Business English for Strategic Procurement
Practical training for procurement teams
Launch: 13 October 2026
Who is this course for?
Procurement Officers:
negotiations in English
Supply Chain Managers:
supply agreements
HR / L&D:
team development
Leaders:
strategic communication
Why should your team take this training workshop?
How often is it the case that the reason for failures in negotiations with foreign partners is not finances, logistics, or product quality, but simply a language barrier?
Today’s global market requires procurement specialists to have more than just a basic knowledge of the language; they must be able to negotiate at the C-level. In practice, however, companies often face common challenges:
- Loss of negotiating power: Even experienced professionals use overly simplified phrasing in English due to a limited vocabulary. This weakens the company’s position and hinders the development of long-term partnerships (SRM).
- Fear of face-to-face communication: Procurement professionals are comfortable exchanging dry, template-based emails but avoid direct calls on Zoom or Teams, where they must respond instantly.
- Ineffectiveness of standard training: Conventional General English courses are ineffective here. They teach grammar and everyday topics but do not provide the tools needed to defend budgets, argue the total cost of ownership (TCO), or resolve claims.
Our solution: a practical simulation training program from the IPSM team. The program is fully aligned with the stages of the CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply) international procurement cycle and is structured according to the Cambridge CELTA methodology. No boring lectures—maximum hands-on practice and 80% active speaking time in real-world business simulations.
Main learning objectives:
Transform the team’s brand messaging
Elevate the team’s communication to the level of strategic category management.
Master Negotiation Skills
Teach the team how to integrate negotiation tools into their “real-life” communication practices.
Overcoming the Accent Barrier:
Master the cross-cultural nuances of communication in order to reach agreements quickly and avoid misunderstandings.
Prepare for force majeure events
To hone skills in applying diplomatic pressure and resolving disputes while minimizing the risk to the loyalty of strategic partners.
Course Structure:
4 strategic modules
Course Program
| Module name | Topics |
|---|---|
| MODULE 1: Sourcing Toolkit — AI-Check & Sourcing Brand |
|
| MODULE 2: Procurement Speaking Lab — Negotiation Practice |
|
| MODULE 3: Sourcing Survival — Claims, Focus Areas, and Audits |
|
| MODULE 4: Deep Dive Asia — Cultural Codes of the East |
|
Where and when?
Where: Online; you can participate from anywhere.
Dates: October 13 – December 23, 2026
Class times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00–7:00 p.m. Kyiv time.
Course duration: 12 weeks (24 practical sessions, 2 hours each).
Speaker:
International Expert with Practical Experience: Over 15 years of experience in procurement, logistics, and supply chain management in the industrial, engineering, and automotive sectors in Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Experience in scaling operations and crisis management: Managed large commercial divisions and successfully oversaw the implementation and transformation of business processes. Managed contracts with global giants (Geely-Volvo Corp, SsangYong, Renault-Nissan, AGCO, Phillips, BP & Shell, etc.). Has experience working in the procurement department of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS, UK).
Certified Cambridge Instructor (CELTA Level 5): Objective confirmation of proficiency in methods for quickly guiding students toward fluent speech without rote memorization of theory.
Oksana Barabash
IPSM Consultant, Cambridge-certified instructor (CELTA Level 5)
International Expert with Practical Experience: Over 15 years of experience in procurement, logistics, and supply chain management in the industrial, engineering, and automotive sectors in Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Experience in scaling operations and crisis management: Managed large commercial divisions and successfully oversaw the implementation and transformation of business processes. Managed contracts with global giants (Geely-Volvo Corp, SsangYong, Renault-Nissan, AGCO, Phillips, BP & Shell, etc.). Has experience working in the procurement department of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS, UK).
Certified Cambridge Instructor (CELTA Level 5): Objective confirmation of proficiency in methods for quickly guiding students toward fluent speech without rote memorization of theory.
Course Cost
580 Euros (excluding VAT)
Monthly payments (in three instalments) are available; in this case, the course fee will be 640 Euros excluding VAT.
For legal entities, a VAT surcharge applies to the course fee.
Registration
(if you require an invoice with VAT)
Alternatively, please email request@ip-sm.com or call: +380633043964, Oksana Yakovenko.
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FAQ
Who is this training workshop for?
This course is designed for procurement teams, procurement and supply chain managers, category managers, sourcing specialists, and international procurement and logistics specialists — anyone who negotiates, corresponds or speaks on the phone with overseas suppliers.
Is this just a course in English or a procurement training course in English?
This is neither General English nor traditional Business English. It is a practical training course for procurement professionals, where English is used as a tool for negotiations, sourcing, RFIs/RFQs, TCO arguments, claims handling, contract management and supplier management.
What level of English is required to take part?
Ideally, participants should be at Intermediate level; the tasks and level of difficulty will be tailored to the participants’ level and needs.
What are the course sessions like?
The training takes place online in the form of live practical sessions. Participants work via Zoom or Teams, take part in role-plays and negotiation simulations, practice making calls to suppliers, write business letters and work through real-life procurement scenarios.
How long does the course last?
The program runs for 12 weeks – 2 sessions per week, each lasting 2 hours (48 hours in total). An additional option is available – the Speaking Club at the weekend – offering informal conversation practice and networking with colleagues.
What will the team be able to do after the training?
The team will be able to conduct international negotiations in English with greater confidence, structure RFIs and RFQs, justify decisions based on TCO, work with BATNA and ZOPA, discuss Incoterms 2020, write claim letters, conduct supplier calls and better understand the accents of suppliers from different regions.
How much practical work will there be on the course?
The program is built around practical exercises: up to 80 per cent of the time, participants speak, negotiate, ask questions, respond to objections, defend the company’s position and practice dealing with situations that are as close as possible to real-life procurement scenarios.
Can the programme be tailored to suit our company?
Yes. The program can be tailored to your procurement categories, supply markets, typical negotiation scenarios, internal processes and the level of your team. Where training is required, examples closely based on the company’s real-life business cases can be used.
Will the course help me to understand foreign accents better?
Yes. A separate module is dedicated to the Listening Lab: participants practice recognizing complex regional accents spoken by suppliers, particularly from China, India, the EU and other markets, and also practice techniques for seeking clarification and asking follow-up questions whilst maintaining a professional demeanor.
What is AI-Check in procurement?
AI-Check is a practical approach to the safe use of AI in procurement communications. Participants learn how to quickly draft requests, letters and specifications using AI, and then check the terminology, tone, legal accuracy and commercial risks before sending them to the supplier.
How do I start my studies?
Submit your application or pay for the course via WayForPay. We will get in touch within 24 hours to discuss the details.
Is it possible to order a corporate package?
Yes. The training can be tailored for a corporate team or delivered to a specific group within your company. We can agree on the schedule, level of difficulty, focus of the modules and case studies in line with your business objectives. Please submit a request and mention this requirement in the comments.
Organizer – IPSM.
Illustrations: AI; photos of the speakers are the property of the speakers.
