders and check that deliveries match what was agreed on price and quality. You support more senior buyers with market research and contract paperwork. It is a strong entry point into a career in commercial procurement across almost any industry.
Typical responsibilities
- Raise and track purchase orders
- Source and compare supplier quotes
- Maintain supplier records and contracts
- Check deliveries against orders
- Support contract negotiations with data
Common employers
- Manufacturers
- NHS trusts
- Local councils
- Retailers
- Construction companies
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£21,000 – £25,000 a year
With experience
£28,000 – £36,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours, office or hybrid
Working environment
Office based, desk work
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Numeracy
- Negotiation support
- Organisation
- Supplier relationship management
- Excel
Transferable skills you may already have
- Administration experience
- Working with spreadsheets
- Attention to detail
Requirements employers ask for
- Numeracy
- Negotiation support
- Organisation
- Supplier relationship management
- Excel
- GCSEs including maths and English
Useful but not essential
- Administration experience
- Working with spreadsheets
- Attention to detail
- CIPS Level 2 or 3 qualification
- Degree in business or supply chain
Helpful qualifications
- CIPS Level 2 or 3 qualification
- Degree in business or supply chain
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Procurement and Supply Assistant (Level 2)
- Junior Procurement and Supply Chain Practitioner (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Business studies
- Related subject: Economics
Where this career can lead
next
Procurement Officer
next
Category Buyer
next
Procurement Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Recognised qualification pathway through CIPS
- Transferable across every industry
- Good progression into senior buying roles
What people find hard
- Can involve chasing suppliers repeatedly
- Budget pressure from the wider business
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a procurement assistant?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a procurement assistant earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £21,000 to £25,000 a year, rising towards £36,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Administration experience, Working with spreadsheets, Attention to detail.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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