Profiles

I'm responsible for procuring goods and services for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This involves writing strategy documents, engaging with internal and external stakeholders to ensure correct things are being purchased, issuing tender documents, evaluating responses and sealing contracts with suppliers.

What do you enjoy most about the role?

The responsibility and challenge, being given large budgets and trusted to deliver Value for Money for the taxpayer. I also love the high-profile nature of being involved with such a huge project, working in a tight team, and also having the opportunity to meet lots of new people.

What made you choose procurement?

Having completed a Master's Degree in marketing I looked at major company graduate schemes and it was at this point that I noticed several exciting buyer or procurement related schemes. I then realised that procurement is growing in status and is recognised as a key area where real profits and losses are made. I particularly liked the chance to be at the coal-face, building a rapport with many suppliers as well as various internal stakeholders. So far, I haven't been let down.

What do you think of your role and what are your expectations for the future?

My role has been challenging and extremely rewarding. Having been thrown in at the deep end, dealing with major procurements that will have a real impact on the Olympics has been an amazing opportunity. I've helped roll out a new brokerage tool for advertising all Olympic Delivery Authority opportunities (CompeteFor) as well as completing various procurements - and that excites me.

As I expected, Procurement gives you the opportunity to put many skills into practice including research, networking, relationship building, presenting, report writing, evaluation and negotiation. It also gives you the chance to get a good oversight of many other areas of business and demonstrate your ability to work with initiative and make a real contribution to business success.

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What do you enjoy most about the role?

I like that there's a clear focus on qualifications straight away. And once I've completed the programme, I'll be a procurement "expert" who understands the broader ramifications of decisions against the backdrop of government objectives.

What do you see as the most challenging aspect of the role?

There's a lot of procurement learning to be done and that can be tough in itself. I guess my major challenge in the future will be achieving value for money and meeting demanding government objectives for money saving and sustainability. Having said that, it's something I'm really looking forward to.

What's the one reason someone should do this job?

I think it's all about making a difference in a hugely rewarding sphere. Procurement is perhaps one of the most relevant and rising professions, particularly in today's climate of economic uncertainty, and I like being a part of that.

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How did you hear about the job?

OGC made a good presentation at my university in 2006 and it made me want to find out more. So, I looked up the vacancy listed on Milkround website and it took me straight to the graduate website which gave me all the information I needed before making my applications.

What was it that attracted you to the role or the organisation?

I was really impressed with the size and scope of work that you can be actively involved in and also the fact that what you do will make a difference to other people's lives. I also thought that the graduate website was well presented and had a lot of relevant information about the roles and what the expectations are from you as a graduate.

What is the one reason someone should do this job?

The opportunities in terms of scope and progression - they're fantastic.

What were your overall views on the assessment process?

They were very rigorous, quite challenging but also enjoyable. The way that the tasks on the assessment day were tailored toward tasks that you might encounter was especially relevant and made the entire process worthwhile and valuable. A real positive was the opportunity to get feedback on your performance so that you can find out what people perceive your strengths and weaknesses to be. The online application was very similar to other online processes so it felt familiar when applying.

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What was it that attracted you to the role?

I've been interested in working for the government for ages within a commercial aspect so the role described by the OGC was ideal. Also, I thought the OGC was quite innovative so the potential for personal development was high.

What do you enjoy most about the role?

I enjoy looking at the CCNs to see what new requirements have been added to the original contract as it allows me to grasp knowledge of relationships between the government and the contractors.

What do you see as the most challenging aspect of the role?

Without doubt, it's deciding what requirements are still needed to perform the task at hand. I think this is because this is a massive project that has just started and therefore the requirements have not been fully established.

What's the one reason someone should do this job?

Procurement is definitely an up-and-coming field of work so if someone wants a job that is both interesting and challenging, then this is the place to be, as conditions are always changing.

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How did you find out about your role?

I saw the GPGS website from a graduate link, it sounded quite interesting so I applied. Initially I thought it was a long-shot due to the scheme being such a high profile one, however my competitive edge saw me through on a rigorous selection process. They were definitely looking for people who could perform under pressure, have mental and physical stamina, and be team leaders as well as team players.

What do you think of your role, procurement as a career and what are your expectations for the future?

Being a trainee procurement manager is great. I am performing all the tasks a procurement manager would with the safety net of mentors to steer me in the right direction. The intricacies of contract writing & the supplier relations, coupled with importance of EU regulations is a great mix & quite enjoyable.

I think procurement as a career is an exciting one and should prove fruitful if I perform well and make the right decisions.

In terms of the future, the scheme is designed to "groom the next generation of government commercial directors" and if I can go on to achieve that I would be very proud, however I am fully aware this is only achievable with immense hard work and commitment, but I am not afraid to take things one step at a time and I am more concerned with picking up the right experiences and learning best practice, rather than setting career deadlines and targets. I am sure OGC will help me make the right choices and be there for support as and when I need it. I look forward to seeing what the future brings.

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