You’ve received your A-level Results… what next?
Teenagers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will have received their A-Level Results on 18th August 2022. While many will have a clear plan on where they are going next, others may (understandably) be facing tough decisions. If you didn’t get the A-Level Results you perhaps wanted, or you are simply not sure what to do with your career, don’t worry – you are by no means alone!
It has become the social norm to attend university because of the fear that a lack of degree education will make you less hireable. However, there are many other options you can explore to jump-start your career.
So, if you are thinking about an alternative to university, consider a career in procurement instead!
What is procurement?
Procurement is responsible for optimising costs and any savings achieved, delivering more substantial benefits to the business. This includes negotiating contracts, enabling the introduction of innovative new processes and managing various operations. But despite the opportunities, there remains a shortage of talented individuals looking to enter the profession.
Qualified procurement professionals are in high demand. Procurement is within every organisation, being central to a business’ operations. A role in procurement is an indispensable role, offering job security. Moreover, working in procurement officer offers you many challenging projects such as managing strategies, designing effective supply chain operations and delivering cost savings.
Core CIPS qualifications
CIPS qualifications are highly regarded as the ideal training for procurement professionals of all levels, as they are accredited by the organisation that promotes and protects the high standards of the sector, and therefore it can be trusted that the training and knowledge acquired from these qualifications is of the required standard.
There are five levels of CIPS accreditations for all levels of supply chain professionals. Depending upon experience, you may enter your CIPS learning at either Level 2 (Certificate), Level 3 (Advanced Certificate) or Level 4 (Diploma). The Level 6 Professional Diploma is a degree equivalent qualification, allowing you to use the letters MCIPS after your name. If you have just completed your A-levels, then you may find either CIPS Level 2 or CIPS Level 3 to be a great place to start. Click here to find out more.
Procurement Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a great route, not only for school leavers but for those of all ages. Nonetheless, it is fair to say there is a stigma attached to apprenticeships, largely due to the lack of understanding of what’s on offer. A procurement apprenticeship is a great way to gain a qualification while getting hands-on experience, in addition to a decent salary. It is arguable that an apprenticeship is the most lucrative alternative to university: a study from the London School of Economics has shown that apprentices earn more than recent graduates.
Our parent company, Slater Austin provides recruitment services and through its consultancy and placement divisions, is connected with over 500 organisations, all of whom have talent requirements. Leave your details on their dedicated webpage and schedule a short call with one of their recruitment experts. Unlike other recruiters, they guarantee that every candidate will have a call.
Studying for MCIPS could just be a sensible career choice and a more than viable alternative to the traditional degree route which can often come with expensive student loans. Furthermore, knowledge in procurement can serve as a rock-solid foundation for almost anything you could want to accomplish in business. Whether that’s working your way up to the top executive position, becoming a consultant or advisory board member, or going your own way as an entrepreneur – a career in procurement will open numerous doors!
Want to know more? Jump-start your career with a career in procurement. Make that first step by contacting us here.