NEPO expand leading procurement apprenticeship programme in partnership with training experts SRSCC

By Brett Sharkey, NEPO's Organisational Development Specialist

Two years ago, NEPO designed the Regional Procurement Apprenticeship Programme to cultivate the next generation of procurement leaders across the North East. Developed in close collaboration with its 12 member local authorities, this initiative has created new sustainable career pathways.

Over the last decade, the procurement sector has changed significantly. Roles now require a mix of strong technical skills: commercial strategy, compliance, category management, contract, and supplier management, alongside a range of soft skills.

NEPO has partnered with SR Supply Chain Consultants (SRSCC), a leading Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Centre of Excellence provider specialising in procurement, supply chain, business, and leadership training. With flexible delivery options and an OFSTED ‘Good’ rating, SRSCC boasts outstanding results, including a 100% apprenticeship pass rates with zero End Point Assessment (EPA) failures. Their CIPS exam pass rates significantly exceed national averages across all levels.

Co-designed by NEPO's Organisational Development Specialist Brett Sharkey and SRSCC Director Greg Jackson, this partnership equips learners with lifelong procurement skills for new public sector careers that didn't exist a decade ago.

An apprenticeship programme to bridge the skills gap

Procurement teams are asked to respond to new and emerging requirements, including the use of data, automation, and AI. Most organisations do not yet have an established pipeline of people who have developed these skills from the outset of their careers.

NEPO’s Regional Procurement Apprenticeship is designed to address the skills gap within procurement by developing people with the right technical foundations, alongside the behaviours, confidence, and the commercial mindset needed for modern public sector procurement.

Greg Jackson, director at SRSCC and co-designer of the programme commented: “What has been extremely exciting for us, is that NEPO has been the only organisation we worked with that really aimed to address and fix the skills gap within the procurement sector. Our success would not be possible without everyone involved: line managers, additional needs teaching assistants, local authorities and without the buy-in from NEPO. They are all committed to giving these young people the procurement knowledge and skills they need, while supporting them all the way.”

The Programme launched in 2024 with seven apprentices in NEPO, and one in North Tyneside, who completed their Level 4 in Commercial Procurement and Supply by January 2026. The cohort is now advancing to CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma and Level 6 Senior Procurement Supply Chain Professional programmes, with one securing a full time role within a member authority.

Brett Sharkey said of the programme: “Our apprentices have demonstrated their potential as procurement professionals of the future. Our programme has accelerated their careers. Our apprentices are also helping bring through the next generation of Member Authority apprentices, by acting as mentors to those new to the sector.”

Apprenticeship success stories from across the region

Apprentices on the programme are rapidly emerging as future NEPO leaders through confident supplier engagement, strong exam performance, and internal progression, building skills for life.

Will Quinn, Procurement Assistant at NEPRO said: “I joined NEPO in 2024 as part of the Regional Procurement Apprenticeship Programme, working towards my CIPS qualification. I've gained valuable experience working on the Fleet and Facilities Management team. Now with NEPRO, I have the brilliant opportunity to continue developing my knowledge and skills, which I'm really enjoying.”

A considerable success of the programme has been the change within the wider organisation. The programme has transformed the culture at NEPO. Line managers have shifted from initial uncertainty to embracing apprentices as future colleagues, actively collaborating with Greg and SRSCC on course content to foster a forward-thinking learning environment.

The programme succeeds through pragmatic design, blending hybrid learning with face-to-face support to suit apprentices across diverse North East and Tees Valley authorities, driving exceptional first time exam pass rates.

Innovations like responsible AI training and practical workshops are used to address post-Covid employability gaps by developing apprentices’ soft skills.

Future proofing regional procurement with bespoke apprenticeships

Rather than competing for a limited pool of experienced professionals, the programme helps create the skills the region needs for the future. Our programme also helps us to create individuals who are engaged and loyal to the public sector.

The latest North East cohort from Durham, Northumberland, Gateshead, and North Tyneside Councils has now completed interactive soft skills onboarding with Brett and SRSCC. NEPO and SRSCC are expanding with a Tees Valley cohort of six apprentices, launched at the end of January 2026, bringing the total to 19 apprentices across the programme.

By expanding the programme across the North East and Tees Valley, NEPO is building a robust talent pipeline for local authorities.

This expansion brings new opportunities between NEPO and SRSCC, including exploring latest trends in AI in procurement, the use of data to support decision making and the evolution of the profession. A new marketing apprentice role is going to be available within the next quarter, expanding the programme beyond procurement.