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Good purchasing practice will support Aberdeen city’s drive to provide public services and support the oil and gas industry

The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply1 (CIPS) is holding a special event in Aberdeen to discuss these issues with other purchasing professionals, business and civil servants. The event will focus on how purchasing techniques can save money, bring value and more credibility as the public and private sectors strive to meet targets and bottom-line savings.

CIPS CEO David Noble who is the only non-executive in the UK Cabinet Office’s Procurement Executive Board is at the event and will deliver his ideas on these goals and how good purchasing practice can ‘seize the opportunity’ to deliver.

He says: “Purchasing and supply management has never been more essential. There are real challenges being faced by local government now and the purchasing profession is there to help, support and deliver these objectives.

We have also developed a sector-specific programme for the oil and gas sector, and invite anyone in the industry to join us. The programme is already delivering top-level competency skills and is designed by CIPS to reflect corporate objectives of the companies involved, identifying skills gaps and to help attendees develop a deeper understanding of how procurement adds value for the North Sea oil and gas sector.”

A number of companies have already signed up to the programme, including: ConocoPhillips, KCA Deutag, Marathon, Petrofac, Prosafe, Aker Solutions, Apache, Craig International, Schlumberger; Fairfield Energy; Halliburton; Wood Group and Total.

Steve Johnson, Head of Global Procurement & Supply Chain Management, Prosafe Offshore Limited, one of companies involved in the programme said: “CIPS has built an industry supply chain management training programme specifically for the Aberdeen Oil & Gas Industry. Any organisation from operator to SME can put one or two people on a training programme with other oil & gas companies from the different tiers across the industry. It allows individuals to engage in an industry-based CIPS accredited training programme with real case studies and real potential for a return on investment for the employer. This is an excellent example of how, working together, the different sectors of the industry have pooled knowledge and resources to create something of benefit to all supply chain practitioners and the oil & gas supply chain in particular.”

The event is being held on 5 August at 12 noon, at the Aberdeenshire Cricket Club, Morningside Road, Mannofield, Aberdeen AB10 7FB. Pre-booking not required.