Scottish Government

Scottish Procurement  is leading a cross-sectoral approach to developing the procurement talent of today and tomorrow. This aligns and builds on significant work already delivered or under way across the breadth of the Scottish public sector to build procurement capability and develop our talent. It focuses on:

• nurturing existing talent within the procurement community to help create our leaders of tomorrow; and
• inspiring and enabling young people from all backgrounds to choose a career in procurement.

At the National Procurement Conference 2012 Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched the Scottish Procurement Learning and Development Partnership, highlighting exciting new collaborative initiatives, including:

• a Modern Apprenticeship in procurement due to be launched in Autumn 2013 by Skills Development Scotland;
• the introduction of the first HNC/D in Scotland for Procurement by the City of Glasgow College, planned for Autumn 2013; and
• a Schools pilot led by the City of Glasgow College in partnership with the Scottish Government and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).  This offers 16-17 year old young people in 6 schools a structured programme:
  • to learn about the theory of procurement, leading to a College Certification;
  • to help them understand and develop employability skills; and
  • to provide them with work experience within a procurement organisation.
     

The partnership is championed by a steering group of public and private sector representatives.  Its vision is both to inspire and enable young people to consider procurement as a career of choice, and also to create a pipeline of opportunities for work experience school leavers, Modern Apprentices, interns, students, graduates, secondees and people seeking a career change.

Ambitious plans include working with schools, curriculum developers and careers advisors to build awareness of procurement in appropriate school, college and university curriculums; promoting procurement as viable and desirable career option; and, rolling out the learning from the Schools pilot across Scotland and beyond.  

More information will be made available here in due course, but in the meantime if you have any comments or queries, please email: scottishprocurement@scotland.gsi.gov.uk