Of course it’s a good, solid conversation to have. But one thing that strikes me is that I rarely hear people recommending procurement as a profession worth getting into – least of all to their kids. Sure, it can be a hugely varied and fulfilling career. It can involve having relationships with all stakeholders in the business; include foreign travel, good salaries and huge amounts of responsibility…

But would you recommed procurement to your kids?

Most of today’s procurement professionals happened upon their roles. I’m not suggesting they don’t deserve them, rather that procurement turned out to be the right way to go rather than being a long-term professional objective.

How many of us were told at school that procurement would make a good, solid career? Not many, if any at all. How many of us decided procurement was where they wanted to be before we got there? Again, not many.

Until this changes, until we recommend pursuing a career in procurement to our kids, the profession will always be one, two, maybe three steps behind the likes of law, accountancy and finance. Not to mention marketing and sales.

So, would you recommend a career in procurement to your kids? I suspect probably not.