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Government launches graduate procurement scheme for 2009

Published: Wednesday, 15 April 2009   Category: Sales and marketing

With preparations for the London 2012 Olympics well underway, the government has launched its graduate Government Procurement Service (GPS) scheme.

The graduate scheme, now in its third year, is offering 25 university leavers with a 2:1 degree the opportunity to gain two years of experience in the procurement industry, buying goods and services for organisations involved in the Olympics, according to the Guardian.

Procurement is a challenging industry to work in, involving a myriad of skills including research, networking, relationship building and negotiation, according to graduates already on the scheme.

Alex Holden, senior entry schemes project manager for the GPS, told the newspaper: "Our graduate trainees are parachuted into different government departments, so they could be procuring medical equipment for the NHS, or negotiating with stakeholders and evaluating tenders to build the Olympic stadium."

Graduate public sector jobs will be provided by the government in a scheme to be unveiled by universities and skills secretary John Denham, which involves a £53 million funding to create 30,000 positions, according to the Independent.