Scott Dance joined Hays in 2002 and is a Senior Client Engagement Director of Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain for the UK and Ireland. With over twenty years’ experience, Scott leads the longstanding partnership with CIPS as a trusted exclusive recruitment knowledge partner and provides strategic leadership to Hays’ procurement and supply chain recruitment experts. Scott is also an affiliate member of CIPS and often conducts workshops both nationally and locally for CIPS on recruitment trends and solutions.
With the skills shortage putting a strain on many procurement functions we caught up with Scott in this quick fire question round.
Scott, procurement wants the proverbial seat at the table. What does it need to do to earn that seat? What can procurement achieve with this seat?
To enable procurement to have a more prevalent position within organisations, it’s vital for procurement professionals to be seen, heard and respected. It’s a good idea for a procurement expert to attend board meetings, where they can present every other month for instance and have their strategic input and advice taken into account. It’s even more crucial for procurement to have a voice at the senior level of organisations as they have a holistic and unbiased view of the crucial parts of a business, including where money is being spent, a company’s ESG agenda and DE&I goals. Procurement should be able to influence the strategic direction of an organisation and help drive a business forward, hence the importance of acknowledging their insights, bringing them into the conversation and giving them a seat at the table.
Procurement is evolving at pace. The pace of change often calls for new skill sets and disciplines within a team. What value can Procurement source from adding non procurement skilled staff to their teams?
Having a workforce comprised of people from different walks of life is crucial for keeping up with the pace of change within the world of work, and the procurement sector is no exception. Professionals who have different lived experiences are often equipped with new perspectives, ideas and expertise they can bring to the table to enlighten their colleagues who may have only ever worked within procurement. Crucially, the fresh thinking that non procurement skilled staff can contribute will help drive innovation, which is a vital part of the entire procurement process.
Do you need to be a qualified procurement practitioner to be a successful member of a procurement team?
In recent times, there has been more focus on the importance of skills and potential and less emphasis on degrees as essential to securing a good job. Whilst this does depend on the specific role and level, as long as the candidate in question has an expansive set of transferable skills, and a willingness to learn and adapt, they can become an invaluable part of any procurement team.
Particularly in light of the ongoing skills shortages, the procurement sector is in need of fresh talent, so employers would benefit from nurturing an untapped talent pool, by providing opportunities to those without qualifications and supporting them to qualify on the job. This will also help to encourage more young professionals into the industry and importantly inspire the next generation.
That being said, whilst certifications are not a necessity, following the qualification route certainly helps to demonstrate your commitment to the profession and your career. The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) offer highly credible qualifications to significantly enhance a candidates career prospects and support them to thrive within the world of procurement and supply. Formal training can help you to enhance your skills, overcome challenges, build resilience and develop a gravitas amongst your peers, especially as you progress to more senior level roles within the sector.