Trainee Procurement Officer

Job Description

Organisation: ESPO

Work Location: Barnsdale Way, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester, LE19 1ES

Salary: £26,832 - £34,359 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) (Pay award pending)

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: Friday 22nd May 2026

Interview Date(s) TBC

ESPO is a successful public sector owned professional buying organisation (also known as a PSBO). Originally established in 1981, ESPO has grown into a well-known and highly respected organisation providing professional, cost effective procurement and supply services to its customers. We are owned and governed by a consortium of six local authorities based in the East Midlands, with Leicestershire County Council acting as the employer.

If you are an upcoming or recent graduate looking for an exciting and challenging opportunity, ESPO is seeking to appoint highly motivated individuals who are looking to begin a career in procurement. You will learn how we undertake procurements that deliver value for money for our customers and develop knowledge of supply chain management working within one of our category teams. ESPO will also support you as you work towards a Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualification.

About the Role

• Are an upcoming or recent graduate, ideally with an interest in procurement
• Hold, or are expected to achieve, at least a 2:2 in a relevant degree subject
• Can demonstrate excellent communication skills
• Possess strong analytical skills, with a high level of attention to detail
• Are proactive and eager to learn, with a positive attitude
• Can work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Are proficient in Microsoft Office applications

About You

To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:

• Degree 2:2 in Business Studies/Economics/ Commerce/Purchasing or relevant discipline
• Ability to communicate with customers, suppliers and colleagues via email, in writing and at meetings with a Strong analytical and numerical skills and a strong attention to detail.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel and willingness to learn to use any in-house software or systems
• Manages time effectively to ensure tasks are completed and deadlines are met. Also Willingness and ability to work flexibly, including outside of office hours as required
• Able to deal with pressure, multiple priorities, work as part of a team working towards common goals and have an Analytical approach to problem solving
• You must hold a full driving licence or have access to transport

In addition, we expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the interview process.

For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our customers. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

What we offer:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing to 30 days after 5 years service) and a scheme to buy additional leave.
• Fully funded CIPS training programme, enabling you to achieve Levels 4–6 and work towards full MCIPS status
• A range of salary sacrifice schemes, including car leasing.
• Extensive learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing professional growth.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme with a generous employer contribution.
• A great office location next to Fosse Park, Leicester, with free on‑site parking and easy access to the M1 and M69.

Interested in Flexible Working?

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:

Kapil Rajput – k.rajput@espo.org or

Joseph Dempsey – j.dempsey@espo.org

How to Apply

At ESPO we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.

Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raise a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.

By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

About us

About ESPO

We're a unique organisation, owned by the public sector and sharing their values and ethos, but operating with a commercial edge. As a specialist procurement body, we pride ourselves on establishing procurement solutions that save money for the public sector. View our prospectus to find out more.

We have modern, open-plan offices with excellent transport links and a friendly workplace environment. We offer flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, a contributory pension scheme, training (including professional CIPS qualification) and opportunities to develop your career.

ESPO is supported by wide range of roles across many different disciplines including sales, marketing, IT, procurement, finance, operations (warehouse management and transport planning) and customer services. So whether you are interested in a public-facing role or playing your part behind the scenes, ESPO could be the place for you.

To learn more about working for ESPO please visit www.espo.org.