The Leading Global Procurement Awards | CIPS Excellence in Procurement

OPEN FOR ENTRIES

Extended early bird entry deadline: Thursday 9 April

NEW DECADE, NEW LOOK, NEW AWARDS

In celebration of 20 years of the CIPS Supply Management Awards, we have evolved to bring you a new Awards fit for the new decade. Introducing…

Excellence in Procurement Awards, by CIPS

Procurement and supply is a pivotal function within any organisation, constantly shaping and transforming your business for the better. Procurement excellence in our profession is truly worth celebrating, recognising and rewarding. More than ever, outstanding teams and projects deserve the spotlight.

The Excellence in Procurement Awards will fully encompass, reward and honour the entire procurement and supply chain profession. As well as our new look and name, these Awards see the introduction of new categories, a simplified entry process and a new downloadable entry guide to make entering even easier!

Save the date

Join us on Wednesday 16 September at the Excellence in Procurement Awards to network and celebrate with over 1000 top procurement professionals.

Key Information

Key Dates

Extended early bird entry deadline: Thursday 9 April

Final entry deadline: Thursday 7 May

Shortlist announced: Thursday 11 June

Awards ceremony: Wednesday 16 September

Entry Fees

Early bird entry fees

Team categories - £160

Young Talent - £60

Final deadline entry fees:

Team categories - £210

Young Talent - £110

Price per entry. Prices listed exclude VAT

Categories

Team categories

Best Sustainability Project of the Year

Recognising social, environmental and responsible procurement projects.

This category encompasses social, environmental and responsible procurement projects. These can be either procurement-led or organisation-led initiatives, but must evidence the specific procurement or supply chain role in the project’s success.

Best Initiative to Deliver Social Value through Procurement

Recognising procurement projects that deliver significant social value outputs.

This category is open to both public and private sector organisations that are using innovative sourcing and contracting initiatives to deliver social value.

Best Initiative to Build a Diverse Supply Base

Recognising supplier diversity excellence.

This category is for organisations that have implemented successful supplier diversity projects that have unlocked innovation and strategic business results, as well as opening up opportunities for organisations that are diverse in size, ownership or mission.

Best Practice in Supply Chain Integration

Recognising excellence in strategic supply chain integration.

This category rewards procurement teams who have successfully implemented innovative supply chain solution improvements, for example improved supply chain visibility or greater integration with the business.

Public Procurement Project of the Year

Recognising public sector procurement excellence.

This category is open to all public sector bodies and rewards projects that demonstrate how procurement has successfully managed public sector specific challenges or opportunities.

Global Sourcing Project of the Year

Recognising competitive advantage through global sourcing.

This category rewards innovative global sourcing or multi-shoring projects that deliver competitive advantage and exploit market opportunities whilst mitigating supply chain risks.

Best Supplier Relationship Management Initiative

Recognising collaborative SRM projects.

This category can include specific supplier relationship projects or an overarching SRM strategy development project and should demonstrate the processes and mechanisms that the procurement team and supplier have put in place to work together on a successful project. Examples may be supplier development projects, new product development or innovation projects. Joint entries with suppliers are encouraged.

Procurement Consultancy Project of the Year

Recognising successful procurement consultancy projects.

This category is open to both procurement teams and consultancy firms who have delivered strategic business improvement projects. Submissions must be case study-led demonstrating how the consultancy firm delivered procurement excellence.

Best use of Digital Technology

Recognising innovative technology projects that deliver significant results.

This category is open to procurement or supply chain teams showcasing successful technology projects that have made significant business impact. Technology providers may also enter case study-led projects where they have worked in partnership with the procurement organisation.

Best Approach to Risk Mitigation

Recognising excellence in supply chain risk management.

This category rewards teams who have successfully managed business risk in order to safeguard their organisations against cost or reputational damage, or mitigated risk within the business or supply chain to gain competitive advantage.

Outstanding People Development Programme

Recognising excellence in professional procurement capability development.

This category rewards training or development programmes that have substantially raised the capability and influence of the procurement or supply chain team, leading to improved performance, results and business integration. Judges are looking for programmes that develop teams beyond traditional, technical procurement skills.

Best Collaborative Teamwork Project

Recognising successful cross-functional teamwork projects.

This category rewards procurement teams who have implemented successful projects, for example a sourcing project or business process improvement initiative, working collaboratively with internal teams or departments.

Outstanding Diversity and Inclusion Practices in Procurement Teams

Recognising diversity in procurement and supply chain teams.

This category rewards procurement teams who have integrated D&I developing a culture and embedding practices that allow the most skilled and talented people to succeed regardless of age, gender, race, physical abilities or sexual orientation.

Best Procurement Transformation Programme

Recognising procurement transformation projects.

This category is for transformation or large scale business process improvement projects that have resulted in improved business outcomes or competitive advantage. Projects can be procurement–led or wider organisational projects, but they must explicitly explain procurements’ role and influence on delivering the outcomes.

Procurement Team of the Year – Large Organisation

Recognising high performing procurement teams.

This category rewards procurement teams who have made significant improvements to their performance and culture resulting in increased effectiveness, influence, efficiencies, savings or competitive advantage.

Open to organisations with a turnover of £500m and over.

Procurement Team of the Year – Small Organisation

Individual categories

Leader of the Year (not open for entry)

Recognising the most influential procurement leader

This award recognises the most influential procurement leader who is pushing procurement and supply strategy forward and making a positive contribution to the reputation of the profession, through the value they deliver to their own organisations and the work they do to raise the profile of the profession more widely.

This category is not open for entry. The Leader of the Year will be selected, by a small independent panel, from the 2020 Procurement Power List.

Young Talent

Recognising the most influential up and coming procurement talent.

This award will be presented to the profession's ‘one to watch’ and is open to MCIPS members, or those studying towards MCIPS, aged 30 or under. The judges will look for evidence of achievement that is significant and beyond what is normally expected from managers of this age and experience.

How to enter

Please be aware there is a new entry submission process for 2020 so we do encourage you to log into the Entry System early to familiarise yourself before making your submission as all information is now submitted via the online form into the boxes provided.

Download the Entry Kit to learn more about the categories and entry process. This PDF details all the information you need to know about submitting your entry.

All entries must upload a statement of endorsement of the award entry from the CEO/CFO or equivalent.

*Please note that only the Procurement Consultancy Project of the Year category is open to consultants.

View entry guide

How to win

Why Enter

With entries judged by some of the leading minds within the sector, winning an Excellence in Procurement Award is the most prestigious recognition an organisation or individual in the profession can receive.

Here's just a few reasons why you should enter....

Benchmarking

Prove that you are the best in the industry - benchmark yourself and beat your competitors.

Motivation and reward

Putting together an entry recognises and celebrates the teams behind your successes. After all, who wouldn't want to be crowned the best in your profession?

Have your work judged by the best

Our prestigious judging panel of industry leaders and influencers will review and determine who is exemplifying best practice and the highest standards the industry can offer.

Showcase your work

If shortlisted your work will be showcased in front of 1000 of the world’s leading procurement and supply professionals on the Awards night, as well as to an audience of 200,000 procurement and supply influencers across both the CIPS and Supply Management channels.

Attract the best talent

Winning an Award will help with recruiting. Potential employees will be more attracted to a company who can prove they are leading the way in their profession.

Increase your credibility

Whilst also endorsing your company’s brand, proving you, your team and your company stand out from the crowd.

Testimonials

Vodafone Procurement Group

"The external validation that winning the award gave us, helped us to promote the work of our team within the business and, when speaking to external parties, helped us to reinforce our credibility and reputation."

Procurement Transformation, 2019 Winner

Barclays

"The colleagues in Procurement and wider Barclays have not only felt a sense of pride through winning the award but it has set a bar of best-in-class which drives a high-standard on all of our activity."

Diversity and Inclusion, 2019 Winner

J Sainsbury

"To see our success recognised by CIPS has been very motivating and inspiring for all the team. The response from our internal stakeholders and supply base has been very positive, many acknowledging how well we deserved such an award."

Procurement Team of the Year - Large Organisation, 2019 Winner

How to win

Follow our top tips to make the most of this opportunity to shout about your success

Read the entry kit

This PDF details all the information you need to know about submitting your entry. Take note that this year the entry process and requirements are different - all information is now submitted via the online form into the boxes provided. The only uploaded information will be supporting material.

Does it fit the brief?

Ensure you have carefully read the category and criteria description and are answering the questions asked. This may sound simple, but you'll be surprised how many entries miss the brief.

Plan ahead

Leave enough time to complete the process by the deadline and don't leave it to the last minute. Log into the Entry System early to see what's required from you. It's often difficult to appreciate how good a project is when you've been involved with it, so share your story with other teams in your organisation to get their feedback before submitting.

Evidence your claims

Use results to provide evidence for what you've achieved and help validate your entry. You may, if you wish, upload up to three additional single sided pages of supporting material to support your entry. All entries must also upload a statement of endorsement of the award entry from the CEO/CFO or equivalent.

Think like a judge

How can you make your entry stand out to the judges? What is your hook? Remember first impressions count. The judges may not have prior knowledge of your company or project so give some background.

Finally, don't break the rules

The judges take a dim view of submissions that break the rules and will mark you down. If you can't fit your entry within the allocated word count it's too long. Don't try to cheat the system by including information in your supporting material that is central to your case - the judges will expect to see this in your main submission.