#LearningMatters Blog: Professional Development and learning support
Our focus for August is #LearningMatters. In this blog Emma Rodgers, Customer Support and Assistant Buyer talks about gaining her MCIPS qualification, the importance of professional development and how learning opportunities are supported at NOE CPC.
I didn’t really know much about procurement when I joined NHS Supply Chain, I came in as a temp to support with administration initially for a few weeks, which then became a few months. A permanent position opened which I applied for and was lucky enough to get and I love working here. The MCIPS is a chartered procurement qualification, and when I came to work for what was NHS Supply Chain: Hotel Services, I wanted to learn more about procurement. The more I learnt the more I became interested in the subject, and I saw what a fantastic team I had joined. I knew a few people in the team had already gained their MCIPS and I was inspired to go for it.
It’s been a long process, from start to finish it has taken me just under three years. I hadn’t done any formal education since I was a teenager and if I had known about MCIPS in my younger years I would definitely have done it sooner. I started the practitioner course in September 2020, and I completed that in August 2021, I thought about taking a break in between, but I had the momentum, so I started the advanced course in October 2021 and I have just got my results back for that. It has been challenging at times, there were a few points where I thought I couldn’t do it, but I had the support of the whole team pushing me on. As part of the course, you do get study days, but it takes up your time in the evenings and weekends, I chose the route of assignments, so I just had to juggle when was best to take study days. But I think if you find the subject interesting and you enjoy what you’re studying you don’t mind picking up a laptop, opening a book or going to the library to do more research because you know there is light at the end of the tunnel. It’s been very time consuming but incredibly rewarding.
I had so much support from the team, and I really couldn’t have got through the last three years without them. People like Jonathan Kaye and Sally Bratley have given me advice, lent me study materials and been so supportive. If there was anything I wasn’t sure about or didn’t quite understand the theory behind, they took the time to explain how it applied to what we do. There are so many people in the team who let me draw from their experience and were so willing to share their knowledge and experience of MCIPS. I did my final project on social value, as it’s an area we are working to build on and improve, so being able to draw on the knowledge of people like Diane Woodham, who explained things in a way that applied to what we are doing was incredibly helpful.
I care a lot about my job and the team that I work with really inspire me, their support whilst I was working towards my qualification has been invaluable. It’s great to have officially gained my MCIPS and passed with merit, and I’m really proud of the work I have put into achieve it. Having my MCIPS will open doors for me professionally and give me the ability to progress in my career and I want to take advantage of all the opportunities available. There are so many great opportunities to learn and expand your skill set at NOE CPC and the senior leadership team are supportive of us continuing our professional development.