#TalentMatters: How CIPS is helping Louise and Olivia with their procurement journey
At NOE CPC, we are committed to excellence and delivering outstanding service to our customers. A key aspect of this is ensuring our team stays current with training and developments in the procurement sector, allowing us to uphold our high standards and deliver quality frameworks.
A crucial element in equipping our team for their roles is the completion of Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualifications. CIPS plays a significant role in our industry, helping us stay informed about the latest changes in procurement and supply and how we can apply this knowledge in practice.
As part of our #TalentMatters focus for September, we spoke to team members who are either currently studying or have recently completed various levels of CIPS qualifications to hear about their experiences.
Procurement Support Officer, Louise Molloy, is in the final stages of her CIPS Level 4 qualification. Here’s what she had to share:
“Undertaking my CIPS Level 4 qualification has enhanced my understanding of the procurement process, which has been beneficial in my daily role. The apprenticeship has focused extensively on the CIPS Procurement cycle, allowing me to apply these principles to the frameworks I work with. I particularly enjoyed learning about contracts and regulations, finding this topic both interesting and crucial to my professional development.
“My line manager, Neil Davis, has been incredibly supportive from the very beginning. When I first started, I encountered a few challenges with the assignments and off-the-job learning, but Neil was always there to help me resolve them. The tutors on the course have also been excellent, bringing a wealth of knowledge and real-world examples from their respective industries.
“I believe this qualification is worthwhile for anyone in a procurement role. Balancing full-time work with the CIPS qualification can be challenging, especially if you choose the apprenticeship route, which involves a lot of off-the-job learning and assignments in addition to the CIPS exams. My advice is to manage your time effectively and ensure you allocate enough time to put in the necessary work.
“I am now in the final stage of my qualification, having passed the eight exams. The end-point assessment involves a 5,000-word project and a presentation, which I aim to complete by the end of the year. Completing Level 4 opens the opportunity for me to pursue Levels 5 and 6, which I am considering as my next step on this journey.
Olivia Humphrey, Procurement Support Officer at NOE CPC, is part way through studying for her CIPS combined Level 5/6 qualification via the Advanced Practitioner route. Here’s what she had to say:
“My CIPS studies have benefitted me a lot in my everyday tasks as the assignments require me to look further into the wider operations of NOE CPC. This has meant that I have developed a greater knowledge of the organisation and its strategic approach.
“I have received a tremendous amount of support from the team whilst completing my studies. I am grateful to all the teams both in the categories and the wider organisation for taking the time to speak to me about any topics I have struggled with or wanted to learn more about.
“My advice for anyone starting with CIPS is to not feel overwhelmed with the content and to plan out your time to make sure you can research and complete the assignments.
“I hope with this CIPS qualification I will be able to develop my career by building on my skillset and knowledge of procurement and the wider business.”
More information on CIPS training is available here.
Click here to read about our NHS Supply Chain: Facilities and Office Solutions colleagues who are currently studying or have recently completed different levels of their CIPS qualifications.