SRSCC Apprentice of the Year 2025 | Marcus Dodd

From Level 3 Apprentice to SRSCC 2025 Apprentice of the Year: Marcus Dodd’s Journey

During National Apprenticeship Week 2026, we were proud to recognise Marcus Dodd as SRSCC’s 2025 Apprentice of the Year, alongside receiving our Outstanding Team Player Award.

Marcus’s journey is a powerful example of what can be achieved through commitment, progression, and the practical application of apprenticeship learning in the workplace.

Starting the Journey: Level 3 Foundations

Marcus began his apprenticeship journey with SRSCC on the Level 3 Procurement and Supply programme. From the outset, he demonstrated a strong appetite for learning, quickly building solid technical foundations and professional confidence.

Following his success at Level 3, Marcus progressed onto the Level 4 Procurement and Supply Chain Practitioner apprenticeship — where his development accelerated even further.

SRSCC Apprentice of the Year 2025 | Marcus Dodd

Exceptional Academic and Professional Performance

Marcus has consistently exceeded expectations across every aspect of his apprenticeship.

His academic results have been outstanding, achieving high scores across his CIPS Level 4 units, including:

  • 92% in L4M4
  • 88% in L4M6

 

He has also completed over 720 off-the-job learning hours, significantly exceeding the required 491 hours. His early preparation for End Point Assessment — including independently producing a comprehensive portfolio mapping document and project presentation — was described by his assessor as “head of the game” and “really impressive”.

However, Marcus’s impact extends far beyond academic achievement.

SRSCC Apprentice of the Year 2025 | Marcus Dodd

Delivering Real-World Impact at Cumbria Constabulary

Working within Cumbria Constabulary, Marcus has led high-value procurement activity across multiple categories, including Estates, Fleet, Digital, and Fire Service–specific contracts.

He has also:

  • Strengthened governance and compliance frameworks across a range of contracts

  • Enhanced procurement processes through effective use of e-tendering platforms and reporting tools

  • Reviewed and improved contractual arrangements to ensure best value and robust oversight

  • Led procurement process mapping initiatives to support organisational change

Marcus consistently operates beyond the expectations of his role, regularly mentoring colleagues, including Senior Commercial Officers and new team members.

A Team Effort

Marcus’s success reflects both his personal commitment and the strong support network around him.

His Line Manager, Bridget Whitfield, and SRSCC Progress Mentor, Simon Abram, have played key roles in supporting his development. We were also honoured to have the Assistant Chief Constable join us in congratulating Marcus when we surprised him with his awards — alongside his team, who were fully involved in the celebration.

Leadership, Professionalism and Community Impact

What sets Marcus apart is not just his technical capability, but his professionalism and character.

He is described as reliable, enthusiastic and highly professional. He demonstrates resilience under pressure, reflective practice, and a genuine commitment to excellence.

Beyond his role, Marcus volunteers at a local food bank, where he has applied his procurement expertise to improve stock management and supplier relationships — extending the impact of his apprenticeship learning into the wider community.

What #SkillsForLife Looks Like

Marcus exemplifies the very best of the apprenticeship model.

His journey from Level 3 apprentice to Apprentice of the Year demonstrates how structured learning, workplace application, and professional support combine to create confident, capable procurement professionals.

He does not simply meet expectations — he consistently exceeds them.

We are incredibly proud of Marcus and look forward to seeing his continued progression as he builds on this outstanding achievement.

Develop Procurement Talent in Your Organisation

At SRSCC, we support public and private sector employers in building confident, commercially capable procurement professionals through fully funded apprenticeship programmes.

If you would like to explore how a procurement apprenticeship could strengthen your team, contact us today.

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Discover our CIPS Courses

Our courses are designed to accelerate your career in the procurement and supply chain industries. If you would like to learn more about our courses, call the SRSCC team on 01772 282555 or complete our contact form. Start your journey to success today.

CIPS Level 3

Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations.

CIPS Level 4

Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

CIPS Level 5

Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

CIPS Level 6

Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

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SRSCC Apprentice of the Year 2025 | Marcus Dodd
2026-02-11T13:50:24+00:00
Declan Hemingway
Bethanie Stimpson SRSCC

Bethanie Stimpson

Progress Mentor

Bethanie began her career in the fitness industry, working as a personal trainer and gym instructor before becoming involved in coaching children through a triathlon club. This experience sparked her passion for working with young people and ultimately led her into a career in education. She initially worked in a nursery and later as a one-to-one teaching assistant in a primary school, before completing her teaching qualification and postgraduate studies. Since then, Bethanie has taught in both the private and state education sectors.

Her academic background includes a qualification in Sports Development, Fitness and Coaching at college, alongside a Childhood & Youth undergraduate degree (2:1). These studies have enabled her to combine her interests in sport, education, and child development, shaping her holistic approach to teaching and mentoring.

Bethanie is passionate about supporting learners to achieve their goals — educationally, personally, and in terms of wellbeing. She places strong emphasis on communication and relationship building, and takes great pride in helping individuals build confidence and overcome challenges. One of her proudest achievements has been supporting learners who initially doubted themselves to grow in confidence and achieve success.

Outside of work, Bethanie has always maintained a strong interest in sport. She previously competed in triathlons and now focuses on running and swimming. In 2023, she completed the London Marathon — an achievement she is particularly proud of. She also enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and their two dogs, which is where she is happiest when not working.

Jazz Bachra SRSCC

Jazz Bachra

Apprenticeship Skills Coach

With over fifteen years of experience in leadership and learning development, Jazz is an accomplished coach and mentor who is passionate about helping individuals achieve their full potential.

He specialises in delivering customer-focused strategies that drive brand differentiation and sustainable business growth, built on a foundation of colleague engagement and continuous learning.
Jazz holds a BA (Hons) in Micro Computing Business Applications from the British Columbian Institute of Technology and a BTEC National Diploma in Business and Computing from London College. He has also achieved a range of professional qualifications, including Education and Training Level 3, and multiple apprenticeship standards such as Operations Manager Level 5, Retail Manager Level 4, and Team Leader Level 3.

Throughout his career, Jazz has developed and inspired high-performing teams across a variety of sectors, creating environments that encourage accountability, growth, and collaboration. His experience includes designing and delivering impactful training programmes, coaching learners to distinction-level results, and building meaningful partnerships with organisations nationwide.

Outside of work, Jazz enjoys keeping active at the gym, playing football, travelling having previously lived in Vancouver, Canada and listening to a wide range of music. He also enjoys relaxing with a good film.

Jack Callaghan

Jack Moore

Operations Team Leader

In December 2023, Jack joined SRSCC as an Operations Coordinator and quickly established himself as a key member of the team.

Promoted to Team Leader in October 2024, Jack utilises his expertise in auditing processes and innovative problem-solving to identify and enhance growth opportunities.

Jack possesses a strong ability to analyse and refine systems and procedures, consistently uncovering chances for streamlining and automation that drive operational efficiency. He excels at communicating complex ideas with clarity and precision.

Detail-oriented yet big-picture focused, Jack applies his exceptional organisational skills to ensure the team adopts the most effective strategies for achieving both individual and collective goals.

His methodical approach and strategic mindset make Jack an invaluable asset to SRSCC, significantly contributing to the team’s success and the realisation of organisational objectives.