Hosting a Graduate

The Government Procurement Graduate Scheme

The Government Procurement Graduate Scheme is a two year graduate scheme providing participants with a solid foundation for a commercial career in government. The purpose of the scheme is to raise the profile of procurement in the public sector as a profession and recruit new talent into government procurement for long term development. Each year the Government Procurement Service (GPS) at OGC recruit a cohort of graduate trainees on behalf of participating organisations. The graduate trainees are employed directly by those organisations on their terms and conditions, GPS fund, organise and manage professional training and learning and development that will enable the trainees to gain their CIPS Graduate Diploma and have an excellent chance of promotion in government procurement through access to master classes and work experience and placements not usually readily available.

Hosting a Graduate

The Government Procurement Graduate Scheme is a continuing priority for the Government Procurement Service. An important element of the scheme is the exposure the graduate trainee will receive to a variety of practices, work experiences and organisations involved in different aspects of procurement, giving them an excellent foundation for a commercial career.

Those enrolling on the scheme will undertake accelerated learning and development that will include on-the-job development in a procurement environment, and the completion of a formal professional qualification.

In the first year of the scheme, the trainees study for the Certificate of Competence in Purchasing and Supply while gaining practical procurement experience by working on projects in their home department or agency.

In the second year, trainees study for levels five and six of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Graduate Diploma, while broadening their work experience, perhaps leading on a procurement project, and going on an external placement. External placements may be in other government departments, agencies or possibly with suppliers or other private sector organisations.

GPS fund the recruitment costs, formal training (both Certificate of Competence and CIPS) and quarterly learning and development events. Departments/agencies are required to bear the cost of the trainee's salary, travel and subsistence expenses, plus any learning and development that may be identified beyond that organised through GPGS.

For more information or just a general chat, contact Emma Glasscock, Senior Entry Scheme Manager on 0207 271 2859 or emma.glasscock@ogc.gsi.gov.uk