Fully Funded CIPS Level 4 Diploma Bursaries for Education Procurement Professionals
Procurement teams within the education sector are often small but shoulder the significant responsibility of delivering maximum value for their institutions and learners. To support these vital professionals, Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) is once again offering three bursary places for the CIPS Level 4 Diploma this Autumn.
For the second consecutive year, SR Supply Chain Consultants has been selected as the official training provider to deliver tuition for these successful applicants.
What the CPC Bursary Includes
This funding opportunity is driven by CPC’s Giving Back charity, an initiative that has successfully reinvested £2.7 million into the education sector to support various projects.
Successful applicants for the upcoming cohort will receive:
- Fully Funded Tuition: Comprehensive training for the CIPS Level 4 Diploma delivered by SRSCC’s expert tutors.
- Expert Mentoring: Free, dedicated mentoring from Mark Pearson, CPC’s Procurement Learning & Development Lead.
- Spring Start: Commencement of study is scheduled for April 2027.
Celebrating the Class of 2026
We are incredibly proud of the students who successfully achieved their Level 4 CIPS qualifications earlier this year. Balancing demanding roles within colleges and trusts while completing a rigorous professional diploma requires exceptional commitment. Congratulations to the Class of 2026:
- Retno Fawley – Pinnacle Trust (Oldham)
- Carron Harman – Sparsholt College (Hampshire)
- Tom Robertshaw – East Lancashire Learning Group
CPC’s Procurement Learning & Development Lead, Mark Pearson, praised the graduates and highlighted the wider impact of the initiative:
“I’m thrilled we’ve been able to contribute to these members’ professional development and well done again on this fantastic achievement. I’m delighted CPC continues to offer this fantastic opportunity to our 11,000 members this year which is all part of our charitable objective ‘to promote good practice and enhance and improve procurement in education.”
Susan Rashid, CEO at SR Supply Chain Consultants, added:
“We’re proud to be working with CPC again to help procurement professionals in education gain their CIPS Level 4 Diploma. Congratulations to Retno, Carron and Tom. Passing the Diploma while holding down busy roles in colleges and trusts takes real commitment, and it’s been a pleasure supporting them. With education budgets under constant pressure, making every penny count has never mattered more. Procurement teams in education are often small, and the Diploma gives them the knowledge and confidence to secure real value for money for their institutions and learners. We’re looking forward to welcoming the next cohort in April 2027, and we’d encourage any CPC member who’s been thinking about it to apply.”
How to Apply
Applications for the April 2027 intake go live at the end of October.
- Who can apply: Current CPC members can apply directly for this opportunity or nominate a colleague for consideration.
- How to apply: Submissions must be made via the online form on the CPC before the closing date.
- Previous applicants: If you have applied in the past and were unsuccessful, you are encouraged to try again, as the selection process begins with a completely clean slate. Ready to advance your procurement career?
Keep an eye on the CPC website for the application form going live this October. For further guidance and resources, visit the dedicated Crescent Learning hub, which offers comprehensive procurement training courses, templates, and support.
