Why should you consider a career in Procurement?
If you’re at a stage in your life where you are either considering a career choice or are thinking about switching from your current role, procurement may not be one of the first options that come to mind, but here are some reasons why it should be.
Procurement is the act of obtaining goods or services, typically for business purposes. Procurement is most commonly associated with businesses because companies need to solicit services or purchase goods, usually on a relatively large scale. Aviation, IT, Fashion, Energy, Education and Health are just some of the industries that rely heavily on procurement. Procurement roles act as an internal consultant within organisations, engaging stakeholders internally, such as operations and finance as well as external stakeholders such as suppliers, customers and the community at large.
Consider a career in Procurement
From a public sector perspective, the government spent £284 billion in 2020 on goods and services from external suppliers according to the Institute of Government. The money is spent on everything from goods such as stationery and medicine, through to the construction of schools and roads, the daily delivery of back-office functions such as information technology and human resources, and front-line services such as probation and social care. Throughout all such spend procurement plays a critical role in ensuring that taxpayers money gets value for money so that money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively. Lord Francis Maude stressed the importance of qualified and competent procurement professionals when he said ‘I submit that the professionalisation of the procurement function is more important than the precise letter of the law…’ at a recent house of lord’s debate.
Consequently procurement can be considered an in-demand profession, providing a high level of job security.
If you want to make a difference to society then look no further than procurement. Global challenges such as climate change, modern slavery and diversity are directly impacted by choices made by procurement professionals. Take child labour for example, according to TheWorldCounts.com, 200 million children are child labourers. Shockingly, 73 million of these children are under the age of 10. These numbers can be reduced by procurements actions in ensuring that suppliers whom organisations buy from have a zero-tolerance policy to child labour. Cleaning our supply chains is not an impossible challenge. Suppliers are looking to us in procurement for leadership, for ideas, for alternatives, for expert guidance. No one wants Modern Slavery. In terms of diversity in supply chains, procurement also plays a major role in ensuring suppliers come from a broad range that appropriately reflects society.
If you would like the opportunity to travel, procurement professionals are needed globally, giving you the opportunity to work abroad. Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualifications are globally recognised for their adherence to best practice and will compliment achieving your goals to work abroad. It is also likely in a procurement role that there will be travel involved in meeting prospective suppliers to carry out site visits.
In terms of renumeration and let’s face it, how much you are paid is an important consideration, procurement professionals are favourably rewarded. According to Hay’s recruitment the average salary for a procurement professional is £47,435 in 2021, with directors earning as high as £101,000, which does not include other financial benefits and incentives.
A career in procurement also affords you the ability to have flexibility in your work life. 30% of the UK workforce worked remotely at least once a week in 2022 according to the Office of National Statistics, with that trend set to rise. Procurement roles are suited to hybrid working, assuming the organisation concerned has the right communication framework that allows procurement staff to engage all stakeholders with ease. Conversely, to enhance key supplier relationships for example, you may wish to meet suppliers face to face. A greater number of job adverts are for remote working, increasing by 307%.
Whether you’re new to procurement and supply or you’re looking to develop your existing skills, getting the right qualifications will equip you for a successful career. The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s qualifications are globally recognised by employers as the gold standard for best practice procurement. Qualifications are available for whatever stage you are at in your career. Additionally, there is greater flexibility in how you learn to align with your needs.
To find out more, contact us at info@telso.co.uk or visit CIPS courses – Telso is a CIPS Courses Accredited Training Provider to get started on your professional qualification.