Commercial Support

Commercial Support Apprenticeship – Government Commercial Agency

Salary: £30,837–£33,921 per year
Location: Liverpool, UK
Employer: Government Commercial Agency (GCA)
Job Reference: 487530
Job Grade: Executive Officer, Band 2
Contract: Permanent / fixed-term details stated in the advert
Length of Employment: Until September 2027
Working Pattern: Full-time, flexible working
Number of Vacancies: 3
Closing Date: 5 November 2026, at 11:55 pm
Visa Sponsorship: Applicants must have the permanent right to work in the UK and meet the stated residency and nationality requirements. The advert does not confirm visa sponsorship.

About the Government Commercial Agency

The Government Commercial Agency (GCA) is offering an opportunity to develop a career in public sector procurement while gaining a recognised qualification through a fully funded apprenticeship.

You will join the Commercial and Procurement Operations directorate, which supports compliant, high-quality procurement activities for government departments and other customers.

The successful candidates will provide administrative, operational and project support to help deliver procurement activities and commercial agreements across the public sector.

This role is suitable for applicants who meet the apprenticeship eligibility requirements and want to develop new commercial and procurement skills.

Apprenticeship Training and Qualification

Successful candidates will complete the Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship, a fully funded, work-based training programme designed to develop practical procurement and commercial skills.

The apprenticeship includes:

• Fully funded training: Gain a recognised qualification without paying tuition fees.
• Dedicated study time: At least 20% of paid working hours will be allocated to learning.
• Mentoring and support: Access guidance, mentorship and a supportive peer network.
• Practical experience: Develop skills while supporting procurement projects and day-to-day commercial operations.

Candidates must be prepared to balance their normal work responsibilities with academic study, course modules, examinations and the final end-point assessment.

Key Responsibilities

As a Commercial Support Apprentice, your duties will include:

• Supporting procurement activities and major projects by working collaboratively with colleagues.
• Building professional relationships with internal teams and external customers.
• Managing compliance checks and verifying supplier tenders.
• Assisting with administrative, research and project tasks throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Monitoring and reporting procurement performance measures, including timescales and supplier compliance.
• Maintaining shared network drives and procurement folders to ensure documents are properly organised and version-controlled.
• Planning daily tasks and managing deadlines effectively.
• Using internal IT systems and digital eSourcing platforms in line with policies and regulatory requirements.
• Helping improve procurement processes, templates and guidance to make compliance and verification checks more efficient.

Eligibility Requirements

This is a development apprenticeship, so applicants must be able to gain significant new knowledge and skills. Candidates who are already overqualified or overexperienced in this field may not be eligible for apprenticeship funding.

To apply, you must meet all the following requirements:

• Be aged 18 or over by the apprenticeship start date.
• Have the permanent right to work in the UK.
• Have been ordinarily resident in the UK, EU or EEA for the previous three consecutive years.
• Have left full-time education before starting the apprenticeship.
• Not be receiving funding for another learning programme, including another apprenticeship.
• Not already hold, or be studying towards, a Level 4 or higher qualification in a similar subject.
• Have five GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above, including English and Maths, or equivalent qualifications.
• Have two A-levels or equivalent qualifications.

Important: Applications that do not meet all the eligibility criteria cannot be considered.

Essential Skills and Experience

Applicants will be assessed on their ability to:

• Support projects and assist colleagues within a structured team.
• Build positive professional relationships and communicate routine information clearly.
• Assist with administrative, research and project tasks throughout a project lifecycle.
• Organise daily responsibilities and manage deadlines.
• Use internal IT and digital systems in accordance with standard policies and regulatory guidelines.

Behaviours Assessed During Recruitment

The recruitment process will assess the following Civil Service behaviours:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Lead behaviour: Communicating and Influencing.

The selection process uses the Civil Service Success Profiles framework and assesses behaviours, strengths and experience.

Salary and Benefits

The salary is £30,837–£33,921 per year, depending on the applicable salary arrangements.

Additional benefits include:

• Civil Service pension, with an advertised employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A discretionary, non-contractual performance-related bonus.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Flexi-time scheme, available for grades B1–B6.
• At least 25 days of annual leave, increasing to a maximum of 30 days based on service, plus public holidays.
• Fully funded apprenticeship training and dedicated paid study time.
• Mentoring and professional development opportunities.

Hybrid and Flexible Working

The Government Commercial Agency operates a flexible working model that combines remote work with in-person collaboration.

Successful candidates are expected to spend at least 26 days per quarter at their contracted office, another GCA site or an off-site meeting location, equivalent to approximately two days per week on a pro-rata basis.

For the remainder of the time, working from home or another suitable location may be possible, subject to business needs.

The advertised office location for this vacancy is Liverpool.

Security Checks

Successful candidates must meet the required security standards before appointment.

The role requires a Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC), and candidates working with government assets must also complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.

Application and Selection Process

The closing date is 5 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Applications are assessed under the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, focusing on behaviours, strengths and experience. A reserve list may be maintained for up to 12 months for suitable future vacancies.

Candidates should ensure that all application examples and statements are truthful and based on their own experience. Artificial intelligence may be used to support an application, but submitting generated or plagiarised examples as personal experience may result in an application being withdrawn.

For further information about the Government Commercial Agency and its recruitment process, visit the official website.

Official careers website: https://www.gca.gov.uk/careers-with-gca

Recruitment enquiries: recruitment@gca.gov.uk

Important Information for Applicants

This vacancy is subject to the Civil Service nationality requirements and the apprenticeship eligibility conditions listed in the advert. Meeting the educational requirements alone does not guarantee eligibility.

Applicants should review all requirements carefully before applying, particularly the permanent UK right-to-work requirement and the three-year residency condition.

Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 5 November 2026.