Public Procurement and Property

Scot Careers Week: Graduate chat #3

November 10, 2022 by Melissa Reilly No Comments | Category Modern Apprenticeships, Procurement People of Tomorrow

It’s Scot Careers Week! We’re shining a light on early careers in procurement by hearing from our three new graduates in the Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate (SPPD).

This year, our Graduate Programme offers the cohort placements across different teams in SPPD. These placements will rotate offering the graduate a variety of challenges during their 2-year journey. In addition to the work they do on the placement, they will receive personalised support on their learning and development journeys via masterclasses, mentor support and networking sessions. Read on for our third and final graduate chat with Omar Gibson…

Tell us a bit about yourself…

Omar: Prior to joining the SPPD Graduate Programme I worked full time in a retail supply chain role whilst also juggling with full time education and my family.  I was in education for the last 5 years completing my Masters in International Supply Chain Operations.  I have previously worked within the UK Public sector at DFID where I initially developed an interest in developing my knowledge within procurement.  I am really excited working within my new role finally getting the opportunity to focus on my career merging my education with my work.  My favourite thing to do is spending time with my family (my wife, two daughters, son, cat and dog).  My personal interests are sports, learning, music and sleep (rare thing in my house).

Where are you now…

Omar: I am currently working within the first placement of my SPPD graduate programme working at the eCommerce team.  In my current role I am assisting the team with delivering the new MI Platform contract, devising a future eProcurement strategy and compiling data sets for various stakeholders within Scottish Government.  I am still early to the programme so still finding my feet however I am beginning to gain an understanding of the different procurement functions across the Scottish Government.

What do you like best about your role / what are you most looking forward to about your role?

Omar: I am really enjoying my time within the team and I am very grateful for the wealth of knowledge and experience that I am surrounded by.  The eCommerce team have so far been great at showing me the ropes to which I am looking forward to taking the reins within my role going forward.  A key area I am looking forward to within the role is being able to have a greater contribution in projects that I am assisting.

What have you been working on since joining SPPD / what are you going to be working on whilst in SPPD?

Omar: So far I have been working on various projects that include the development of a new management information reporting platform.  Another of the main areas that I am currently assisting on is working with the wider eCommerce team aiming to shape the Scottish Government’s future eProcurement strategy.  In addition to the work I am currently taking part in, I am going to be providing management information spend data on suppliers throughout the Scottish Government.

So – what next?

Omar: Over the next few months I am aiming to familiarise myself further with my role and how the bigger Scottish Government procurement team operate as a whole.  Over the course of the graduate programme I am really excited to have the opportunity to meet new faces and go to new areas across the Scottish Government.  During this time I will be trying to take in as much as possible, whilst developing my abilities to carry out my roles within my three placements.  Longer term I am aiming to gain a permanent role within the Scottish Government procurement team and to complete my MCIPS professional accreditation.

Are you interested in a career in procurement? Find out more through the Procurement People of Tomorrow (PPoT)

Also, note these important dates and information:

• Check out the updated Procurement Manager career profile on My World of Work
• 26 November 2022 – Campus Open Day at City of Glasgow College (Find out more about for HND Managing Supply Chain Operations)
• 23 January 2023 – UCAS deadline (To apply for BA (Hons) International Supply Chain management at Glasgow Caledonian University)
• Find out more about a Modern Apprenticeship in Procurement

For further information on public procurement in Scotland please visit www.gov.scot/procurement

Please email enquiries to scottishprocurement@gov.scot

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Tags: Graduate, graduate programme, Procurement People of Tomorrow, scot careers week

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