The UK Government Commercial Function (GCF) has announced it expects all government CIPS Members to upgrade to Chartered Status. In its new guidance to employees is says Members and Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) across government are expected to upgrade to become a Chartered Procurement and Supply Professional. CIPS has refreshed its online Continuing Professional Development programme to “drive the procurement profession forward, equipping Members and Fellows of the Institute with a more structured pathway to career development.” Apparently it doesn’t cost to upgrade, however, the status does require a certain amount of CPD training be undertaken each 12-month period; we assume that if government is paying for that, given the extent of professional membership across the public sector, that could amount to a substantial sum of tax payer money. “This GCF initiative is aimed at developing the commercial and procurement capability in order to drive forward best practice across government,” says the press release, which you can read here.