News

Government Procurement Service introduces the next generation of graduate talent

Released on 16/09/2008

The Government Procurement Service (GPS) based within the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has introduced a second intake of ten graduate trainees to its Government Procurement Graduate Scheme (GPGS). The GPGS is part of the GPS' strategy to further raise the procurement skills base across the public sector and boost its ability to foster a creative and collaborative approach to procurement.

Launched in 2007, the GPGS has already proven to be a successful opportunity for graduates to learn on the job, gaining hands on experience of Government purchasing. All the first intake of 12 graduates in 2007 passed their final procurement Certificate of Competence exams earlier on this year, with 7 achieving distinctions.

The scheme offers the chance to bring both new graduates and people who already have careers in business, management or professional practice, into Government procurement. Successful applicants initially join as executive officers and on completing the two-year programme can expect to be promoted to higher executive officers with the opportunity of becoming tomorrow's Government department commercial leaders.

Working as Government procurement professionals, the successful applicants will play pivotal roles in the Government's drive to gain best value for money from the £175 billion spent annually on public sector procurement. Along with the existing 12 graduates the new intake of ten will be posted across 14 Government departments and agencies.

Sir Gus O'Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, welcoming the new recruits, said:

"In order to continue to deliver world-class public services, it is important to ensure the Civil Service is attracting outside talent, and that it provides the right environment to harness, foster and sustain this talent. The GPGS is a great opportunity for those seeking a career in procurement, and the scheme aims to create a potential source of future Commercial Directors in departments."

Commenting on the scheme, OGC Chief Executive and Head of the GPS Nigel Smith said:

"This scheme brings in additional talent to join those procurement professionals already operating across the public sector, who are delivering on the Government's agenda to transform the way in which it handles procurement.

"This initiative represents a significant investment in the future of the GPS and demonstrates a commitment to learning and development in the service. I am committed to investing in this graduate programme as one of a number of initiatives to create a sustainable balance of appropriately skilled and suitably managed procurement professionals, to match the growing scale and complexity of the Government's delivery agenda."

Notes to editor

Photos of the graduates meeting Sir Gus O'Donnell are available upon request.

About the Government Procurement Graduate Scheme (GPGS)

Features of the scheme include:

Entry and selection - GPGS entry qualification requires a 2:1 (or above) degree in a business-related subject;
Training and qualifications - the GPGS is a two-year learning and development scheme, studying for the Certificate of Competence in the first year and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Graduate Diploma in the second year;
Placements - all trainees rotate among job placements in their home department in their first year and complete a placement outside of their home Department in the second year;
Mentoring - departments are required to nominate a mentor for each of their trainees;
Cohort events - OGC GPS organises regular learning & development events and workshops for the annual cohort of trainees;
Inter-departmental collaboration - managing the successful GPGS recruitment exercise has required (and achieved) the active collaboration and participation of departments that have contributed to the GPGS project

The scheme is in its second year and there are now 22 trainees in total in the following Departments: Central Office of Information, Government Communications & Planning Directorate, HM Prison Service, HM Revenue & Customs, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice National Offender Management Service, NHS PASA, Office of Government Commerce, Olympic Delivery Authority, Cabinet Office, Department for Children, Schools & Families, Department for Transport, Department for Work & Pensions, Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Highways Agency.

About the Government Procurement Service (GPS)

The GPS is based within the OGC and is led by OGC's Chief Executive, Nigel Smith who is also the Head of GPS. The GPS is leading the programme across Whitehall to champion the procurement profession within the Civil Service and build capability. The GPGS is one of a raft of initiatives delivered by the GPS to tackle these challenges, others include creating a government community and network for professionals across Whitehall (at 3,500 procurement personnel this is one of the largest professional networks in the Civil Service); the creation of a new procurement placement option for Civil Service Fast Streamers; development of learning & development initiatives and professional standards; provision of career development support and advice.

About OGC

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is an independent office of HM Treasury, established to help Government deliver best value from its spending. The OGC works with central Government departments and other public sector organisations to ensure the achievement of six key goals:

Delivery of value for money from third party spend;
Delivery of projects to time, quality and cost, realising benefits;
Getting the best from the Government's £30bn estate;
Improving the sustainability of the Government estate and operations, including reducing carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2010-11, through stronger performance management and guidance;
Helping achieve delivery of further Government policy goals, including innovation, equality, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs);
And driving forward the improvement of central Government capability in procurement, project and programme management, and estates management through the development of people skills, processes and tools.

OGC provides policy standards and guidance on best practice in procurement, projects and estate management, and monitors and challenges departments' performance against these standards, grounded in an evidence base of information and assurance. It promotes and fosters collaborative procurement across the public sector to deliver better value for money and better public services; and it provides innovative ways to develop Government's commercial and procurement capability, including leadership of the Government Procurement Service.

Media Contact:
Liam English
T: 020 7271 1318
F: 020 7271 1345
E: press@ogc.gsi.gov.uk

Contact details:
OGC Service Desk
Tel: 0845 000 4999
E-mail: ServiceDesk@ogc.gsi.gov.uk