From market trader to procurement professional

“I never really realised how much lies behind the procurement profession. Only now do I understand which levers you can pull and how to apply them in practice,” Peter explains.

Negotiating without going in hard

Peter is particularly enthusiastic about the way the procurement programme is structured. “I can apply the theory directly in my work.” The programme gave him the structure and insight he had been missing, despite his many years of experience. The design of Nevi 1 Private Sector played a key role in this. All participants follow three modules that build their knowledge and skills step by step.

• In the foundational module Basic Procurement Process, participants learn how a procurement process is structured and how to apply the sourcing cycle effectively.
• The module Negotiation and Development provides the tools needed to negotiate effectively and focuses on the professional development you undergo as a procurement specialist.
• Finally, the module Procurement in Practice is designed to apply the acquired knowledge directly to realistic case studies.

It was especially the Negotiation and Development module that gave Peter new insights. “A quote from my lecturer has always stayed with me: Don’t become a one‑dimensional negotiator; there is so much more to procurement and negotiation than entering the conversation with a hard stance.”

Value that lasts

What Peter learned in the Nevi 1 Private Sector programme is something he still applies every day. He now combines his natural trading instinct with strategic insight something that proves invaluable in his role at FC Utrecht.