NHS LPP preparing for next intake of NHS Procurement Graduates

NHS LPP are pleased to announce that preparations are underway to recruit the next intake of NHS Procurement Graduates, with placements expected to commence in September 2024.

All four regional NHS procurement hubs, including NHS LPP are taking part in the NHS Procurement Graduate Training Scheme. The NHS Procurement Graduate Training Scheme was introduced in 2020, welcoming graduates into NHS procurement teams in parts of the country. Following the success of the pilot year, The Skills Development Network, now with support from Health Care Supply Association (HCSA) and NHS England (NHSE), are advertising the national training and development programme for graduates to join procurement teams throughout various NHS organisations across England.

The Graduate Training Scheme initiative is a highly focused development pathway offering graduates an opportunity to develop an exciting career in NHS procurement. It allows graduates to gain valuable experience in a range of areas, including buying, contract management, materials management, and many more areas within procurement.

Some of the benefits of the programme include:

• Career development from day one offering exposure to and experience in different roles
• A salaried role with a full benefits package
• Technical skills development via a fully funded procurement qualification – Chartered Institute of Procurement Supply (CIPS) Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship

At NHS LPP, we currently have three graduates who are midway through their placement with us having joined in 2022. Nathan Jones, one of the three feels passionately about the opportunities the programme has provided him. You can read about his personal reflections in his recently-published blog. 

The NHS Graduate Procurement scheme is also in line with the recently published NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which addresses the need to provide more training routes to support the NHS in building teams with the right skills for the future, particularly in hard-to-fill roles which may be less visible to school leavers.

NHS LPP decided to incorporate graduate placements within the organisation in order to develop the next generation of NHS procurement staff. Our Procurement Graduates rotate around our teams, giving the graduates an opportunity to learn in a fast-paced environment, and are typically with us for a two-year period.

Application forms from organisations interested in hosting a graduate starting in autumn 2024 are due Friday 22 September 2023. We strongly encourage our members to take part in this fantastic scheme and help support the future of NHS procurement. For more information, please visit the Pathways 2 NHS Procurement website.

If you are a graduate interested in applying for a place or know someone that is, please view the Graduates page on the Pathways 2 NHS Procurement website. If you are specifically interested in a placement at NHS LPP, please contact Kay.Petken@lpp.nhs.uk.