At a glance

NEPO, a public sector procurement organisation in North East England, has been awarded the region's SME Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 2026 at the National Apprenticeship Awards. The award recognises NEPO's Regional Procurement Apprenticeship Programme, which successfully develops public sector procurement professionals and boasts a high first-time exam pass rate. This programme, launched in 2024 with 12 local authorities, addresses the procurement skills gap and supports workforce development in the region.

One of the UK’s leading public sector procurement organisations, based in North East England, NEPO, has been named the region’s SME Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 2026 at the National Apprenticeship Awards.

The award recognises its Regional Procurement Apprenticeship Programme, which is growing the next generation of public sector procurement professionals across the region.

The regional winners were announced on Wednesday 30 September at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead. NEPO won in one of the evening’s most competitive categories.

Entries go through a rigorous, quality-assured judging process led by a panel of independent judges from the region. The judges praised NEPO’s collaboration across the North East and Tees Valley and its clear vision for apprentices as a strategic part of local authority workforces. They also highlighted how apprentices are helping teams grow through succession planning, and the programme’s impact on the learner experience.

Its apprentices achieve a first-time CIPS exam pass rate of more than 94%, the highest in the country.

NEPO launched the programme in 2024 with the 12 North East local authorities to tackle the procurement skills gap facing the public sector. It brings new talent into the profession and gives existing staff, known as upskillers, a route to professional qualifications. The programme is delivered in partnership with SR Supply Chain Consultants.

Nicola Shelley, Managing Director at NEPO, said: “Procurement is powered by people, and this award belongs to them. We set out to grow procurement talent in the North East, for the North East. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our apprentices thriving, passing their CIPS exams first time and becoming the future of our local authority teams.

“We dedicate this award to our local authorities across the North East and Tees Valley, to everyone who helped us launch the programme in 2024, and above all to our apprentices and upskillers. Thank you to our delivery partner, SR Supply Chain Consultants, for helping bring our vision to life. The award is shared with Northumberland County Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council, Gateshead Council, Sunderland City Council, Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

NEPO now goes forward to the national final at the Grand Lancaster Hotel in London on 25 November 2026, where it will compete against the winners from every other region.

To find out more about NEPO’s Regional Procurement Apprenticeship Programme, visit www.nepo.org

Editorial insight

Recognition for apprenticeship programmes in the procurement sector has become increasingly important as public sector organisations face ongoing skills shortages and recruitment challenges. NEPO’s recent regional award highlights efforts within the North East to address these issues through collaboration and targeted training, involving all 12 local authorities in the area.

For organisations across the public sector, developing a pipeline of qualified procurement professionals is seen as critical to maintaining effective service delivery and managing public funds efficiently. The success of NEPO’s apprentices, particularly their high exam pass rates, may offer a practical example for other regions looking to strengthen their own talent strategies in a competitive employment market.

Story ideas and journalist angles

Research/data

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Apprenticeship Awards and Their Role in Skills Development

Investigate the significance of awards like the National Apprenticeship Awards in promoting effective training and skills development initiatives, using NEPO's recent win as a case study.

Target audience national-news Story potential 7/10 Regional impact

Impact of NEPO’s Apprenticeship Programme on North East’s Public Sector

Examine how NEPO's Regional Procurement Apprenticeship Programme is addressing the skills gap in public sector procurement across the North East. Explore its implications for local governments and job markets in the region.

Target audience regional-news Story potential 8/10