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Introduction

• Introduction from CIPS - by David Noble
  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

The Profession

• What is purchasing and supply management?
  It’s a good time to be in procurement. During recessionary and post-recessionary times, the purchasing profession is in high demand as companies and organisations streamline their processes and make good use of their cash. That’s why procurement professionals can command higher salaries than
• Different roles in Purchasing - by Liz Lees
  One of the major benefits for anyone looking at a career in purchasing is the huge variety it offers, from different sectors to the type of role on offer. Nearly every sector from finance to manufacturing, retail and construction will have a purchasing and supply chain and will need either one
• Key issues in the purchasing industry - by Guy Strafford and Andrew Tseng
  Ever thought how much fun it is to spend money? Now imagine how much fun it could be to spend other people’s money! A job in purchasing gives you the opportunity to do just that every day and get paid for it; however, responsibility comes with it. Get it right and the chief executive and finance
• What could I earn?
  Careers in purchasing have never looked better, according to the findings of the 2011 Purchasing & Supply R£wards research from The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply, and
• Job satisfaction in purchasing
  Careers in purchasing have never looked better, according to the findings of the 2011 Purchasing & Supply R£wards research from [The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply, and
• Frequently Asked Questions
  Do I need a degree, and if so, in what subject area? Increasingly the majority of people joining the procurement and supply profession are graduates and they’re no longer required to start at the bottom. They come from all disciplines, but entry through business and specialist procurement and
• Videos: Sustainability and procurement
  Watch these videos to understand some of the issues surrounding the purchasing & supply industry and how they can reduce their environmental impact. George Martin, head of sustainable development at Willmott Dixon, tells Supply Management why procurement professionals must adopt whole-life
• How procurement can reduce our environmental impact - by Emma Brooks
  If you care about the number of miles your fruit and veg have travelled, you recycle, reuse and reduce the waste you produce, and care where your jeans come from; then you’re already part of the one of the major issues the procurement profession is focusing on. As organisations tighten belts,
• Video: Natural disasters and procurement
  Highlights from the CPO Agenda Question Time Debate held in London on 23 June 2011, in association with Sungard Availability Services. Large-scale disasters hit the headlines for a few days before the human suffering begins to diminish and the eyes of the world's media are diverted elsewhere. But

Recent Graduates

• Demand Planner - Danone - by Jonathan Ingham
  mmm…Danone Danone UK is the fresh dairy business behind Britain’s brands such as Activia and Shape as well as the probiotic drinking yogurt, Actimel. Globally, Danone is a leading producer of Fresh Dairy Products with a presence in forty countries. In 2009 the Fresh Dairy Products division sold
• Procurement Management Trainee - DWP - by Ralph Diacon
  Where and what did you study? I studied law at Bristol University. It’s a lovely university with the law school at the top of a hill. I chose law because I thought it would open a lot of doors in the future and would be useful in any possible career choice. During the course I focused on
• Procurement Engineer – BAE Systems - by Anthony Berry
  Before joining BAE Systems I graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in Management. As part of this degree I undertook an internship within Procurement at GE Money (General Electric). It was this internship that opened my eyes to the world of procurement and how fascinating it actually
• Operations Planning Trainee – Sainsbury's - by Hannah Macey
  On completion of my degree at Loughborough University, I extended my period of study to an MSc in Marketing and Management. An integral part of my Masters was an extensive dissertation on the strategic analysis of a blue-chip company, for which I chose [
• Pharmaceutical Procurement Associate – GSK - by Madeleine
  What did you study? I studied Modern Languages (French and Spanish) with European Studies at the University of Birmingham, which included spending a year at the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico and a month at the Université de Bourgogne in France. Why did you choose procurement as a career?
• Procurement Consultancy Trainee – Proxima - by Ian Tibot
  I studied International Management with American Business Studies at UMIST, which also involved me spending a year at the University of Massachusetts in New England. As a result I had been exposed to many different areas of business during my degree from accounting to sports economics, but in my
• Assistant Buyer – HM Prison Service - by Mathew Stanulewicz
  For several years, procurement has been a rapidly growing area of business, and is now rightly seen as a dynamic area that adds value to the organisation. Having achieved a CIPS accredited degree from the University of Glamorgan, I needed work experience to gain full membership (MCIPS), and the

Senior Profiles

• Partner – The NewDawn Partnership - by Peter Williams
  Finding a direction I’ll be honest and say I didn’t contemplate what career path I might take until my final year at university and as the end of my three years loomed I decided I needed a direction. I had limited knowledge on what was out there so I went through a process of elimination. I
• Supply Chain Director – Rok Property Solutions plc - by Jane Gibbs
  As Group Procurement and Supply Chain Director, my role has been to drive through change in how Rok procures its goods and services. Over the last few years this has also been to drive a change in structure from a decentralised procurement function to a centralised procurement function, this has
• Chief Executive Officer – Firebuy Limited - by Terry Brewer
  Finding my feet I didn’t feel I was getting anywhere at school so left when I was 16 and found my first job in a shop where I worked for six months – not sure at this stage which career path to take. In 1974 I joined what was then the Greater London Council (GLC) in the supplies department. The
• Senior Buyer – Sainsbury's - by Marcus Hughes
  When I graduated in 1997 I knew I wanted to work in a commercial organisation, and with a business focused marketing degree I managed to secure a place on the Kingfisher Management Development Scheme. Taking a year out for travelling, I returned refreshed and ready to get stuck into the world of

Finding the Right Job

• Personal qualities and skills
  Opportunities in procurement and supply are always available but following the swing from a supplier-controlled industry to one that is increasingly becoming more buyer-controlled, employers are finding that pool of talented people is small. There are great opportunities out there for talented
• Writing the perfect CV
  Your principal objective is to secure an interview and your secondary objective is to set the agenda for the interview. What the decision-maker will be thinking when they’re reading your CV is ‘What can this person bring to the party and how might they contribute to the bottom line?’ If this is
• Interview techniques
  Be clear about your objectives for the interview and prepare well in advance with all the answers you think you’ll be asked on the day. Good preparation and planning are keys to success in most things. Preparation Your CV has got you through the door, now it’s down to you to sell your skills,
• What opportunities are available in different sized firms? - by Bill Morrissey
  Small firms Here the organisation may be run by an owner/manager and employees may range from 25 to 50, with a turnover of around £5 million. Research has shown that it is unusual to find a professional buyer (i.e. an individual who is employed full-time in this capacity) in such organisations.
• Why a student placement is a good idea
  Fitting into the culture of a organisation is hugely important. Assessing this through placements is used by many top recruiters. See what opportunities are currently available on our [The Institute and benefits of membership
  The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) is the leading international body representing purchasing and supply management professionals. It is the worldwide centre of excellence on purchasing and supply management issues. CIPS has almost 54,000 members in 150 different countries,
• Qualification routes into purchasing
  Although there are a variety of routes into purchasing, the majority of people who get into the profession have a university degree, this level of education will often help to advance your career further than if you hadn’t been. CIPS study programmes are recognised around the world and after
• Continuing Professional Development
  Professional development is a continual process ongoing throughout your career. It is the learning that occurs every time you undertake an activity outside your normal routine, both within and outside of the working environment. Continuing professional development (CPD) is about recognising the

Key issues

• The Public Sector - A Career in Government Procurement - by Michael Dunning
  Procurement is one of the most important elements in helping to deliver public services. Around £175 billion a year is spent in the UK by the public sector buying goods and services, which means that the impact of procurement on everybody is enormous. Nevertheless, despite its huge importance,

Trainee profiles

 
• Manufacturing Engineer
  I graduated from Strathclyde University in 2005 with a MEng in Manufacturing Sciences and Engineering and a diploma in Business Management for Engineers. Having some experience in the manufacturing industry I