As a Centre of Expertise, APUC works to attract and retain the best people to lead the transformation of procurement across Scotland's Universities and Colleges.
APUC encourages achievement of appropriate professional qualifications and further skills development as part of a continuing professional development programme for a high calibre workforce.
APUC is committed to encouraging equality, diversity, and inclusion among our workforce.
We do this by providing an environment which is inclusive of all sections of society, promoting equality and equality of opportunity, valuing diversity, and communicating the importance of respectfulness at work.
I have been a part of APUC since September 2019, and I can honestly say that I still look forward to coming to work every day. While many of my friends and family express their frustrations about their jobs, I find it hard to imagine not enjoying mine.
I currently work in the HR Team, coordinating our sector training events, arranging employee wellbeing activities and assisting with the recruitment, selection, and induction of potential new members to APUC. So, if you are considering applying for one of our exciting opportunities, it will likely be myself who will help you with the recruitment process and get you settled into the role.
Here are the top three reasons why I love working at APUC:
1. My Colleagues: The supportive, friendly, and kind nature of my colleagues. From senior management to my fellow team members in the office. They make it a safe and enjoyable work environment.
2. Flexibility: The hybrid work model allows us to work 9 days per fortnight, giving us a long weekend every second Friday. This arrangement for me strikes a good work life balance, as I benefit from the valuable support and development opportunities in the office while also enjoying the options of working from home when I need to. (Our Stirling office is also dog friendly!)
3. Continuous Improvement: APUC is an ambitious organisation that is always evolving and striving for excellence. The commitment to development keeps the work exciting and motivates me to grow alongside the organisation.
Overall, APUC is genuinely a great place to work, and I am grateful to be a part of such an amazing team.
Tony Newjem Lead Portfolio Procurement Manager at Edinburgh Napier University
As part of the Edinburgh Region Procurement Team, I and two colleagues manage the IS and Professional and Campus Services categories for Edinburgh Napier University. This is my second engagement with APUC, having first joined in 2017 when I was based at The University of Edinburgh, running the Laboratories and Medical Category Team.
APUC (and its subordinate company Universities & Colleges Shared Services - UCSS) is one of six regional purchasing consortia covering the UK Higher and Further Education landscape. However, it's breadth of engagement with UK and Scottish governance; it's financial and other career development support for staff from trainees through to leadership roles; and its general professionalism and productivity make it a standout organisation.
We have an enviable reputation both as an employer, and as a contributor to the financial and procurement governance wellbeing of our client institutions. This is witnessed by the continued organic growth of APUC, as more and more institutions rely on APUC staff to deliver their procurement function; plus, the large and growing number of commercial agreements put in place and managed by its Category Teams. Its eSolutions systems team are also busy rolling out their HUNTER contracts database and supply chain management solutions across the regional consortia. Without the support of APUC, I think Higher and Further Education institutions would face an impossible procurement and statutory reporting workload.
Finally, it's a fun place to work, with plenty of wellbeing support and the feeling of being part of a large and supportive family, especially at the quarterly plenary 'Away Days' and wider Procurement Networking Conferences where representatives from the whole sector (and beyond) get together, not forgetting the upcoming 2025 Conference on University Procurement (COUP) which APUC are organising. I have no hesitation recommending APUC/UCSS as an employer to anyone considering a career in procurement.
Rhonda McKay Head of Procurement for Abertay University
My role includes managing the Procurement function at Abertay University ensure Best Value is achieved without compromising our Strategic objectives. I've been in post since April 2021 and regret not applying for posts with APUC earlier in my career, APUC as a company are fantastic to work for, they are very supportive of their employees, making their employees wellbeing a priority.
The professional support is second to none, there is always someone their to assist and offer a helping hand when needed. I've been made to feel very welcome and very much part of a team. A recent example of that was the assistance offered to help me understand the current Utilities contract, within the same day of raising a query and asking for assistance, I had time in my diary for a one-to-one session, giving an in-depth knowledge of the subject in real easy language to understand. I wouldn't hesitate in promoting APUC as a great place to work, I feel really privileged to work for a great organisation.
Amy Ledger Sustainability Specialist
I advise the core team and the sector on all things sustainability. No two days are the same for me, I could be researching the environmental risks of manufacturing microscopes one day and the next, feeding back to a public sector working group on what support we need to reach Net Zero. I joined APUC in March 2021, during the pandemic, which had its challenges, but the team really welcomed me. I come from a purely environmental background with no procurement knowledge and the team have answered all my questions and allowed me the time to expand my awareness of the procurement process.
I am currently working on a sector wide project on due diligence within our supply chain. By helping suppliers understand environmental risks within their own businesses, we can work towards a more informed supply chain and one that strives to ensure sustainability is at the forefront of all decision making.
