Introduction

Introduction from CIPS

David Noble, Cheif Executive Officer of The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS), talks to Inside Careers about the integral role purchasing plays in the business world, the work of CIPS and why graduates should consider a career in this exciting profession.

Procurement is a rising star. Its popularity as a career is growing rapidly as organisations cry out for good strategic individuals to work their way through the ranks – all the way to the boardroom.

In times past, procurement, (or purchasing) was seen as a backroom function. Its role was merely as a buyer of those goods necessary for an organisation to function. As an administrative role, the tasks were mostly process-driven.

Things have changed a great deal now. A successful purchasing and supply management team will sit at the heart of an organisation and play a key role in its success as a business-critical function.

Some companies may spend up to 80% of their budget, so they must spend it wisely. That is where professional, qualified purchasers come in. They have to account for everything a company needs to run its daily affairs, from pencils to aircrafts to uniforms to TV advertising and do it all while building good relationship with suppliers, and using sustainable and ethical practices.

Like all business critical functions procurement needs the best and the brightest to join its ranks. Procurement has to fight with other disciplines in the financial, engineering, and business world for the attention of young professionals.

What makes purchasing stand out is how much freedom it offers from the start. Salaries are on the increase too, especially for CIPS qualified purchasers who are streets ahead in salaries, compared to equivalents in marketing, finance, HR and IT.

As well as financial rewards, there is often the opportunity to travel for those working in larger, global organisations, as not all suppliers will be UK-based.

Sourcing the best products and services from suppliers may mean travelling the world over to find them – which is often an attractive proposition for many people when considering this career choice.

The profession has grown so much in recent years, that this is probably the most exciting time to be joining procurement.

As a professional body, CIPS is seeing more demand for its professional qualifications and now has over 54,000 members worldwide. Companies, charities and government departments have realised the need to have strategic purchasing as a core activity in their business.

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