The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is an independent office of HM Treasury, established to help Government deliver best value from its spending. The Office of Government Commerce works with central Government departments and other public sector organisations to ensure the achievement of six key goals: Delivery of value for money from third party spend; Delivery of projects to time, quality and cost, realising benefits; Getting the best from the Government's £30bn estate; Improving the sustainability of the Government estate and operations, including reducing carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2010-11, through stronger performance management and guidance; Helping achieve delivery of further Government policy goals, including innovation, equality, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs); And driving forward the improvement of central Government capability in procurement, project and programme management, and estates management through the development of people skills, processes and tools.
Now see: Graduate Procurement Graduate Scheme (the graduate scheme of the Office of Government Commerce).
The Graduate Procurement Service is part of the Office of Government Commerce.
The Government Procurement Graduate Scheme (GPGS) is a procurement entry scheme set up and managed by the Government Procurement Service (GPS) in Office of Government Commerce (OGC). GPGS is a key part of the GPS strategy to ensure the availability of top-class procurement professionals for government. The scheme takes trainees through a two-year accelerated learning and development programme, including a variety of placements in procurement roles in their home department and in other departments and agencies.
There are two main elements of the scheme - formal training and exposure to different types of work experience. In the first year the trainees study for the Certificate of Competence in Purchasing and Supply while working on a variety of different projects in their home Department. In the second year the trainees study for the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Graduate Diploma while going one or more external placements in other Departments, agencies, NDPBs or private sector organisations as deemed appropriate by their home Department. OGC GPS funds all the formal training. Once the trainees have finished the two-year scheme a further year's work experience will entitle holders to qualify for full membership of CIPS.
The trainees have a support network including a mentor in their home department, who acts as a guide and helps with their career development. The second year of the scheme has also seen the introduction of a buddy for each new scheme member.
Now in its second year the scheme has allocated ten trainees to the following Departments: Cabinet Office, Department for Children, Schools & Families, Department for Transport, Department for Work & Pensions, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Highways Agency, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, Ministry of Justice (and National Offender Management Service).