Graduate Buyer, Procurement, Warwick

About the Position

The National Grid Graduate Buyer Scheme is an 18-month structured development programme designed to build commercial and procurement capability through three six-month placements. Two placements are based within Global Procurement, while a third ‘broadening’ placement offers experience in another area of the business, supporting wider development and a deeper understanding of National Grid’s operations. Upon successful completion of the scheme, graduates transition into permanent roles within Global Procurement.

During each procurement placement, Graduate Buyers work closely with experienced procurement professionals to support the delivery of strategic sourcing activities. You’ll be involved in multiple sourcing events, helping to shape sourcing strategies, challenge demand, and manage the end-to-end procurement process—from market engagement through to contract award.

This is a hands-on role that offers exposure to real commercial challenges, enabling you to develop core procurement skills, build stakeholder relationships, and contribute to the delivery of value across the business.

What You'll Do

As a Graduate Buyer, you’ll play a key role in supporting strategic procurement activity across the business. You’ll:

• Contribute to sourcing events and help shape procurement strategies that deliver value for National Grid.
• Research supply markets and share insights to support category development and decision-making.
• Manage sourcing processes from supplier engagement through to contract award.
• Collaborate with contract managers and suppliers to ensure successful delivery and continuous improvement.
• Lead tender activities for key business needs, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality outcomes.
• Support future planning by forecasting requirements and aligning procurement activity to business priorities.

We’re looking for curious, driven individuals who are ready to make an impact. You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Communicate clearly and confidently, building strong relationships and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.
• Enjoy solving problems and thinking creatively to develop smart, evidence-based solutions that deliver long-term value.
• Are self-aware, resilient, and open to feedback—always acting with integrity and taking ownership of your development.
• Have a commercial mindset and can weigh up options, make informed recommendations, and influence outcomes.
• Stay organised and focused, managing your time effectively across multiple projects and using planning tools to stay on track.

Don’t meet all our requirements? Don’t worry, we are looking for people who are enthusiastic and excited about being part of National Grids journey to net zero.  

What You'll Need to Apply

You'll need to achieve a minimum 2:2 in any degree discipline. It doesn’t matter when you graduated or if you are currently working towards your qualification. We just need you to be eager to apply your knowledge in a real-world setting.

You’ll need flexibility to travel within role and throughout your rotations as required.

Location

This role is based at National Grid House, Warwick and may offer flexible hybrid working, where possible so you'll need to be in a commutable distance of this office.

What You'll Get In Return

We are proud to offer a starting salary of £38,289 with annual salary increases throughout the programme.

As a first step in your career within the energy industry, our Graduate Programme offers a unique opportunity to develop your skills, gain valuable experience, and build a long-term career with National Grid.

Alongside a tailored development programme designed to power your career at National Grid, you'll also enjoy a range of fantastic rewards and benefits, including:

• 26 days' annual leave, plus statutory holidays.
• A competitive pension scheme.
• Access to flexible benefits, including cycle-to-work and holiday buy/sell schemes.
• The opportunity to participate in our Sharesave and Share Incentive Plans.
• You’ll develop well-rounded skills through practical experience.
• A £2,000 joining bonus upon starting the programme.
• A £2,400 payment upon successful completion of the programme.
• An accommodation allowance of up to £200 per month as you move around the business during placements.
• Additional annual leave when moving between placements, plus support with relocating your personal belongings.
• Dedicated mentoring, regular feedback, networking opportunities, and volunteering opportunities to support your development.
• A permanent role with National Grid upon successful completion of the programme.

About the Graduate Programme

As you'll be joining our 18-month graduate programme, you'll have a tailored development pathway to support you as you develop a wide range of leadership, business, and technical skills. You'll attend in-person and virtual development sessions throughout your programme to equip you with the essential skills required, as you begin your career at National Grid. We're committed to the personal development of our colleagues so as well as the support from your line manager as you navigate your new role, you'll also have access to 1:1 coaching and a mentor, from a previous cohort to help you transition from campus to corporate life.

All graduates complete the core development programme to develop key skills such as how to make an impact, giving feedback and presentation skills.  Aligned to this role is our Commercial pathway, where you’ll further develop commerciality skills and gain important insight of engineering and electricity to increase your understanding of our business and industry. Dependent upon your role you may complete a formal qualification such as (Chartered Institute of Professional Development) CIPD.

We believe in the importance of getting as much on-the-job experience as possible and to do this, you will complete three 6-month placements, across the UK, designed to deepen your understanding of your speciality but to also broaden your knowledge of our business. At the end of your 18-month programme you’ll return to your initial placement area to kickstart your career.

About National Grid

National Grid is the UK’s critical energy infrastructure company, operating the electricity network and infrastructure that connects millions of people to the energy they use every day, supporting homes, businesses and communities across England and Wales.

We know the future of energy won't be shaped by what we know today. It will be shaped by what's possible tomorrow. That's why we're investing in the next generation of talent, giving apprentices, undergraduates and graduates the opportunity to learn from experts, gain hands-on experience and contribute to work that matters from day one.

Are you ready to unlock the power of the possible?

More Information

We recruit on a rolling basis across our Early Careers Roles. We may close our vacancies early once we have enough applications. We therefore encourage you to apply as early as possible. 

National Grid's Early Careers opportunities in the UK are open to all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria including an existing and valid right to work in the UK. As part of the application process this will need to be evidenced and verified before you can start the programme.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Please be aware that it’s your responsibility to explore avenues of working in the UK, as we're not able to provide advice on this. For information about visas please visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

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