Lynn has recently completed the CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate and CIPS Level 4 Diploma. We asked Lynn to tell us a bit about herself, and how she found her experience of studying with DLC Training.

Thank you for taking time to provide us with information about yourself, your career background, and the learning experience with DLC Training. To start off with, please could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

A keen amateur photographer (landscape, architecture, wildlife) who needs to find a lot more time to indulge my interest. On my own doorstep, London is a photographer’s paradise and I enjoy taking time out to simply hop on a tube to go exploring. Equally fun, of course, is exploring the UK and I can combine this with my interest in medieval history.

Originally from Malawi, educated in Scotland and working in London since 1986. My professional career has taken a few turns: beginning in a multi-national hotel company, then to the trading floor of a US investment bank, then an international property company and then to programme management support roles in two large multi-national companies. The key feature in all of these is the centralised nature of the roles to ensure all contractual “plates keep spinning” while the programme teams work to actually deliver the contracts. Stressful at times but equally very rewarding in terms of satisfaction when outcomes and goals are successfully achieved.

Please explain your job role with a little description about what you do?
A Commercial Manager supporting large scale, long term UKI Public Sector contracts involving both supplier and client contract management skills in addition to in depth financial management. The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply perfectly aligns to this role with the focus on contractual management.

What has been you career progression route?
Project Coordination skills developed in multiple UKI Public Sector programme management office roles gaining skills and knowledge via ever more complex and long term programmes, which has led to my current role as a Commercial Manager in a centralised position.

Which Course you studied with DLC Training and why?
CIPS Levels 3 and 4. To develop further my knowledge and skills in this area and, importantly, to gain globally recognised qualifications that will assist me further in my career progression and also be recognised for taking my personal development so seriously that I will fund it directly myself.

Can you describe how you have been able to use your learning within your workplace?
In my role I liaise with suppliers to my organisation, developing their contracts and coordinating ongoing change management activities to ensure those contracts remain current and correct through the lifetime of the programmes. In a similar way, I also liaise with the clients of my organisation and work with their contracts and the crucial change management processes to ensure contracts are accurate and reflect the current view. Everything that is captured within the CIPS study levels is reflected in my current role.

If you would recommend your course to another professional looking to develop themselves can you please detail why and how it would help?
The CIPS course gives you the formal skills, knowledge and tools to ensure you will be acting professionally and ethically. Learning “on the job” from other resources may mean that bad practice is passed on or useful tools remain unknown. The formal recognition of this qualification and the membership of CIPS is highly valued and respected. Since studying for this course, I have found so many other CIPS members within both the suppliers and client teams I work with which creates a separate level of synergy.

How have you found your learning experience overall?
Without doubt it has been hard getting back into habit of studying and then sitting exams. After so many years away from formal learning, it did take a while for me to get “into a groove” that suited my learning style.

Any other comments you would like to include?
The DLC tutors and support teams have been very supportive throughout and the exam revision training on the website has been invaluable. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that, if I had not had that ongoing support and guidance, I would have seriously struggled to achieve the results I did.