25th April 2026 marks International Procurement Day! Annually, this day acknowledges the vital role procurement plays in connecting and empowering businesses globally. We wanted to use this day to recognise some key procurement trends and celebrate the high CIPS exam pass rates our procurement apprentices are achieving.
7 Key Procurement Trends for 2026:
Digital Transformation:
AI and machine learning will be key tools to help procurement professionals automate activities and tasks and improve efficiency.
Supplier Relationships:
Stronger partnerships with suppliers will be crucial for building resilient supply chains and achieving sustainability goals.
Sustainability:
Sustainability is no longer optional; procurement professionals will need to champion sustainable practices within their organizations.
Risk Management:
Procurement needs to be proactive in identifying and mitigating potential risks, including supply chain disruptions and compliance issues.
Regulatory Changes:
The new UK Procurement Act and other changes will impact public sector procurement and require professionals to stay informed and compliant.
Focus on Data and Analytics:
Procurement professionals will need to be able to harness data and analytics to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the curve. A recent worldwide survey by Amazon identified that 65% of procurement decision-makers now use digital analytics tools.
Evolving Market Conditions:
Global economic shifts and changing consumer demands will impact procurement strategies, including the rise of personalised products and on-demand services.
Celebrating CIPS and Apprenticeship Success
Over the last 8 years The Apprentice Academy has supported over 200 organisations and 600 procurement professionals to gain their CIPS qualifications via the apprenticeship route.
International Procurement Day presents the perfect opportunity to share some learner stories.
Firstly, we need to recognise the incredible CIPS exam results that our procurement apprentices achieved in the last year (Jan 2025 – Dec 2025). The table below shows our learner results versus international success rates:
| Level | Exam Module | Global Pass Rate | Apprentice Academy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | M1 – Procurement & Supply Environments | 73% | 83% Higher |
| 3 | M2 – Ethical Procurement & Supply | 82% | 89% Higher |
| 3 | M3 – Contract Administration | 73% | 83% Higher |
| 3 | M4 – Team Dynamics & Change | 84% | 86% Higher |
| 3 | M5 – Socially Responsible Procurement | 83% | 90% Higher |
| 4 | M1 – Scope & Influence of Procurement & Supply | 57% | 67% Higher |
| 4 | M2 – Defining Business Need | 71% | 94% Higher |
| 4 | M3 – Commercial Contracting | 62% | 83% Higher |
| 4 | M4 – Ethical & Responsible Sourcing | 77% | 77% Higher |
| 4 | M5 – Commercial Negotiation | 75% | 94% Higher |
| 4 | M6 – Supplier Relationships | 81% | 90% Higher |
| 4 | M7 – Whole Life Asset Management | 82% | 91% Higher |
| 4 | M8 – Procurement & Supply in Practice | 70% | 85% Higher |
| 5 | M1 – Managing Teams and Individuals | 83% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M2 – Managing Supply Chain Risk | 86% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M3 – Managing Contractual Risk | 82% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M4 – Advanced Contract and Financial Management | 69% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M5 – Managing Ethical Procurement and Supply | 92% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M6 – Category Management | 91% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M8 – Project and Change Management | 82% | 100% Higher |
| 5 | M15 – Advanced Negotiation | 89% | 100% Higher |
Click a column heading to sort. Figures show percentage of candidates who passed each exam.
Learner Stories & Achievements
First up, Evri Procurement Apprentice Abbie, who appeared in one of our previous news stories as being nominated for an apprenticeship award, went on to win the ‘Highly Commended’ award at the Yorkshire and Humberside Apprenticeship and Skills Awards!
https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:share:7249737387428253697?collapsed=1
We interviewed 5 procurement apprentices and asked them to share their apprenticeship stories with us and how it has supported them in their work:
Procurement Apprenticeship Programmes
Apprenticeships provide a clear pathway for career development, offering opportunities to gain industry-recognised qualifications and practical experience. Our Apprenticeship programmes are designed to equip learners with essential skills and knowledge for the procurement and supply chain industry. We offer Level 3, 4, and 5 courses, each tailored to different career stages. These qualifications are delivered by industry-experienced, CIPS-qualified tutors, with additional support from CIPS qualified learning coaches. Here is a summary of each level:
Level 3 Procurement and Supply Assistant Apprenticeship:
- Ideal for newcomers to procurement.
- Covers procurement environments, ethical procurement, and operations.
- Leads to CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate.
Level 4 Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship:
- For experienced professionals wanting to fill gaps in knowledge and skill
- Includes supply chain management, contract management, and negotiation.
- Leads to CIPS Level 4 Diploma.
Level 4 & 5 Procurement / Project Manager:
- The perfect progression route to become MCIPS qualified.
- Focuses on strategic procurement, risk management, and leadership.
- Leads to CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma
For those looking to upskill in data analytics we also offer our Level 3 Data Technician and Level 4 Data Analytics Apprenticeships. For more information on any of our services please Contact us today.