Public Procurement Training Courses

What does public procurement entail?

Any public or government body at times needs to buy goods, services or staff from the private sector or a private company. These purchases might be everyday needs such as office supplies or temporary staff to replace employees temporarily unavailable, or they might be more expensive, far reaching and complex, such as a new computer system or the construction of a new building or transport infrastructure.

The job of public procurement is aimed at meeting these needs. As the funds for these purchases are made from taxpayer's money out of the public purse, careful choices need to be made. The job of public procurement is a responsible one and employees working in that area should be well qualified and have been through one of the many recognised training courses available.

Choosing a public procurement course

A good public procurement training course should provide an understanding of the practices of successful purchase and the ethics involved. Public procurement staff should be trustworthy and responsible in their posts as well as being well trained through a recognised public procurement course.

A course should teach delegates how to make financially wise decisions that will benefit as many people as possible. As such, these courses will lay the groundwork for objective, responsible and ethical purchases and reinforce the commitment and professional conduct of the employees involved in public procurement.

Maximum training flexibility to support your career goals

The courses in public procurement available range from a few hours of ongoing training suited to procurement officers already in post, to longer courses aimed at new employees. Many courses range from granting introductory level certificates through to diplomas, whilst others will be at graduate or post-graduate level.

Some universities in the United Kingdom offer full time or online courses in public procurement. Sometimes these are modular and can be tailored to the needs of the employer or employee. Training can be ongoing with participants returning later to complete the next stage after having had some relevant work experience.

A good course will use a mixture of lectures and interactive exercises to teach both national and international procurement rules, regulations and procedures. Whatever form the course takes, it should lay a sound basis for understanding the laws and ethics of the country and the business involved and teach effective strategies for successful procurement.

The benefits of completing public procurement courses

Job opportunities in public procurement can be international. Some multinational government institutions train their own procurement officers across the world, through several levels of training. Many who complete these course then take the skills of good negotiation and dealing humanely with supply chains they have learnt, in to other areas of the public domain. Whichever route is taken a successful public procurement officer will spend the taxpayer's money wisely, diligently and ethically.