Early steps in procurement can be both exciting and overwhelming. How do you build confidence, credibility, and connections? How do you navigate the rungs of management? And, how do you become visible to climb the ladder quickly?

Hear from three young professionals who are walking this path and navigating the challenges and opportunities that come with it.

Having been selected as the new nuclear partner to Great British Energy, it is an exciting time for Rolls-Royce SMR. Yet one that will require the procurement and supply function to rapidly develop its capacity and capability. Where does it develop pathways of competency to manage future expectations? And how do you identify which skills to focus on? 

Hear how Rolls-Royce SMR has invested in its procurement function by benchmarking itself against the CIPS Global Standard and learn how you could use the same Standard to create a new pathway of progression for yourself and your wider team.

As the urgency to meet decarbonisation targets increases, procurement and supply professionals play a critical role in driving meaningful emissions reductions. But how do you reach and engage those hard-to-reach suppliers? What can procurement functions do to support SMEs and those organisations that don’t have existing capabilities to capture their emissions data, let alone manage it? And, how do you equip category managers and buyers with effective tools to have meaningful conversations with suppliers? 

Two procurement sustainability leaders will reveal how they are addressing these challenges and hear directly from an SME engaged in their own Scope 3 journey to better understand the supplier perspective.

This year’s CIPS Global State of Procurement & Supply report, supported by GEP, finds a community that is gaining in influence and confidence. Professionals know that they must develop their leadership and strategic skills to bring their insights to the top table. As senior procurement leaders gain permanent seats on the main board, how do you deliver the most impact? Why do procurement and supply leaders hold the keys to driving automation and delivering genuine sustainable impact? 

A panel of CPOs offered their views on the findings and shared valuable advice for the profession to maintain its newfound voice.