CIPS?

Tingtangmakadingdong · 17 Apr 2011 at 15:31

I am looking at some procurement manager positions (have previous experience) and see most employers require Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) membership. Has anyone took the required course or become a member?

G|mp · 17 Apr 2011 at 15:37

taintedlove69 said:
I am looking at some procurement manager positions (have previous experience) and see most employers require Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) membership. Has anyone took the required course or become a member?

Yeah I've been a member for 18 months.

Recently finished Level 4 and will be starting Level 5 pretty soonish.

It is better to have CIPS nowadays as most positions require you to have MCIPS or to at least be working towards it.

I started at Level 4 as I had previous experience so you may be able to start higher up as well, you don't get full MCIPS (so the letters after your name) until you have passed Level 6.

Check with you local Uni's/Colleges to see if they run a course, they should be able to tell you what Level you could start at depending on qualifications/experience.

G|mp · 17 Apr 2011 at 15:40

http://www.cips.org/en-za/studyqual...listing/theessexandsuffolkschoolofpurchasing/

There you go, give them a call and they will talk you through everything.

Tingtangmakadingdong · 18 Apr 2011 at 12:04

G|mp said:
http://www.cips.org/en-za/studyqual...listing/theessexandsuffolkschoolofpurchasing/

There you go, give them a call and they will talk you through everything.

Thanks for the help buddy, will check these out

[FnG]magnolia · 18 Apr 2011 at 12:08

MCIPS here. What do you mean by Procurement Manager?

G|mp · 18 Apr 2011 at 12:13

[FnG]magnolia;18929178 said:
MCIPS here. What do you mean by Procurement Manager?

There's that many different names for the same role nowadays it's daft.

Procurement Manager/Category Manager/Category Lead/Senior Buyer

All the same, just different titles.

G|mp · 18 Apr 2011 at 12:13

taintedlove69 said:
Thanks for the help buddy, will check these out

No bother

[FnG]magnolia · 18 Apr 2011 at 12:18

G|mp said:
There's that many different names for the same role nowadays it's daft.

Procurement Manager/Category Manager/Category Lead/Senior Buyer

All the same, just different titles.

Just seen your edit. There is no way that a Senior Buyer is considered a Cat Man or PM. This is me coming from a FMCG and then Healthcare background. Unless things have changed beyond recognition within the last 2 years once I left the UK?

G|mp · 18 Apr 2011 at 12:31

[FnG]magnolia;18929259 said:
Just seen your edit. There is no way that a Senior Buyer is considered a Cat Man or PM. This is me coming from a FMCG and then Healthcare background. Unless things have changed beyond recognition within the last 2 years once I left the UK?

They are nowadays, maybe the Public Sector is different :confused:

[FnG]magnolia · 18 Apr 2011 at 12:36

Yes, the Public Sector is different but when I worked in Private, a Senior Buyer would always feed into the Cat Man and I would never consider them the same level because, well, they weren't.

Perhaps an organisation's size and layer complexity has something to do with the terminology used.

G|mp · 18 Apr 2011 at 12:38

[FnG]magnolia;18929412 said:
Yes, the Public Sector is different but when I worked in Private, a Senior Buyer would always feed into the Cat Man and I would never consider them the same level because, well, they weren't.

Perhaps an organisation's size and layer complexity has something to do with the terminology used.

Which is what I expect it to be like nowadays.

I've been looking through a few Supply Management magazines lately and it does seem like it depends on the companies interpretation of the title as to what you're called.

We have Senior Buyers that do the same role but on a smaller scale than Cat Mans but we also have Senior Buyers that report into Cat Mans depending on the size of the role.

piggeh · 18 Apr 2011 at 18:58

Depends on the company - went for interview today for a Senior Buyer job. The role is pretty much exactly the same as the Interim Procurement Manager job I currently do.

Haven't done CIPS yet, looking to do it shortly. I was considering whether to do an SNVQ route (ie evidencing whilst you work - supposedly takes 18-24 months) or the exam route. I would imagine exam route you learn more. Has anyone done the SNVQ route or looked at it before?