STUDENTS at a North East college are being given a ‘passport to the world’ after performing better than the global average in their chosen field.
More students studying the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualification at Darlington College are progressing from Level 4-6 than other parts of the world.
The professional standard is recognised around the globe by employers as an indicator of staff skills, knowledge and behaviour.
Darlington College students often use their professional diploma as a platform to continue their development on a range of masters studies offered by universities.
“It really is a global passport to a host of top roles around the world and we have former students working as far away as Australia,” said Darlington College’s CIPS programme lead Janine Crowther.
“And this is helping procurement to be present at the executive table adding value to countless businesses. Procurement is strategic, it’s about what you need now and what you’ll need in the future that you can secure now.
“It’s not just transactional, valuing the supply chain is also ethical, sustainable and fair. It’s about asking the right questions, showing due diligence and considering the big global issues of the day that impact on the supply chain.”
She said it was an increasingly complex field. For instance, the current embargoes on Putin over Ukraine created issues of providence but not simply for the final products but also the ingredients which might lead back to Russia.
Being highly qualified was important whether staff were a procurement assistant or the chief executive of the company.
Darlington College has two CIPS teachers and four assessors ensuring class sizes never exceed 15 per cohort to maintain quality.
Courses are part-time, delivered during the day, either face to face or online, with maximum flexibility, taking anything from a year to 18 months to complete.
“Students, who come from a variety of business backgrounds, really bond so it is a great networking opportunity,” said Janine.
For Johanna Venis, the CIPS journey resulted in her securing a top job with Railpen.
Brought up in Guisborough, the former Laurance Jackson School pupil went on to study A levels at Prior Pursglove College, before working in management at Boyes, Dickens Superstores and as a buyer for a manufacturing company. She later switched to the public sector and social housing.
Johanna started studying her CIPS qualifications at Darlington College while working at Beyond Housing (formerly Coast & Country Housing), and is now Director of Procurement for Railpen, a 750-strong organisation which administers and invests pensions for 350,000 people involved in the rail industry.
“I really enjoyed studying for my CIPS,” she said. “For me, it was face-to-face study and a brilliant opportunity to network with other procurement professionals also on the course. It could have been someone from the construction or chemical industries, which made for lively discussions on a variety of issues. I’m still in contact with many of these people today.
“I was in my 30s when I started and wondered what it would be like going back into education, but we had some really good debates which reinforced my learning – so I am a big advocate of CIPS. I recommend it whole-heartedly and fully support anyone in my team wanting to do it because it really helps, not just with purchasing theory, but also leadership skills.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.
