This apprenticeship has been retired
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Supporting the transformation of the way public services are delivered while securing best value for taxpayers' money.
This standard should not be used for new starts. For any new starts please use the Commercial Procurement and Supply standard.
Those achieving Public Sector Commercial Level 4 will develop commercial capability that is vital in the public sector and valued across every sector. In the public sector a commercial professional’s role is to support the transformation of the way that the best quality public services are delivered, whilst securing value for taxpayers’money. Experience will be gained working on high-profile, high-value, high-risk projects that affect millions of people and are worth billions of pounds each year.
The work of commercial professionals in the public sector includes the process of procurement, or buying goods and services; however, a commercial role is much broader than just procurement. This role extends to a huge range of related commercial activity such as influencing commercial policy, financial analysis, engaging in contract law, and developing strategy to deliver public services. In the public sector the variety of goods and services that commercial professionals are responsible for is vast: goods could range from buying a tank or submarine for the military, to negotiating new trains on behalf of Transport for London. Securing services could include: finding new and innovative IT systems, outsourcing translation services for a local magistrate court or closing a deal on a construction project for a new school or prison.
A good commercial professional will support their organisation in sourcing and negotiating the best deals on goods and services. To fulfil this role an individual must develop skills and knowledge across all three aspects of the commercial lifecycle: pre-procurement, sourcing and contract management. Responsibilities in pre-procurement may include analysis of suppliers in the market and consideration of the best strategy to deliver the good or service. The sourcing process involves securing a contractual agreement with a supplier who is to provide the good or service. Finally, a contract management role comprises of day-to-day management of existing contracts; ultimately ensuring the good or service is being delivered to an acceptable standard. Achieving Level 4 in Public Sector Commercial will enable an individual to use their breadth and depth of experience to position themselves as a fully effective commercially skilled professional with career options that span from public to private and charity sectors.
The Following tables explain the skills, knowledge and behaviours required from a successful apprentice on completion of the programme.
Knowledge |
A Level 4 Commercial Professional Must be Able to Know and Understand |
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Context of Procurement |
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Pre-procurement and Early Market Engagement |
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Sourcing and Contract Agreements |
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Contract and Supplier Management |
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Category Management |
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Skills |
A Level 4 Commercial Professional Must be Able to Do |
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Pre- procurement and Early Market Engagement |
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Sourcing and Contract Agreements |
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Contract and Supplier Management |
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Behaviours |
How a Level 4 Commercial Professional Must Behave |
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Thinking Commercially |
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Changing, Improving and Learning |
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Communicating and Collaborating |
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Working Efficiently and Effectively |
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Commitment to Deliver Quality Public Services |
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The apprenticeship will typically take 2 years to complete.
Prior to the end point assessment there is a requirement to achieve the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply Diploma in Procurement and Supply Operations (CIPS Level 4).
On completion of CIPS level 4 candidates are eligible for Diploma level membership of the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply. CIPS Level 4 is a necessary pre-requisite for MCIPS (Level 6), which enables full professional registration and potential for chartered status.
The standard will be reviewed after 3 years (from date of approval).
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Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date | Latest end date |
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Revised version awaiting implementation | Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised | 15/10/2024 | Not set | Not set |
2.1 | End-point assessment plan revised | 13/04/2023 | 14/10/2024 | Not set |
2.0 | Standard and End-point assessment plan revised. | 09/09/2017 | 12/04/2023 | Not set |
1.0 | Approved for delivery | 03/02/2016 | 08/09/2017 | Not set |