HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SKILLS IN SALES, MARKETING AND PROCUREMENT

An extensive review has been launched into how skills training supports the sales, marketing and procurement professions and we want to hear from you. 

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical education (IfATE) makes sure apprenticeships, T Levels, and Higher Technical Qualifications are high quality and fill the economy’s skills gaps through supporting employers, who understand their training needs best, to design and approve them. This in turn benefits trainees as they can feel confident they are learning skills that businesses need and will therefore support them into successful careers.

IfATE are presenting employers – along with training providers, awarding organisations and wider stakeholders – with a unique opportunity to shape the future of skills training for sales, marketing and procurement through a public consultation that launches on 14 November 2022 and a series of webinars. 

Jennifer Coupland, chief executive of IfATE said: “This is a brilliant opportunity to provide vital insights on how well current training is working and help change things for the better. Our nation needs a highly skilled and diverse workforce that will support businesses through the current economic challenges to be more productive. I would urge everyone who cares about the future of sales, marketing, and procurement to play your part and take part in our consultation.”

There are currently 35 apprenticeships for the sales, marketing, and procurement industry from level 2 (GCSE equivalent) up to levels 6 and 7 (degree level). There were 26,000 starts on them last year, which was up 37% on the previous year.

The programme is expanding, with new Higher Technical Qualifications coming soon and a Marketing T Level due to be taught from September 2025. 

They all follow occupational standards that employers design with support from IfATE. These identify the knowledge, skills, and behaviours that must be learned for students to prove they are work ready. 

Sales, marketing and procurement route panel chair, Godfrey Moger, who is associate commercial director at the Disclosure and Barring Service said: 

“This is an exciting opportunity for the sales, marketing, and procurement sectors to contribute to the future of apprenticeships and technical education. We have registered a significant number of starts on apprenticeships and the programme is expanding. This route review is therefore the perfect opportunity to understand how products are working for our sectors. Please do take the time to engage with the review and provide feedback, either via the online consultation, one of the webinars, or by contacting the IfATE’s sales, marketing, and procurement team.”    

For more information contact [email protected]

There will be further opportunities to share view and insights through the following webinars: 

November/December: 

• Customer Service: 30 November 2022 at 10:30 – 12:00  
  Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Customer Service Webinar Tickets, Wed 30 Nov 2022 at 10:30 | Eventbrite 

• Procurement: 30 November 2022 at 14:00 – 15:30 
  Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Procurement Pathway Webinar Tickets, Wed 30 Nov 2022 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

• Marketing: 1 December 2022 10:00-11:30  
  Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Marketing Pathway Webinar Tickets, Thu 1 Dec 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

• Sales & Retail: 1 December 2022 13:00-14:30  
  Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Sales & Retail Webinar Tickets, Thu 1 Dec 2022 at 13:00 | Eventbrite

January: 

• Sales & Retail: 9 January 2023 at 10:30-12:00   Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Sales & Retail Webinar Tickets, Mon 9 Jan 2023 at 10:30 | Eventbrite

• Customer Service: 10 January 2023 at 10:30-12:00  Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Customer Service Webinar Tickets, Tue 10 Jan 2023 at 10:30 | Eventbrite

• Marketing: 11 January 2023 at 10:30-12:00 Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Marketing Pathway Webinar Tickets, Wed 11 Jan 2023 at 10:30 | Eventbrite

• Procurement: 12 January 2023 at 10:30-12:00   Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Procurement Pathway Webinar Tickets, Thu 12 Jan 2023 at 10:30 | Eventbrite

February:  

• Sales & Retail: 9 February 2023 at 14:00-15:30 Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Sales & Retail Webinar Tickets, Thu 9 Feb 2023 at 14:00 | Eventbrite  

• Customer Service: 14 February 2023 at 10:00-11:30   Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Customer Service Webinar Tickets, Tue 14 Feb 2023 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

• Marketing: 15 February 2023 at 10:00-11:30   Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Marketing Pathway Webinar Tickets, Wed 15 Feb 2023 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

• Procurement: 16 February 2023 at 10:00-11:30 Sales, Marketing and Procurement Route Review – Procurement Pathway Webinar Tickets, Thu 16 Feb 2023 at 10:00 | Eventbrite