The Procurement Conversation

In this episode, Rich speaks to Jennifer Francis, Category Manager for Indirects at Thames Water. Jennifer shares her journey into the procurement field, expressing her love for the diverse challenges and opportunities it offers, from building supplier relationships to formulating business strategies and negotiating commercial terms. Jennifer talks about how she found her calling in procurement and discusses the daily dynamics of her role, the strategic importance of procurement in business, and the challenges faced within the field, such as stakeholder alignment and the evolving focus beyond cost savings to building strategic supplier relationships. Jennifer emphasises the importance of integrity, ethical decision-making, and critical thinking as key skills in procurement. She reflects on her growth and achievements within her career, particularly her pride in becoming MCIPS qualified. Looking ahead, Jennifer sees procurement playing a central role in business decisions and believes AI will enhance rather than replace procurement roles. She aspires to be recognised as a rounded procurement professional, capable of leading significant projects. Jennifer offers advice to those considering a career in procurement, highlighting the importance of a supportive environment, effective management, and professional development through certification and continuous learning.

In this episode of our Young Leaders series, Rich speaks to Ed Gamble, Digital Garage Manager at BP, who shares his journey into procurement, the evolving role of technology in procurement, and the importance of emotional intelligence and people skills in the field. Ed discusses how his team at BP's 'Garage' seeks innovative tech solutions to improve procurement processes, his accidental entry into the field post-university, and the fulfillment he finds in tackling diverse challenges and collaborating with a wide range of people. He highlights the shift towards digital transformation in procurement, emphasizing the need for investment in technology and the shift towards strategic relationships with suppliers. Ed also reflects on his career achievements, the value of graduate programs, and the importance of altering the perception of procurement to attract young talent into the field. Finally, Ed shares his approach to continuous learning and development, underscoring the crucial role of emotional intelligence and commercial acumen in procurement's future.

In this episode of the Procurement Conversation, part of the Young Leaders series, host Rich talks with Ann Dhondt, Category Manager at Vodafone Procurement and Procurement Manager at HANNDS'ON. Ann shares her journey into procurement, beginning with her creative endeavours in product management and sourcing in Asia. She expresses her love for the creativity and variability the field offers, emphasising how procurement isn't just about negotiation but also about fostering relationships, creativity, and dealing with various challenges. Ann talks about her optimism about the impact that AI will bring to procurement such as in automating administrative tasks. She also highlights the importance of soft skills and adapting to technology. Reflecting on her career, Ann appreciates the growth and challenges she's faced, including those related to gender in the workplace. Looking forward, she anticipates technological advancements in procurement and advises those interested in the field to embrace curiosity, value creation, and the dynamic nature of procurement. The episode concludes with thoughts on attracting more young people to the procurement profession through education and social media.

This week Rich speaks to Tim Snow, CPO at Inmarsat about enhancing the agility and efficiency of procurement. Emphasising the importance of procurement taking a proactive and involved role from the onset of strategy development, the conversation highlights the necessity for procurement to be seen as a partner capable of driving quality, pace, and commercial thinking, rather than simply executing processes. Key topics include the importance of building meaningful stakeholder relationships, the role of agility in procurement, the balance between speed, compliance, and vendor relationships, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within procurement teams. The dialogue further delves into strategic partnerships, the measurement of procurement success beyond cost savings, and the concept of '10x'ing procurement to vastly enhance its contribution to business strategy and outcomes. 00:25 Introduction to Procurement's Speed Challenge 00:46 Interview with Tim Snow: The Importance of Getting Things Done in Procurement 02:26 The Reputation and Agility of Procurement Teams 04:42 Strategies for Accelerating Procurement Processes 07:31 Balancing Speed, Agility, and Compliance in Procurement 15:55 Addressing Common Procurement Bottlenecks 21:14 Fostering a Culture of Innovation and Continuous Improvement 23:22 Leveraging Strategic Partnerships for Better Outcomes 27:00 Evaluating the Success and Impact of Procurement Initiatives 32:32 The Concept of 10x'ing Procurement for Future Success 35:39 Closing Remarks

Procurement is the best job in the world. I’ve been privileged to work in it for the last 22 years and have loved every minute of it. I’ve worked on great projects with fantastic people, and The Procurement Conversation podcast is my way of spreading the love and giving back. I have seen how passionate and innovative teams can change the perception of procurement from an administration function to a visionary function, from obsessing over cost to delivering significant value, and from a systems and process oriented discipline to a human centric one. And I want everyone to understand how they can also make this change. On the podcast I speak to inspirational leaders and industry experts to find out what they are doing to advance the profession. In this latest series I am also talking to the CPOs of the future so we can spread the word to the next generation of professionals who may still be in schools or at university. Please subscribe and give us a rating to ensure that as many people as possible join the mission. Thank you.

In this episode, Rich talks to procurement professional Mark Coulson talks about important changes in IR35 Interim Worker Space, including the significant tax offset change, and the resulting opportunities for procurement teams. This conversation reveals how these changes can de-risk IR35 by about 75%, leading to material cost savings, providing access to better caliber contractors, and avoiding the need to body shop. Mark further suggests that given these changes, companies need to reconsider the restrictions they have put on engaging contractors, especially since newer technology platforms can ensure compliance across different countries. He also provides insight into the potential savings opportunities and advises procurement leaders to use these changes as a catalyst to reopen the discussion about the company's policy stance on engaging contractors. www.ir35pro.co.uk Mark's Course: Click here 00:23 Introduction to the Procurement Conversation 00:42 Understanding IR35 and its Impact on Procurement 01:38 Mark's Journey into IR35 Specialisation 02:17 The Challenges and Misunderstandings of IR35 03:05 The Financial Implications of IR35 03:55 Learning from IR35 Experts and Applying Knowledge 04:35 The Market Response to IR35 Changes 07:28 The Impact of IR35 on Global Workforce 08:19 The Role of Technology in Managing IR35 09:28 The Offset Change in IR35 and its Implications 12:48 The Future of IR35 and its Impact on Procurement 15:26 The Role of Procurement in Navigating IR35 Changes 20:07 What should Procurement be doing? 22:11 Conclusion: The Importance of Understanding IR35

Rich speaks to Jim Townsend - former CPO of Walgreens Boots Alliance to get the inside view on Procurement Technology from a CPO. Jim talks about the digital landscape of procurement and the need for a more strategic approach for investment in procurement technology. The conversation includes the relevance of technology to relation to the maturity and requirements of an organisation, the value and timing of a technology investment, and the need to focus on what's important, rather than getting distracted by new tech solutions. Jim also highlights the important of leadership in this space. 00:43 The Role of Technology in Procurement 01:56 The Importance of Timing in Tech Implementation 04:38 The Challenges of Making a Business Case for Tech 10:49 The Evolution of Procurement Tools 17:26 Tools that Jim has seen which are useful for procurement 21:58 The Skills Needed for Digital Procurement 24:08 Learning from Tech Mistakes in Procurement 26:08 Conclusion: The Future of Procurement and Technology

Rich is joined by Tom Mills - Head of Procurement and Properties at Bibby Financial Services and Founder of Procure Bites. They delve into topics such as the state of procurement in 2024, the impact of procurement scandals on the profession's image, the necessity and value of procurement to businesses, and even the potential role of technology like AI in procurement. Tom shares his perspective on the importance of diversity and supply relationship management within procurement. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities that procurement teams will face in 2024, from managing cost savings while focusing on ESG objectives, to dealing with political transitions and supply chain disruptions. We talk about our books to read: Oversubscribed: How To Get People Lining Up To Do Business With You The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and FailureBefore the Coffee Gets Cold 00:21 Introduction to the Big Conversation 00:50 The State of Procurement in 2024 01:43 The Impact of the Horizon Scandal on Procurement 02:25 The Role of Procurement in Vendor Selection and Relationship Management 03:25 The Challenges and Opportunities for Procurement in 2024 05:33 Big themes and the Impact of Global Events on Procurement 08:38 The Role of AI in Procurement 13:40: Re-imagining Procurement's role 16:42 The Future of Procurement Talent 22:49 Looking Forward to 2024 27:32 Books to Read in 2024 30:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This week we’re looking at why Procurement suffers from dodgy data - how it affects the function and what we can do to solve it. Rich is joined by Susan Walsh - the Classification Guru and Natasha Brown Group Procurement Director of Harland & Wolff. We cover:

This week we're talking about the Procurement Talent Wars - the battle for great talent within the function. Rich is speaking to Ben Paynter, Procurement Director at Burberry and Martin Smith, owner and founder of the Talent Group and host of Talent Talks podcast to get their inside perspective on the war for talent within our profession. We cover:

So you are starting a Procurement Technology implementation but you don't have a team? Which roles are vital for success, who are these people and where can we find the best? Rich is speaking to Joël Collin-Demers in a two-way interview about our experiences working with the best in the Procurement Technology space. We talk about which roles we would have on an ‘all-star’ ProcureTech project team.

Following on from part 1 of this episode, Sharon and Rich are joined by Mary Ann Sieghard, author of 'The Authority Gap - Why women are still taken less seriously than men and what we can do about it'. The book details the bias that is still pervasive in society and workplace, how this impacts women and what we can do to change it. It is a must read - especially for men - and especially in Procurement, where the gender gap persists. The Authority Gap - Why women are still taken less seriously than men and what we can do about it is available in all good bookshops - with further details at Mary Ann's website: https://www.maryannsieghart.com/the-authority-gap/ https://www.theauthoritygap.com

This week we're covering 'soft' skills - but perhaps 'Super Skills' is a more appropriate name for how these skills can impact Procurement. The return on investment in developing these skills is massive on a personal, professional and organisational level. Rich talks to Barry Holmes who has spent the last 20 years helping Procurement teams to transform the way they work from low value, operational functions, to high value, strategic functions through a focussed investment in soft skills. They talk through the main skills of communication, influencing, teamwork, problem solving, being data driven, networking, resolving conflict, strategic thinking, responsibility and creativity. It's a great conversation for those looking to transform their career or their team's delivery.

Welcome to the first of our Big Conversation series. We're talking about the biggest topics currently facing procurement and the first one is a massive one. Why are only 25% of senior leaders in Procurement female? And why are those leaders paid 25% less than their male counterparts in the UK? Rich talks to Laura Scarfe and Sharon Morris about this, and look at what we can do to change this for the benefit of our organisations.

This week I speak to Richard Jamison, Head of Procurement and Property at Grant Thornton UK. We speak about: 1. His journey transitioning from IT to procurement and how this background in IT influenced his approach to procurement. 2. Starting up a greenfield procurement function. 3. How he has built relationships with key stakeholders across the organisation. 4. What role he thinks technology plays in procurement today 5. His management philosophy. 6. How he creates a coaching environment in his business. 7. How he helps his team members develop 8. The advice he would give to someone who is considering a career in procurement.

This week I speak to Tim Snow, Vice President Procurement, Commercial Contracts, Insurance and Sustainability at Inmarsat. Given Tim has a wider commercial role including areas not traditionally in the procurement remit, I asked him: * How he balances his procurement responsibilities with a broader role. * What advice he would give to other procurement professionals looking to expand their roles and make a broader impact within their organisations * About his management philosophy *The skills he thinks we need for the future of procurement * His biggest mistake and what he learnt

This week I spoke to Lauren Richards, CPO at Amazon Fresh. We covered:

This week we're joined by Roger Davies, CPO from M&S, John Lewis and deliveroo - a great selection of British institutions. I spoke to Roger about:

Nick Jenkinson is Santander's Interim CPO reaching the end of a 2-year transformation programme. In this episode we talk about: * His approach to making sure new tech lands * His main objectives in his transformation programme * Why digital transformation is so difficult * How we get the right balance between risk mitigation and agility * What he wants his CEO to know about procurement

This week I talk to Simon Geale, CPO of Proxima and we talk about: * Early jobs missing from his CV * What it's like being a CPO responsible for marketing * The biggest issues CPOs face right now * What Proxima is working on and what skills they are looking for * What Procurement needs to change to meet its potential * How we should all be a bit more like Mick Jagger. If you enjoy the podcast, do like and share and drop me a line with CPOs you would like to hear from in future episodes.