As we approach the end of 2024, we take a moment to reflect on a year that has been both challenging and rewarding for the procurement and supply chain profession. In general, the volatility of supply has abated compared to recent years, although pockets of products and materials do remain in scarce supply.
Many of our employer clients have been grappling with restructures, the impact of legislative changes and a drive to align their supply chains to align to the values their consumers hold most dear. One characteristic they all share, however, has been a determination to face those challenges head on.
The resilience and adaptability of procurement and supply chain professionals have continued to shine through. This year has underscored the critical role our profession plays in driving organisational success.
Adapting to a Changing World
At Aspire, we’ve seen firsthand how organisations are responding to these challenges. Whether it’s through the adoption of risk and resilience supply strategies, the development of improved ESG performance, or increasing the adoption of AI, machine learning and automation, the focus has been on agility, innovation and talent.
To meet this growing need for skilled professionals, we expanded our offerings in 2024:
- We launched the Level 6 Senior Procurement and Supply Chain Professional Apprenticeship, helping to develop the next generation of leaders.
- We started our new Project Management qualification training courses (APM Project Fundamentals Qualification – PFQ – and APM Project Management Qualification – PMQ) designed to equip professionals with the tools and knowledge to improve project delivery across industries.
- We delivered over 177 days of bespoke training courses, tailored to address the unique challenges faced by our clients’ procurement and supply chain teams, in both the public and private sector.
Investing in Our Future
This year, we made significant investments in our infrastructure, opening new office locations to better serve our clients and learners nationwide. These new spaces provide enhanced facilities for in-person training while supporting our growing online learning platform.
Our apprenticeship programs continued to thrive, with over 120 apprentices enrolled in Level 3 and Level 4 programmes and more than 450 students progressing through CIPS qualifications from CIPS Level 2 to Level 6. It’s been inspiring to witness the dedication and enthusiasm of our learners, many of whom have achieved significant milestones in their careers this year.
Milestones and Achievements
In addition to our programme expansions, we achieved key milestones in 2024, passing our first ESFA audit and maintained our status as a CIPS Centre of Excellence for the seventh consecutive year.
Our learners gave us a positive Net Promoter score of 55 and our employers a positive Net Promoter score of 57 in our survey this year. To be rated highly by those we are working for is our proudest achievement.
Facing Challenges Together
We recognise that the economic outlook remains challenging, with many organisations grappling with cost pressures, labour shortages and supply chain transformation.. However, these challenges have also highlighted the importance of investing in talent and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. As part of the Slater Austin group, our collaboration with supply chain consultancy and recruitment services has enabled us to offer a comprehensive approach to building, developing and retaining the talent needed to thrive in this environment.
Looking Ahead
As we look toward 2025, we remain committed to supporting our clients and learners through these uncertain times. Our team is already preparing for the next intake of apprentices and expanding our course offerings to meet the needs of the industry.
Our roadmap includes additional team leader, managerial and leadership qualifications and apprenticeships, as well as a formal launch of a ‘professional procurement and supply’ course for supply chain teams within organisations.
We are looking forward to welcoming Ofsted for our first full inspection, having invested significantly in our quality management system over the course of the last 12 months.
We know that many of you are working tirelessly to close out the year and meet critical deadlines. We applaud your dedication and hope you find time to rest, recharge and enjoy the festive season with family and friends.
Thank-you for your continued trust and partnership. We look forward to working together in the New Year, navigating challenges and seizing new opportunities.
On behalf of the team at Aspire and Slater Austin, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with health, prosperity, success and happiness.
Warmest regards,
Richard Slater
Director of Aspire Procurement Training