Talent Talks Podcast (Talent Drive )

“Sustainability needs to be a priority, and that starts at the top.”

Digital procurement transformation is a perpetual journey, and with the growing importance of ESG initiatives it’s key now to ensure these initiatives come from the very top level to maximise your organisation’s value.

This week’s guest on Talent Talks is Coupa’s Vice President in Northern Europe, Eric Brown, who shares how increasing visibility within e-procurement processes allows more stakeholders to put sustainability first, when exactly the right time is to invest in digital procurement, and how we can continue elevating the profession.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Choosing the right time to invest in digital procurement for growth
• The increasing focus on compliance and risk management
• Achieving ESG goals by ensuring it’s embedded at the top
• Refining outdated digital processes on procurement’s tech journey
• How we can continue to elevate the profession & its impact at board level
• Cutting wastage in processes to help both shareholders and ESG goals

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Barkers Commercial Consultancy. Barkers are a multi-award-winning ethical, procurement consultancy offering specialist services including cost and procurement transformation, contract lifecycle management, procurement managed services, bid writing services and digital procurement https://barkersprocurement.com/

Eric Brown, Vice President Northern Europe Mid-Market & Corporate
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericscottbrown/

Coupa Software
https://www.linkedin.com/company/coupa-software/

Martin Smith, Founder & Director of Talent Drive https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinsmith2009/

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“With our size and scale, we can deliver value for money through social value, but also leave a lasting legacy in communities.”

The scrutiny that comes with multi-billion pound projects in the public sector gives National Highways a strong impetus to put social value first in its operations. So how do we achieve the same in the rest of the industry?

In a Talent Talks first, we feature a panel of 3 guests from the same procurement department - Malcolm Dare, Sanyalax Morrison, and Andrew Stephenson - to share the reasons behind National Highways’ increasing focus on social value.

Join us as we discuss the methods of spreading the issue across the sector, the sometimes-overlooked aspects of engaging with SMEs, the proactivity necessary to hit carbon neutrality targets, and much more.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How to define social value and the 4 huge reasons to prioritise it
• The process of elevating social value to be achieved on a sector-wide level
• Why we need to act now in order to hit 2030 goals for carbon neutrality
• Increasing engagement with SMEs

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Barkers Commercial Consultancy. Barkers are a multi-award-winning ethical, procurement consultancy offering specialist services including cost and procurement transformation, contract lifecycle management, procurement managed services, bid writing services and digital procurement https://barkersprocurement.com/

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“From my perspective, data is the foundational resource that we now need to use in terms of how we think about our procurement transformation.”

As apps like TikTok innovate the tools that curate content for us, it’s clear that the future of procurement is one in which we won’t settle for inadequate tools.

We’ve been seeing gradual digitisation for decades, and as the need to process data and implement automation grows, we speak to Kantar’s CPO Stephen Day about how digital tools will help us tackle industry challenges.

In this rich conversation touching on so many of the profession’s most pertinent issues, Stephen shares how to implement digitisation in a way that justifies its continued use, the skill sets sought from new procurement professionals, how data can help drive a more diverse and inclusive industry, and much more.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How Stephen build up his varied series of prior roles and experiences
• What digitisation means and how it should be implemented with consideration for stakeholders
• The benefits of an empowering, empathetic leadership style
• How data can be used to improve diversity, inclusion and representation in the industry
• The skills sought in the next generation of procurement professionals

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Barkers Commercial Consultancy. Barkers are a multi-award-winning ethical, procurement consultancy offering specialist services including cost and procurement transformation, contract lifecycle management, procurement managed services, bid writing services and digital procurement https://barkersprocurement.com/

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“It isn't about the price of the consultancy, it’s the impact of the outcome they're delivering, so cheap can become very expensive.”

The difference in spend between contingent labour and consultancies globally is incredibly small, yet the technology and systems to work with them lags far behind.

As CEO of Constellia, Rob Levene keeps close contact with their Consultancy Procurement Council to maintain a finger on the pulse of what issues need solving in the consultancy space.

In this jam-packed episode of Talent Talks we look at the 6 biggest concerns with consultancy services, which tools are needed to alleviate those pain points, and how to reassess the value that firms place on consultancy services.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The combined public and private sector experiences that led to Constellia’s inception
• Transitioning the MSP model across sectors
• A lack of established technology solutions for consultancy, despite a similar level of spend to contingent labour
• The 6 top risks that category managers are facing right now
• Reframing the financial impact of consultancy to consider value over cost

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Barkers Commercial Consultancy. Barkers are a multi-award-winning ethical, procurement consultancy offering specialist services including cost and procurement transformation, contract lifecycle management, procurement managed services, bid writing services and digital procurement https://barkersprocurement.com/

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“It's not about the ‘what’, it's about the ‘how’, and I don't think we're doing enough with the ‘how’ at the moment in the private sector.”

As social value remains front and centre of public sector procurement, and grows in relevance in the private sector, are there more complexities and variables than ever when it comes to initiating successful procurement transformation?

The debate around transformation programmes, technology in procurement, social value, the role of aggregated data and more was the intriguing centrepiece of our Talent Talks Live event in March.

It was a pleasure to be joined by Guy Battle, Jonathan Bearn, Kathryn Gillard and Paul Bestford to take on the steps to achieving procurement transformation with buy-in from stakeholders and a platform set for future success.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• What procurement transformation entails, and how to achieve buy-in with key stakeholders
• The weighting of social value in procurement transformation programmes
• How technology can provide value beyond its primary purpose
• Whether we’ll see an increase in anonymous, aggregated data to help CPOs make key decisions

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Barkers Commercial Consultancy. Barkers are a multi-award-winning ethical, procurement consultancy offering specialist services including cost and procurement transformation, contract lifecycle management, procurement managed services, bid writing services and digital procurement https://barkersprocurement.com/

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“You'll start to think, ‘I'll be making a sourcing decision against one of the biggest elements of our impact within the next few years, which might almost commit me already to 2030’. It’s about getting that into the decision making now.”

We often hear how our sector adds value, but seldom is it referred to explicitly as a revenue generator. With an ever-greater emphasis on ESG, setting environmental goals will very soon have a direct and tangible impact.

The CPO at KPMG, Martin Lee, started his staggering career at Ford, and is employing a new take on the Triple Bottom Line concept - People, Planet, Profit.

Martin joins his namesake and host of Talent Talks this week to consider how procurement measures its impact, where we have ground to cover in ESG targets, and how we can adapt our language to attract the best new talent.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Martin’s approach to the triple bottom line concept
• Procurement’s role as a value & revenue creator
• Tangible steps to reducing environmental impact more favourably than carbon offsetting
• How diversity & inclusion plays a huge role in ESG goals

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“In procurement, you’re trying to get meetings with people who don't want to see you, persuade them to do things they don't want to do, and negotiate a deal. Procurement and sales are very similar in skillset.”

With over 13 years in Coca-Cola, a CPO role at Tata and an influential stint at Mitie, rolling out the UK’s largest pure electric fleet, Simon King has seen it all.

While we’ve considered the need for obvious routes into the procurement profession, it’s always inspiring to hear from those who have found considerable success.

We’re splitting Simon’s story into a two-part episode, this week covering the roots of his love and passion for sustainability, why soft skills are essential over technical knowhow, advantages of gaining interdisciplinary experience, and much more.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Simon’s start in analytical chemistry before his corporate career
• Lessons from almost 14 years within various roles at Coca-Cola
• Advantages of setting processes in a greenfield function
• Transferable skills between sales and procurement
• Combining the Coca-Cola process and Dairy Crest people-management in a role at Tata

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Nutral. Through their neutral vendor managed service, Nutral offers an easier, streamlined way to achieve better fulfilment, improved quality, 100% visibility & control of expenditure, less risk, and bottom-line savings. They place the interests of customers first when selecting suppliers – every time. Find out more at https://nutral.uk/

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“How do you make sure that sustainability is not a compliance play, it's not a nice-to-do and a tick box? Put it right in your business strategy.”

From Simon King’s eventful early career, to his hugely influential endeavours in the sustainability world now, he’s amassed experiences to inspire us all to embrace the green agenda.

Whether it’s making the huge leap in efficiency through electric vehicle use, or promoting sustainability throughout your supply chain, this week’s episode of Talent Talks has tips for us all to make that essential change.

Find out why it’s more important to roughly understand your impact than spend time on the minutia, how ‘Do, Lead, Deliver’ drives Mitie’s approach, and more in this 2nd part of a fascinating conversation with Simon.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The key differences between sustainability & ESG
• How a sustainable links into attracting talent
• Mitie’s ‘Do, Lead, Deliver’ approach to sustainability
• Promoting a green approach through to suppliers
• How EVs can massively improve a fleet’s end-to-end efficiency

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Nutral. Through their neutral vendor managed service, Nutral offers an easier, streamlined way to achieve better fulfilment, improved quality, 100% visibility & control of expenditure, less risk, and bottom-line savings. They place the interests of customers first when selecting suppliers – every time. Find out more at https://nutral.uk/

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“The common element is very similar between organisations. What you need to understand is the environment you're working within, the stakeholders that you have and their agendas.”

Between impressively varied roles at Fulham FC, Harrods & and Allianz, Nick Brazier is evidence that when you understand your environment, third party management demands a similar skillset.

Having now set up a third party management function at Close Brothers, Nick joins us on Talent Talks to break down the fine balance between risk management and agility, the need for a properly structured team, and how our industry can act to improve the talent pool.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Balancing risk management with agility and entrepreneurialism
• Creating a 3rd party management framework with buy-in across the organisation
• The need for a properly structured team, making the most of everyone’s skill sets
• Talent acquisition, and what the industry can do to attract more great candidates

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Nutral. Through their neutral vendor managed service, Nutral offers an easier, streamlined way to achieve better fulfilment, improved quality, 100% visibility & control of expenditure, less risk, and bottom-line savings. They place the interests of customers first when selecting suppliers – every time. Find out more at https://nutral.uk/

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“In general when you're buying services, it won't have such a complex supply chain. But in terms of what you're buying, it's infinitely more complex.”

Pinpointing the value of procured services on more metrics than pure cost is an issue worth solving, given the trillions in annual global spend that go towards services procurement.

Zivio are leading the way with their SaaS platform - their CEO Jonny Dunning is our guest on Talent Talks this week discussing how technology is altering the procurement landscape.

We dive into digitisation attracting talent, automation allowing higher level strategies to be employed, why data is power, and much more.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Trends in perception of procurement, currently seen as a relatively young function
• Growing sophistication in the design of procurement roles
• The talent shortage, and how candidates recognise digitisation regardless of category
• Consistent demand for automation, visibility and control
• The evolving landscape of procurement, with its increasing focus on data

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Nutral. Through their neutral vendor managed service, Nutral offers an easier, streamlined way to achieve better fulfilment, improved quality, 100% visibility & control of expenditure, less risk, and bottom-line savings. They place the interests of customers first when selecting suppliers – every time. Find out more at https://nutral.uk/ or https://www.linkedin.com/company/nutralsolutions/

“I think we don't always realise that we have a reputation with our suppliers, just like a company will have a consumer brand.”

Consumer branding is a standard aspect of any business that’s well documented - lesser considered but equally important, however, is the prospect of your supplier branding.

Presenting yourself to potential suppliers for a partnership is a skill, one in which Cameron Holder is highly proficient. 

Having recently departed his role as Head of Commercial & Procurement at Nando's, Cameron joins Martin this week to share their approach to supplier relationships, how to win over pickier suppliers, and how to nurture a relationship that works for everyone.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How supplier branding plays a huge role in the partnerships you can make
• Ways to win over the suppliers who may be in demand, and are more picky about who they work with
• Nando's’ journey to taking a more consistent baseline approach to engaging with suppliers
• The human element of procurement, and avoiding the conflation of being nice with being ‘soft’

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“The single biggest barrier to entry for getting young people into procurement is a lack of knowledge of what it even is.”

Young professionals entering today’s procurement world will be leading our industry into an age led by sustainability & social value, so what’s the experience like for future CPOs, and how does it need to improve?

To answer this key question, Martin is joined this week by three of the brightest new procurement professionals, Tesco’s Lead Procurement Manager, Josh Banks, England Rugby’s Procurement & Supply Chain Lead, Sophie Morton, and Procurement Officer at Wellcome Trust, Olivia Donovan.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Current routes into procurement, and barriers to entry
• The variety that makes the profession so rewarding
• Skills needed to thrive in a successful procurement team
• PR and image issues with the industry
• Sustainability’s growing prominence as a factor that’ll appeal to talented new procurement professionals

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“If something doesn't look exciting enough for something they're going to do for the next 40-50 years in their career, why are they going to bother even trying to get into that profession?”

When the senior procurement professionals end their careers, we need a rich talent pool to whom they can entrust all that experience and expertise.

Who better to ask about the current barriers impeding the introduction of fresh, smart and passionate professionals than those fresh from the process?

On Talent Talks this week we continue our discussions with future procurement leaders around essential skills, barriers to entry, the future of the carbon vs cost equation, data’s prevalence in the profession, and more with 4C Associates’ Celia Downie and Frasers Group’s Arron Woodland.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Ideal skills for success in today’s procurement industry
• Embracing an attitude of transparency and collaboration with suppliers
• How to attract new talent at an earlier stage in their career
• Procurement’s role in leading ESG initiatives going forward

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“I'm not here to cut costs, I'm just here to add value. However you want to dress that word of value, it's totally up to you.”

The next generation of bright procurement prospects bring with them a focus on understanding what they’re procuring in a way that we haven’t seen before.

We can only continue this trend of value and ROI, however, if we overcome the barriers to entry for school leavers and graduates. Two such future procurement leaders, Williams Racing’s Olivia McNamara and Reckitt’s Julie Katz, join Martin this week on Talent Talks.

We discuss the shift away from ‘baseball bat cost-cutting’, giving the rest of the business a better understanding of procurement’s strategic role, and the need for greater awareness of the profession.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The creative difference between direct and indirect procurement
• Focusing on value, and moving away from cost-cutting alone
• Top skills needed in the modern procurement profession
• New generations wanting to truly understand what they’re procuring
• How to better present procurement’s role to the wider business

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“You need to become the commercial architect, as opposed to the person that sends out the RFP and spends hours on Excel trying to analyse the responses of those prices.”

As procurement professionals venture further into becoming commercial leads looking to drive value, the skillset sought from those entering the role is ever-shifting.

Amassing a huge arsenal of skills throughout his illustrious career with John Lewis, PepsiCo, and now Amazon Fresh, Rob Turner is well positioned to observe that evolution.

Rob joins us on Talent Talks this week to consider how to successfully incorporate stakeholder needs, the growing divide between tech-driven & non-tech-driven businesses, whether remote roles can create effective teams, and much more.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How Rob’s curious mind aided him throughout his varied career journey
• The importance of being flexible and open to change
• Becoming a commercial architect with more high-level considerations
• The evolution of essential skills with growth of tech-driven procurement
• Barriers and opportunities in the procurement market
• Whether you can fully achieve buy-in from your team in a fully remote role

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“We had to stay absolutely core to our principles around collaboration, relationships and partnerships. In the supply chain arena, the strength of those came to the forefront.”

It’s hard to deny that one of the most affected industries from the pandemic has been air travel, so how has the industry’s supply chain stayed strong in preparation for its return?

The value of strong, long-lasting relationships is paramount to NATS’ CPO, Tim Bullock, who joins us on Talent Talks to discuss how the lengthy groundwork in building bonds will pay dividends, whether soft skills trump technical knowhow, and updating practices to better integrate with the business’ objectives.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The quest for talent, and where EQ and soft skills might trump technical skills
• Balancing service function obligations with being the conscience of a business
• Dividends paid by building relationships that NATS could rely on throughout the pandemic
• The value of collaboration and partnerships in long-term industries

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“If you are purely doing procurement and commercial on paper, the paper doesn't stand the litmus test,”

Victoria Cope’s career roles are supremely varied and her credentials numerous, so she serves as a perfect example of how wide ranging experiences can aid procurement leaders in succeeding at the highest level.

With an Aeronautical Engineering background, over 20 years in the Defence & Security sector, and several awards for her contributions to the industry, she’s now the Commercial & Category Director for the UK Health Security Agency.

Such an array of knowledge inevitably led to a fascinating discussion on Talent Talks this week, covering the delicate balance between public service and commerciality, necessary steps to boost diversity, why strong relationships beat procurement on paper, and so much more.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Victoria’s route into procurement, being a chartered Aeronautical Engineer by background
• Procurement’s biggest relationship lessons learned from the pandemic
• The successful evolution and further advancements needed within diversity and inclusion
• Balancing the health of the nation with maintaining her function’s commerciality
• The growth of social value and ESG

“We often create a list of 12 things, but if you focus on the one thing that makes the biggest difference, you’ll be more successful than having a big shopping list.”

ITV, Sky, Starbucks, Serco and Nestle may not share much in terms of sector, but all are huge brands that Jonathan Patrick has at one point called home.

His ability to instigate successful transformation at the highest level is beyond doubt, and as Transport for London’s CPO he’s continuing to create a staggering procurement legacy.

We hear from Jonathan on Talent Talks this week as he shares the measures of successful transformation, how to firm up against 2023’s impending pressures, and how his work on I’m a Celeb changed how he evaluates each business’ true challenges.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How to deliver transformation at the highest level
• The barometers for success to keep top-of-mind
• 2023’s big challenges, and how they’ll likely affect risk management
• Jonathan’s biggest learns from his work with ITV, Sony, Serco, Sky, and more huge brands

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

“Ultimately, the challenges for a procurement function are very similar, but going into a different environment helps you grow.”

There’s no substitute for the level of depth and breadth of experience that Tracey Williamson has developed over the course of her illustrious career as a procurement leader.

From roles in several major blue chip organisations like Nissan, Tesco, Vodafone and many more, she’s cracked the key to creating transformative change in any procurement function.

We dive into her focus on good data, the conscious effort to diversify skills and sectors, and how diversity and inclusion has evolved throughout her time in the industry.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Why you should broaden your experience rather than strive to just climb the ladder
• The nuances of public sector roles
• Managing and using spend data to create transformation
• The key attributes of successful procurement professionals
• How everyone can better support the growth of diversity and inclusion across the board

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

“It comes back to innovation: what could we do differently to get ourselves through this difficult period?”

Whether you’re among the largest corporations in the world, or the bustling startups growing through adversity, innovation needs to be at the heart of your procurement function.

Applying that principle at both ends of the spectrum with Coca-Cola and Mum & You, David Cowell is the perfect guest on Talent Talks to weigh in on building a successful function from scratch, and retaining your top talent.

Tune into this week’s episode for a look at how David handled a function spanning over 13 countries, whether centralised procurement trumps decentralised procurement, and offers invaluable insight for professionals ready to move up the ladder.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• David’s several decades’ experience in huge, multinational companies such as Coca-Cola and Nestle
• How to recruit and retain the best talent through methods beyond remuneration
• Taking on the challenge of setting up a supply chain from scratch
• Weighing up the advantages of centralised vs decentralised procurement functions
• Invaluable advice for aspiring procurement leaders

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

“People make the world go round. If you ever have a problem, it's often the people that you've won over who will back you up or help you out.”

Whether it’s through his own procurement leadership roles or rich experience in consulting and training, Oliver Jones knows the key to presenting procurement’s value.

Return on investment extends beyond numbers, and when it’s time to get people on board, Oliver’s emphasis on people is not to be overlooked…

The Managing Consultant with Elixirr joins us on Talent Talks to discuss C-suite engagement, ‘keeping the exec out of jail’, winning over stakeholders, and how tech can’t solve all our future challenges.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How procurement’s ROI should be measured more holistically
• Key differences between sectors, and the need to adapt your style of communication
• The power of winning over key stakeholders to become your ambassadors
• Taking people on your procurement transformation journey
• IQ vs EQ in leadership roles

“This is actually a great time to be in procurement, because it's a time to shine.”

Andrew Smith’s career has taken him from huge roles in Royal Mail to international leadership with Avis Budget in Copenhagen, an industry forced recently to rapidly evolve.

As a result of such impressive experiences across several decades, Andrew has a keen eye on what it takes to create impact while respecting the various stakeholders one might have.

Andrew joins us on Talent Talks to discuss how he grows a relatively immature function, builds relationships, handles hurdles, and why now is a fantastic time to be in procurement.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The route to grow from a small function into one with global reach
• Understanding an organisation’s culture before implementing change
• Utilising industry-wide issues as an opportunity to evolve
• Shifts and trends towards localisation and quality of supply

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

“Procurement’s relevance depends on our ability to embrace technological change.”

Greenfield procurement presents an opportunity that most procurement professionals would relish, a chance which Robert Jones has taken with open arms at Community Fibre.

Currently Senior Procurement Manager in a function that he’s helped to grow since roles at The AA and Johnson & Johnson, Robert joins Martin Smith on Talent Talks to discuss the growth of procurement and how technology is core to staying relevant.

We also take a look at who’s responsible for the sustainability agenda, managing stakeholder expectations, and consider the value of CIPS qualification in the future.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How to get a greenfield procurement function started and making impact
• Addressing expectations of procurement and potential pushback by working to solve stakeholders’ challenges
• How useful the CIPS qualification can be in the day-to-day, real world
• Procurement’s responsibility for sustainability agendas vs the rest of a company

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

“As a consultant I had direct access to the chief executive. As a secondee, to go anywhere near the chief executive wasn’t going to happen.”

The procurement consultancy world has its draws, from intense and varied experiences to, at times, greater access within the business.

That said, Daniel Abda has worked on both consultancy and in-house teams, currently with Efficio and previously leading an Asset Management programme for the London Olympic Games.

This week on Talent Talks, Daniel takes us through the distinctions between consultancy and in-house, how to handle intense & strict external deadlines, and whether AI could have procurement functions cutting jobs to make new savings…

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Daniel’s work on the procurement organisation strategy for the London 2012 Olympic Games
• How to respond to being given unrealistic targets
• Consultancy procurement experience, and how it stacks up against being part of an in-house team
• Managing rising energy costs and sustainability goals
• AI tools, and whether it could cut jobs in the industry

“We should always remember opportunity cost - sometimes time itself is much more valuable and important than a potential monetary saving.”

Across a career that’s spanned THG, Sky and now Epos Now, Isabella Moise has thrived in her roles with an ability to marry the needs of stakeholders with wildly conflicting ideas of success.

Now in a Head of Procurement role early in her career, Isabella’s insight into the importance of understanding culture and delivering confidence in negotiation comes from a fascinating, unique perspective.

Isabella joins Martin this week on Talent talks to discuss her stellar path in the profession, and offers her shrewd advice for young, female procurement leaders in the making.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Juggling the needs of conflicting stakeholders
• Bringing confidence into a negotiation scenario
• Why the negotiating process relies on more than simple messaging
• Opportunity cost and the value of time vs money in procurement
• Overcoming challenges to become a role model in D&I
• The need to return to goals around CSR and sustainability

“I love seeing people grow and flourish. It’s fulfilling and quite humbling that you've been part of someone else's success and growth..”

Bringing together the best of both worlds is a powerful procurement strategy for those with private and public sector experience - Divyesh Lad combines those in a challenging utility sector.

The Head of Commercial Services for United Utilities joins us on episode 76 of Talent Talks as we consider the skills gap in today’s market, how to manage teams & help them flourish, flexing your communication style, and much more.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Challenges and opportunities unique to the utilities sector
• Filling the skills gap in the market
• Transferable skills throughout the profession & combining experiences
• Learning how to manage people effectively, and help them to evolve and flourish

“There’s a hidden cost - the cost of bad deals because you don’t choose to use interim resources.”

Since 2021’s reforms, IR35 has been a major factor in the channels through which procurement resource is found, and Mark Coulson has become a guiding light through the confusion.

Having spent many years specialising in IR35, he’s perfectly placed to share with us on Talent Talks how to navigate the main sticking points around contractors and interim staff.

We also break down how the specialist knowledge of interim procurement professionals can save thousands through the simple power of subject expertise.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• An overview of IR35 and the precedents set by case law
• Simplifying how to spot what should lie within IR35
• Avoiding scope creep
• The powerful use cases where interim procurement is invaluable
• How interim resource can prevent the potential added cost of bad deals

“Build yourself a great team, and build a team that challenges you. You can't do it all yourself, you're only as good as the people around you.”

With huge, long-spanning roles at Diageo and Compass Group, Oliver Cock has developed the blueprints for successful procurement change, fulfilling leadership, and introducing category management from scratch.

Oliver is an incredibly experienced procurement leader, and now CEO of Zircon Consulting, which makes him wonderfully placed to weigh in on the virtues of great leadership, empathy, talent management, and so much more.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Oliver’s long and illustrious career through CPO, MD and other leadership roles
• Introducing category management from scratch by focusing on quick wins in core areas
• Working with key stakeholders for greater buy-in from the wider business
• Recruiting new talent with attitude over aptitude
• Empathy and clarity of direction being essential in procurement leadership

“Marketing, arguably more so than other categories, needs to be seen as an investment for growth, not a cost to be cut.”

There’s a boldness that roles in Nike, Danone and Reckitt would give anyone, and Stuart Dunk has funnelled that boldness into a business that’s now over 3 years strong.

Stuart’s specialism is in marketing procurement, an area which he believes to lean further towards value over cost than almost any other category.

Having experienced landmark roles in huge brands, and now growing his business, Don't Forget to Look, his experience makes for a fascinating perspective on the marketing procurement landscape in this week’s Talent Talks.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Stuart’s work on London 2012 and subsequent career with Nike, Reckitt & Danone
• How to increase engagement with procurement through intuitive buying processes
• Stakeholder management being a near-universal skill
• Marketing’s status as an investment in growth
• Attracting and retaining marketing procurement talent
• How Stuart used the confidence of prior roles to start his own business as a ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’

“Procurement was once the gatekeeper to the marketplace. Technology speeds up how we do things, and brings the external market to internal stakeholders.”

The one defence we have against extinction of any kind is adaptation. It might be drastic to suggest procurement is on the brink of extinction, but it certainly needs to adapt…

Whether it’s in the attraction of new talent or moving away from gatekeeping suppliers, Thames Water’s David Wylie has seen first hand the power of shifting focus and making changes.

David joins us for Talent Talks this week to share key learnings from roles in TfL & Centrica, how to deliver meaningful social value, and the three most important words in procurement.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How the procurement industry needs to shift to stay relevant
• Evolving observations in procurement talent
• The power of bringing ‘relentless insight’ into your business
• Operating in environments with very different regulatory challenges
• Delivery of social value at Thames Water

“The challenge is finding somebody with a really good set of soft skills, and that transcends both public and private sectors.”

When it comes to recruiting exciting new procurement talent, good apprenticeships can be the perfect combination of experience and learning.

Emma Law’s sustained efforts to create such apprenticeship opportunities are becoming fruitful, alongside her already stellar decade at Orbis Partnership.

We’re joined by Emma on Talent Talks to discuss the major challenges facing public sector procurement hiring, why we need to push harder on ESG, and AI’s role in procurement’s future.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The main challenges with recruiting new talent into the public sector
• How public scrutiny affects decision making
• Which skills transcend the divide between public and private sectors
• How early we should bring procurement language into education
• AI’s role in the future of procurement, and the time it’ll free up for strategic thinking

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Staverton Consulting. 

Staverton Consulting delivers tangible and sustainable cost reduction as well as reducing business risks throughout the supply chain for private equity backed businesses, SME’S and growth companies. For more information please head to stavertonconsulting.com.

“We have all these other things that we can do, but the end game that the Chief Executive wants is the value that you're giving them.”

The procurement industry is ever-evolving with shifting skillsets, constrained talent pool and a new age of technology & automation - it’s on us to evolve with it. 

We hosted an incredible Talent Talks Live event at Landsec in September, where we delighted in a panel with Visa’s S-J Aldridge, Specsavers’ Carl Ferrand and AWE’s Jonathan Patrick.

Join us for this live podcast episode where they touch on reframing our value, strategy vs tactical operating, and ChatGPT’s role in procurement’s future.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Our value in procurement, and whether we need to reframe/market that value better
• Crafting procurement as a more strategic function, shedding transactional activities
• How the talent pool has shifted, particularly post-pandemic
• The balance of technical skill vs commercial skill
• AI’s uses in the future of procurement

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Staverton Consulting.

Staverton Consulting delivers tangible and sustainable cost reduction as well as reducing business risks throughout the supply chain for private equity backed businesses, SME’S and growth companies. For more information please head to https://www.stavertonconsulting.com/.

“It’s not hard to find bodies if you want bodies, but the best people have options. You’ve got to be approaching them.”

When good procurement people have the power to choose their path, it takes proactivity to create a quality team - as Sermet Baykaner has done proficiently through his career to date. 

With names like Carnival and Unilever under his belt, Sermet - Bourne Leisure’s Group Procurement Director - is this week’s fantastic guest on the Talent Talks podcast.

Join us as we touch on attracting talent in a competitive market, convincing the C-suite to support the procurement agenda, and integrating sustainability business-wide.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Building sustainability into the overall strategy
• How to attract talent when good people have options
• Solving the C-suite’s needs, rather than focusing on what you can deliver
• What’s evolved in procurement and how Sermet has adapted to that

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Staverton Consulting.

Staverton Consulting delivers tangible and sustainable cost reduction as well as reducing business risks throughout the supply chain for private equity backed businesses, SME’S and growth companies. For more information please head to https://www.stavertonconsulting.com/.

“Procurement has been really effective in seeing growth opportunities and saying ‘Let us manage this, we can look after this’.”

While Will Bowley’s route into procurement may not be conventional, his pedigree in the industry matches the impact delivered as Director of Staverton Consulting.

With a unique perspective on the industry, Will joins us on Talent Talks to discuss the biggest challenges facing startup procurement consultancies, procurement’s evolution as a commercial facilitator, and much more.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Positioning procurement for executive visibility
• The ‘seat at the table’ happening organically, not being forced
• Breaking the stigma surrounding consultancies
• Will’s journey into business ownership & taking the plunge
• Procurement’s evolution as a commercial facilitator
• Leaders & CPOs seizing opportunities and leading agendas

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Staverton Consulting.

Staverton Consulting delivers tangible and sustainable cost reduction as well as reducing business risks throughout the supply chain for private equity backed businesses, SME’S and growth companies. For more information please head to https://www.stavertonconsulting.com/.

“Everyone should be learning right through their career. It's actually the power of saying very little, and listening.”

Soft skills are an undoubtedly vital part of any procurement professional’s skillset, but it’s such a vague term for something so key.

That’s why Tom Mills’ advocacy for soft skill development makes him the perfect guest on Talent Talks for a two-part discussion around how new professionals can stay a cut above the rest.

Join us for part 1 with Tom, where he covers the specific skills to develop, a comprehensive approach to stakeholder management, and the challenging language pervading the industry.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Why soft skills have evolved to become 10 times more important than before
• Which specific soft skills are best for budding procurement professionals to develop
• Flipping the narrative in stakeholder management
• The language of procurement and whether it clouds the understanding of how essential soft skills can be

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Staverton Consulting.

Staverton Consulting delivers tangible and sustainable cost reduction as well as reducing business risks throughout the supply chain for private equity backed businesses, SME’S and growth companies. For more information please head to https://www.stavertonconsulting.com/.

“Really push yourself out there - pushing your comfort zone is where you really feel alive.”

Soft skills in procurement are one thing, but employing them to become one of procurement’s most prominent names on social media is another ball game entirely.

If we’re to elevate the profession, it’s the kind of work that Tom Mills puts into his social following which we need to see more often. 

Tom returns for the second in this two-part episode of Talent Talks to discuss the power of stepping out of your comfort zone, how to stand out, and advice for anyone looking to bolster their confidence.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Tom’s powerful experience dealing with Pervasive Anxiety Disorder
• Advice for those wanting to gain confidence when sharing their voice
• Long term aims for Tom’s overall social media push
• The strength of ‘feeling fear and doing it anyway’

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Staverton Consulting.

Staverton Consulting delivers tangible and sustainable cost reduction as well as reducing business risks throughout the supply chain for private equity backed businesses, SME’S and growth companies. For more information please head to https://www.stavertonconsulting.com/.

“We need suppliers who understand what it's like from underrepresented groups’ perspectives, because those often are the groups that we're looking to speak to.”

Supplier diversity is essential to any good procurement professional’s portfolio, which emphasises the importance of the SRM that underpins everything.

That’s a focus area for one of procurement’s most prominent voices, Coventry Building Society’s Rebecca Howard.

Rebecca joins us on Talent Talks to discuss her very purposeful route into procurement, a growing focus on the social element of ESG goals, and the skills that separate average SRM from great SRM.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Rebecca’s determined entry into procurement
• The two top skills that underpin great SRM
• The amazing work on supplier diversity
• Pros and cons of separating SRM from procurement
• Advice for aspiring procurement and SRM leaders

The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Staverton Consulting.

Staverton Consulting delivers tangible and sustainable cost reduction as well as reducing business risks throughout the supply chain for private equity backed businesses, SME’S and growth companies. For more information please head to https://www.stavertonconsulting.com/.

“The most critical thing right now is to really develop the relationships with the people you work with, spend time with them understand them really well and form as trusting a relationship as you possibly can”

Tim has had a diverse journey in procurement, working in the industry for nearly 20yrs. He began his career joining Tesco on their graduate scheme and hasn’t looked back, working for various companies in retail, automotive and property both in the UK and internationally. He now heads up procurement for one of the largest UK property services companies, where over the last 3 years he has taken the area from a brownfield space to a mature function.

Tim shares his journey into procurement and discusses the importance of emotional intelligence in the field. He highlights the challenges and opportunities in procurement, particularly in managing time and resources. Tim also explores the evolving talent landscape in procurement and emphasises the need for continuous learning and development. 

He discusses the balance between a cash-driven approach and a business partnering approach in procurement.

Tim and Martin discuss the challenges of prioritisation and uncertainty in procurement. They highlight the difficulty of determining priorities and the unpredictable nature of outcomes. They also emphasise the importance of developing strong relationships with stakeholders to navigate the changing business landscape.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

1. Emotional intelligence within procurement.
2. Adaptability and being open to change within the industry
3. Focusing on business priorities while striving for continuous improvement
4. Embracing new challenges and experiences.
5. Building strong relationships

In this episode of the Talent Talks podcast, Martin Smith interviews Brian Lombard, a manager at Talent Drive. Brian shares his background and how he transitioned from procurement into procurement recruitment. 

He primarily focuses on the interim market and discusses the current opportunities and trends in UK procurement. They also touch on the impact of IR35 regulation and the hiring activity in different sectors. 

Brian provides advice for individuals looking to enter the interim market and shares tips for hiring interim professionals. Finally, they discuss their plans for 2024 and the growth of their business.

This episode of Talent Talks covers: 

1. Transitioning from procurement to recruitment can be a natural progression due to the similar skill sets required.
2. The interim market in UK procurement is currently strong, with opportunities in various sectors such as public sector, risk, and financial services.
3. The impact of IR35 regulation has settled, leading to more confidence in hiring contractors outside IR35.
4. Networking effectively and showcasing specific strengths are crucial for individuals looking to enter the interim market.
5. When hiring interim professionals, it is important to move at a fast pace, align with market salary expectations, and prioritize smooth onboarding.

In this episode, Martin Smith interviews Ben Paynter, Procurement Director of Burberry, about his journey into procurement and the challenges and opportunities in the industry. 

Ben shares his transition from sales to procurement and his passion for bringing non-procurement professionals into the field. He discusses the unique challenges of procurement in the retail sector and the need for skill sets related to ESG and CSR. 

Ben emphasises the importance of competency assessment in hiring and providing comprehensive feedback to candidates. He also addresses the war on talent in procurement and the need for more investment and awareness in the profession.

This episode of Talent Talks covers: 

1. Transitioning from sales to procurement offers new opportunities and a different perspective on negotiation and value creation.
2. The retail sector presents unique challenges in procurement, including the need for agility and the close link to a dynamic marketplace.
3. The industry faces challenges in finding and developing procurement talent, including the lack of investment in training and the focus on specific skill sets.
4. Competency assessment and comprehensive feedback are essential in hiring and developing procurement professionals.
5. Companies and individuals in the procurement field should work together to elevate the profession and create more awareness and opportunities.

Summary

In this episode, Martin Smith interviews Brad Mills, the first recruit of Talent Drive, about his experience in procurement recruitment. 

They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the retail and hospitality sector, the market outlook for 2024, and the changes in procurement recruitment over the years. 

Brad shares tips for hiring and emphasises the importance of diversity and agility of thought in the hiring process. They also highlight the value of industry experience in recruitment. Brad provides insights into the current state of procurement recruitment and offers valuable advice for both hiring managers and candidates.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

1.        The retail and hospitality sector faced challenges in 2023, but there are positive aspects and opportunities for growth in 2024.

2.        Leadership roles are emerging in procurement, creating new opportunities for professionals in the field.

3.        The recruitment process should focus on finding candidates who are a 7 or 8 out of 10, with the right soft skills and potential for development.

4.        Diversity and agility of thought are important in hiring, as they bring different perspectives and ideas to the team.

5.        Industry experience is valuable, but candidates from diverse backgrounds can also bring unique insights and skills.

In this episode, Martin Smith speaks to Tom Hajek, an independent consultant and head of strategic procurement at Checkatrade. They discuss the key ingredients for successful procurement transformation. 

Tom emphasises the importance of aligning procurement with high-level business objectives and applying a framework of people, processes, and technology. Tom also shares his methodology for prioritising transformation efforts and delivering commercial wins. 

He highlights the need for procurement to be perceived as a strategic enabler of the business and offers insights on attracting and developing procurement talent. Tom concludes by discussing the challenges faced by procurement teams and the profession as a whole.


This episode of Talent Talks covers:

1. Align procurement with high-level business objectives to deliver successful transformation.

2. Prioritise transformation efforts based on stakeholder engagement and burning issues.

3. Position procurement as a strategic enabler of the business to elevate its brand.

4. Attract and develop procurement talent with a focus on aptitude, commerciality, and sound judgment.

In this episode, Martin Smith interviews Alex Jennings, an experienced procurement and commercial professional who has worked for companies such as GE and Toyota.

They discuss Alex's career journey, his experience in managing teams, and the changes in the procurement profession. 

They also delve into Alex's entrepreneurial journey and the launch of his procurement platform, the Alchemie Network. The platform aims to connect procurement, supply chain, and sustainability professionals and provide them with tools for personal and professional development. 

Alex emphasises the importance of building strong teams, understanding individual strengths and weaknesses, and creating a culture of trust and diversity.

This episode of Talent Talks covers: 

●      Alex Jennings 40 years worth of experience within procurement and commercial roles.

●      The importance of building strong teams that complement each other's strengths and weaknesses.

●    That diversity, both in terms of demographics and thought, is crucial for a healthy and successful team.

●      The need for a culture of trust and an environment where team members feel comfortable challenging each other.

●      The evolution of procurement from a fulfilment-focused function to a strategic role that requires managing supply chain risks and disruptions.

●      Alex introduces the Alchemie Network, a procurement platform that aims to connect professionals and provide tools for personal and professional development.

In this episode, Martin Smith interviews Gavin Boswell, the Director of Procurement at Serco. 

They discuss Gavin’s 10-year career at Serco and the evolution of procurement over the past 30 years and the changing role of procurement professionals. 

They also explore the value proposition of procurement and the different methods used to deliver cost reduction and value optimisation. 

Gavin discusses the challenges and opportunities that come with leading transformation efforts in different organisations and emphasises the importance of creating alignment and appreciating the criticality of leadership in driving successful transformations. 

Gavin also discusses AI and its potential impact on procurement regarding processing activities, such as purchase order and invoice processing, as well as more strategic activities like supplier relationship management, innovation, sustainability and risk management.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Different methods and approaches are used to deliver cost reduction and value optimisation in procurement. 
• Innovation and building relationships with suppliers are key to enhancing competitiveness.
• Procurement should align with the strategic priorities of the business.
• Curiosity leads to a data-driven approach and enables strategic and business-focused procurement.
• Being proud of the profession and the journey of development in procurement is rewarding and fulfilling. 
• AI could play a significant role in procurement, freeing up talent for more impactful activities.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background

02:01

The Value Proposition of Procurement

04:20

Prioritisation and Focus in Different Business Units

06:23

Transformation and Development

08:23

Creating an Environment for Collaboration in Procurement

11:23

The Importance of Alignment

13:35

Challenges of Achieving Alignment in a Complex Business

15:50

Developing a Business Mindset

20:38

The Rewarding Journey of Development in Procurement

21:53

Continuous Learning and Evolution in Procurement

23:51

The Future of Procurement in the Digital Age

24:12

The Role of AI in Procurement

25:15

The Role of Automation in Procurement

25:58

Unlocking Talent through Automation

26:18

Using Automation for Processing and Strategic Activities

26:39

In this episode, Martin Smith interviews James Ball, Associate Director at Infosys Portland.

James discusses the differences between working in industry and working in consultancy in the procurement field. 

James shares his insights based on his 25 years of experience in procurement, with 15 years in industry and the last 10 years in consultancy. 

He discusses the differences in thought processes, responsibilities and timeframes between the two roles, and explores the concept of adaptive procurement transformation and the evolving role of procurement in organisations.

This episode of Talent Talks covers…

●      Working in industry and working in consultancy in procurement have significant differences in thought processes, responsibilities and timeframes.

●      In industry, procurement professionals focus on long-term strategies, team well-being, stakeholder engagement, policies, processes and category plans. In consultancy, they focus on project-based work, specific work streams, and achieving outcomes for clients.

●      Procurement is evolving to become its own profit centre, with a focus on adding value to the business and digitalisation.

●      The skills required for modern-day procurement professionals include adaptability, business partnering, technology proficiency and a learning mindset.

●      Consultancy in procurement has experienced double-digit growth and continues to be in demand, with organisations using consultancies for transformation projects and as a flexible resource.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of James Ball

01:25 The Differences Between Working in Industry and Consultancy in Procurement

11:46 Adaptive Procurement Transformation: Making Procurement Relevant

16:36 The Evolving Role of Procurement in Organisations

32:01 The Growth and Demand for Consultancy in Procurement

In this episode of the Talent Talks Podcast, our host Martin Smith speaks to Shifa Nasir, a procurement recruitment consultant at Talent Drive. 

Shifa discusses the power of networking and the current trends in the real estate and property market. 

Shifa shares her insights into the procurement industry and offers advice for candidates looking for new roles. 

She also discusses the importance of branding and marketing oneself in the procurement field.

Takeaways

• Networking is a powerful tool for building connections and staying up to date with industry trends.
• Candidates should focus on creating a strong CV and building their presence on platforms like LinkedIn to stand out from the crowd.
• Procurement professionals should consider hosting events and participating in podcasts to amplify their voice and share their knowledge.
• The real estate and property market is seeing opportunities for technology integration, supply diversity and localization of suppliers.
• Hiring managers should have a clear idea of the role they are hiring for and involve relevant team members in the interview process.

To learn more about Talent Drive, visit their website on www.talentdrive.co.uk

In this episode Martin Smith interviews Emir Allen, the Managing Director of Talent Finance. 

They discuss Emir's background in the accountancy and finance world, the challenges and opportunities in the profession and the current landscape of the market. 

They also touch on the importance of embracing technology and focusing on value-add, as well as the role of ESG in business. 

Emir provides advice for hiring managers and shares the plans for Talent Finance in 2024.

Takeaways

●      The accountancy and finance profession offers both challenges and opportunities in the current market.

●      Embracing technology, such as automation and AI, can improve efficiency and effectiveness in the industry.

●      ESG should be a vital part of businesses, attracting investors and employees.

●      Hiring managers should prioritize the hiring process, assess gaps in their teams and prioritise attitude over technical ability.

●      Talent Finance plans to partner with clients in the finance landscape to support their needs and add value.

In this special episode of the Talent Talks podcast, we have a new host, Warren Munson, founder of Evolve and The Evolve to Succeed Podcast interview our normal host Martin Smith, about his journey as an entrepreneur and running a recruitment group of businesses. 

Martin shares his early experiences in recruitment, the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growth of his company, Talent Drive. He discusses his aspirations to be a market disruptor and his passion for the procurement community. 

Martin also talks about the expansion of Talent Drive into the accountancy and finance sector with the launch of Talent Finance. He reflects on the growth and success of Talent Drive over the past four years. He emphasises the importance of focusing on the quality of people and building a trusted and valued team. 

Martin discusses the future of the recruitment industry, highlighting the need for adaptability to technology and the rise of ESG and sustainability. He also shares insights on fostering a positive culture and transparent communication within a remote business. He envisions the future of Talent Drive as a growing international presence with a focus on diversification and a one-stop-shop service offering.

Here are the key takeaways from this episode of the Talent Talks Podcast:

• Starting a recruitment business can be challenging, but with perseverance and a competitive spirit, it is possible to succeed.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, Talent Drive faced significant challenges, but by pivoting their approach and doubling down on marketing, they were able to overcome the obstacles.
• Talent Drive aims to be a market disruptor in the recruitment sector by focusing on building relationships, providing thought leadership, and championing the procurement community.
• The expansion of Talent Drive into the accountancy and finance sector with Talent Finance allows the company to diversify its revenue stream and better serve clients in the procurement community. 
• Focus on the quality of people and building a trusted and valued team.
• Foster a positive culture through trust, transparency, and open communication.

Chapters

00:00 - The Journey of an Entrepreneur

10:02 - The Itch to Start Something Myself

19:15 - Scary, Exciting, and Fun: Early Days of Talent Drive

23:24 - Being a Market Disruptor: Building Relationships and Providing Thought Leadership

25:49 - Expanding into New Horizons: Talent Drive's Venture into Accountancy and Finance

26:18 - Building a Trusted and Valued Team

27:47 - Opportunities and Potential in Finance

29:41 - Shifting Focus from Numbers to Quality of People

30:05 - Creating a Great Business that Serves Customers

33:26 - Balancing Work and Personal Life

35:24 - Being Present and Grounded

37:17 - Thriving in the Recruitment Industry

41:37 - Adapting to Technology in Procurement

42:59 - Emotional Intelligence in Recruitment

43:56 - Fostering a Positive Culture in a Remote Business

48:42 - The Future of Talent Drive: International Expansion and Diversification

50:58 - Defining Success: Working with People Who Want to Work with You

On this episode of the Talent Talks Podcast, Martin speaks with Suzanna Hinnell, Operations and Marketing Director at 4C Associates, about B Corp and its impact on sustainable business practices. 

They discuss the certification process, the importance of ethical business, and how B Corp helps attract talent and engage clients.

Suzanna shares her personal passion for sustainability and how businesses can implement sustainable practices to help create a better future.

The Key Areas of Conversation in this Podcast Episode with Suzanna Hinnell were;

+ B Corp certification focuses on sustainable and responsible business practices.

+ 4C Associates aims to be a force for good in the consultancy space.

+ The certification process requires significant documentation and policy implementation.

+ Sustainable travel practices are essential for reducing carbon footprints in consultancy.

+ Engaging employees in sustainability initiatives enhances team cohesion.

+ B Corp certification helps attract talent who are passionate about sustainability.

+ B Corp certification provides a framework for ethical decision-making.

+ The future of B Corp may depend on evolving legislation and societal expectations.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to B Corp
02:49 - The Importance of B Corp
06:05 - B Corp Certification Process
08:50 - Sustainable Travel Practices
12:10 - Sustainability and Ethics
15:02 - Attracting Talent with B Corp
17:52 - Competition in Consultancy
21:08 - Client Engagement in Consultancy
24:04 - Challenges and Opportunities of B Corp Certification
26:56 - Future of B Corp

On this episode of the Talent Talks Podcast, Martin talks to Jonathan Wharfe, Director of Procurement and Commercial Operations at Transport for London.

Jonathan shares insights from his extensive career in procurement. He emphasises the importance of building communities, listening to stakeholders and fostering a culture of trust and collaboration. 

Jonathan discusses the evolution of procurement practices, the impact of AI and the need to address geopolitical challenges. 

He also highlights the significance of talent management and the necessity of changing the narrative around procurement to attract new talent.

Takeaways

·       Listening is crucial for building trust in teams.

·      Culture should be developed collaboratively with teams.

·      Dyslexia can be a unique advantage in problem-solving.

·      AI will enhance procurement processes and decision-making.

·       Procurement must adapt to geopolitical challenges.

·       The narrative around procurement needs to be improved.

·      Mentorship plays a vital role in career development.


Chapters

00:00 Building Communities in Procurement

02:53 The Importance of Listening

06:12 Cultural Transformation

08:56 Career Transitions and Mentorship

12:12 The Evolution of Procurement Practices

14:56 AI

17:48 Geopolitical Challenges in Procurement

21:08 Talent in Procurement

24:01 Changing the Narrative

26:48 Advice for Aspiring CPOs

In this episode, Martin Smith interviews Carl Ferrand, Head of Procurement at Specsavers. 

Carl shares his journey into procurement, emphasising the importance of people in leadership and the need to stand out when applying for positions.

He discusses the evolution of procurement, highlighting the increasing responsibilities and skills required in the field, and offers valuable advice for aspiring procurement leaders, encouraging curiosity and consistency in their careers. 

The conversation also touches on the role of LinkedIn in professional identity and community building within procurement.

Takeaways

• Carl Ferrand's journey into procurement was a conscious choice.
• Leadership in procurement should focus on people and their well-being.
• The evolution of procurement has led to increased responsibilities and skills.
• Aspiring leaders should embrace curiosity and enjoy their work.
• Building relationships is crucial for success in procurement.
• Consistency in performance is key to career advancement.
• LinkedIn serves as a valuable platform for community and professional growth.
• Taking time for self-care can enhance productivity and mental health.
• Saying yes to opportunities can lead to personal and professional opportunities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

08:32 Leadership Philosophy

11:47 Resilience in Procurement

20:48 Evolution of Procurement

25:37 Advice for Aspiring Leaders

36:19 LinkedIn 

On this episode of the Talent Talks Podcast, Martin sits down with Nikki Wright, Director of Operations at 10X Banking, as she shares her extensive experience in procurement and operations across various industries, particularly in the banking sector. 

She discusses the complexities of navigating procurement within a heavily regulated environment, the balance between compliance and agility, and the evolution of procurement roles. 

Nikki emphasises the importance of diversity, soft skills, and the need to rebrand procurement to overcome negative perceptions. 

She also highlights the commitment of 10X Banking to sustainability and its status as a B Corp certified organisation. 

The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of procurement, the impact of inflation on supplier relationships, and the necessity of digitalisation in procurement processes. 

Nikki shares personal insights about her career journey, inspirations, and the importance of taking ownership of one's career path.

Takeaways

Procurement often involves navigating complex regulations, especially in finance.

Procurement roles are evolving to include more operational responsibilities.

Diversity in procurement is improving but still has a long way to go.

Soft skills are essential for success in procurement roles.

There is a need to change the negative perception of procurement.

Procurement functions as a bridge between the company and suppliers.

10X Banking is committed to sustainability and is B Corp certified.

Job titles in procurement need consistency to attract diverse talent. 

B Corp accreditation is crucial for demonstrating commitment to ESG.

The decisions we make today impact future generations.

Change in large organisations is often slow and challenging.

Risk mitigation is essential in today's supply chain management.

Digitalisation is necessary for effective procurement decision-making.

Career ownership is key to professional growth.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:48 Procurement in the Banking Sector

06:13 Compliance in Procurement

09:06 Procurement Roles

12:12 Diversity

14:54 Soft Skills

18:09 Negative Perceptions

20:52 Sustainability

23:48 B Corp Accreditation

27:04 Financial Sector

30:18 Challenges in ESG

34:27 Procurement Challenges

40:05 Personal Inspirations and Career Reflections 

In this episode, Martin Smith interviews Canberk Incekara, Head of Indirect Procurement at OCS.

Canberk shares his extensive experience in procurement and supply chains, discussing the evolution of the industry, the importance of understanding the end-to-end value chain, and the challenges of navigating external factors like COVID and Brexit. 

He emphasises the need for a balance between globalisation and local support, the significance of soft skills in talent management, and the changing expectations of the new generation in the workforce. 

The conversation also touches on cultural adaptability in negotiations, with Canberk discussing the differences between Turkey and the UK. He also discusses the importance of retaining talent through job satisfaction and growth opportunities.

Takeaways

· Canberk’s journey reflects the interconnectedness of procurement and supply chain.

· Understanding the total cost of ownership is crucial in procurement.

· COVID and Brexit have reshaped procurement strategies.

· Supporting local businesses is essential in a globalised market.

· Procurement is evolving into a more strategic function.

· Cultural adaptability is key in international negotiations.

· Soft skills are increasingly important in talent management.

· Retention challenges stem from new generation expectations.

· Transferable skills in procurement can apply across industries.

· Agility in approach is necessary for success in procurement.


Chapters 

00:00 Journey Through Procurement and Supply Chain

02:23 End-to-End Value Chains

04:42 External Factors in Supply Chain

06:00 Globalisation and Local Support

09:09 The Evolution of Procurement

12:52 Cultural Adaptability

16:17 Talent in Procurement

19:30 Retention Challenges

22:08 Transferable Skills

23:34 Quickfire Questions 

On this episode, Martin Smith interviews John Butcher, the Procurement Director at Just Eat Takeaway. 

John shares his journey of building a procurement team from scratch, the challenges he faced, and the importance of hiring the right talent. 

He discusses the evolving procurement landscape, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the impact of technology, particularly AI, on the industry. 

John emphasises the need for agility in procurement and offers valuable insights for aspiring leaders in the field.

Takeaways

Building a procurement team requires a blend of internal and external talent.

Cultural fit and attitude are crucial in talent acquisition.

Procurement can add value beyond just cost savings.

Emotional intelligence is becoming increasingly important in procurement roles.

Delegation is essential for effective leadership.

Technology, including AI, is transforming the procurement landscape.

Continuous learning and adaptation are necessary for success in procurement.

Leadership involves pushing boundaries and extending influence.

Chapters

00:00 Building a Team from Scratch

09:46 The Importance of Talent

19:59 Procurement in 2024

23:52 Leadership Insights

On this episode of Talent Talks, Samuel De Frates, Kathryn Thompson and Bilal Shaykh discuss the transformative role of AI in procurement, exploring its potential to enhance supplier selection, risk management, and overall efficiency. 

They delve into the challenges faced by procurement professionals, the risks associated with AI implementation, and the importance of addressing resistance to change. 

The conversation also highlights the evolving skills required for procurement professionals in the age of AI and the future trends that will shape the industry.

Takeaways

• AI can significantly improve supplier selection and risk management.
• Using AI as a co-pilot rather than an autonomous decision maker is crucial.
• Automating simple tasks can free up resources for more complex challenges.
• Choosing the right technology to implement is critical for success.
• Fixing basic processes is necessary before adopting new technologies.
• Talent and skills gaps are major impediments to AI adoption in procurement.
• The future of procurement will heavily rely on AI technologies.
• Procurement professionals need to focus on relationship management.
• AI will enable procurement to concentrate on value creation rather than mundane tasks.

Chapters

00:00 AI's Impact on Procurement

02:52 Challenges in Procurement

06:06 Risks of AI Implementation

08:56 Navigating Change in Procurement

12:12 Future Trends in AI and Procurement

15:00 Skills and Competencies for the Future

17:49 The Evolving Role of Procurement Professionals

21:01 Conclusion

Martin Smith, host of Talent Talks interviews two of the UK’s leading Procurement Experts whose experience spans across the aviation, retail and banking sectors, leading procurement divisions for brands such as British Airways, M&S, John Lewis, JP Morgan, RBS and The Body Shop. 

In this episode, Amanda Earnshaw-Darg and Roger Davies discuss the key topics they feel need addressing in the procurement world, to help the industry be more aware and agile in 2020 including automation, digitalisation and category management, as well as a number of tips for those looking to progress their career in procurement. 

This episode of Talent Talks covers: Automation & digitalisation. How the future role of procurement is developing. The importance of networking. Advice on career and skills development in procurement. Differing views on category management. The impact of Brexit. Benefits of mentoring and role models. “Cost vs Value Add” and the importance of understanding the overall business strategy

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/talent-talks-podcast/challenges-facing-the-procurement-industry-in-2020/

Martin Smith, host of Talent Talks interviews two of the UK’s leading procurement experts whose experience spans across the IT and Technology sectors, leading procurement divisions for brands such as Babcock International, British Airways, IBM, Accenture, Nokia, Virgin Atlantic and KPMG. In this episode, Phil Clark and Matt Man discuss the variety of skills now required in an ever-changing industry to work in IT or Technology procurement, the rise of commercial danger zones, the need to raise awareness of the procurement profession to schools and universities and the impact of emerging technologies including 5G, IoT and AI. This episode of Talent Talks covers: The changing environment of the technology industry, The skill set required within technology procurement, Commercial danger zones, The implications of changes to SAAS and cloud based services, Working with suppliers and colleagues to understand data and privacy regulations, Developing a career within IT & tech procurement, The impact of 5G, IoT & AI, Big Data & Blockchain. Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

Are you looking for work in the procurement or supply-chain industry? In the midst of the coronavirus crisis the future is uncertain and job markets unstable. Martin Smith, founder of Talent Drive created this latest episode of the Talent Talks podcast to provide support and guidance to those wanting to stay ahead of the employment market.

He welcomes Alice Fewings, LinkedIn Trainer and Social Media Strategist to provide advice and guidance on building an online profile to improve your personal brand to appeal to recruiters and potential employers. Alice runs through the importance and value of Linked In, how to attract and engage your target audience, how to pull people through to your personal profile and how to get discovered on the platform. 

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Why LinkedIn is a really valuable tool for us to use right now
• How to create a professional profile image and banner image
• Four different ways to create an engaging headline
• Ways to ensure you’re contactable for employers or recruiters
• Keeping your profile up to date and descriptive of your skills

This is the first online webinar recording from the #projectprocurement programme which has been converted into a podcast. #projectprocurement has been created by procurement professionals, Martin Smith, Richard Struthers and Ricky Wallace, to provide support for those looking to get back into work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us at our next webinar by registering on our eventbrite page; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/talent-drive-30144105948

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

Specialist supply-chain and procurement recruiter, Martin Smith from Talent Drive provides helpful insights to job hunters, in this unique episode of Talent Talks. He provides a deep-dive into how to stand out against the competition by being authentic, curating relevant content and showcasing the value you can add to employers. This episode of Talent Talks covers: - How to approach businesses you want to work for - Taking advantage of marginal gains through recruiters - CV writing tips - Building and nurturing your network - Identifying industries with demand in supply-chain professionals -Tips on negotiating your salary - Curating relevant and authentic content. Initially recorded as an online webinar as part of the #projectprocurement series, this podcast episode includes a short informative speech, followed by a Q&A led by a series of procurement professionals. Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/ Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

What skills will be in demand out of lockdown? Which industries will thrive and fall in procurement? How will outsourcing abroad change? How do I stay ahead of the game? In this series of short bonus Talent Talks episodes, Martin Smith interviews leading procurement professionals from a range of brands about their views and experiences on the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic.This week Martin welcomes Peter Smith, former CIPs President, with 30 years experience in procurement, author of “A Procurement Compendium" and Managing Director of Procurement Excellence. This episode of Talent Talks covers: - The effect of COVID-19 on different industries - Skills that will be in demand out of lockdown - Supply-chain risk management - De-Globalisation and outsourcing from abroad - Advice for those looking for work. Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

How can procurement professionals find opportunities during lockdown to step-up, showcase value and get to the top table where perhaps they were struggling before? In this episode of Talent Talks, Martin Smith welcomes Leigh Kopec, Head of Procurement and Contract Management at The Royal British Legion.

He provides insights into the tactics and strategies he has put into place to adapt to needs in a pandemic, including redeploying team members to other categories, collaborating with other charities to source PPE for their care homes and identifying and managing risk.

Leigh discusses leaving a “procurement legacy” after the lockdown, and using it as a time to evaluate contracts and suppliers, complete personal development training, and open up the pool of talent available to you as an organisation. 

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Leading the way in digital procurement technology in the charity sector
• Due diligence around PPE sourcing in the UK
• Adapting to virtual fundraising and finding new sources
• Reacting to demands within care homes
• Opportunities for procurement experts to step-up during a crisis

In this series of short bonus Talent Talks episodes, Martin Smith interviews leading procurement professionals from a range of brands about their views and experiences on the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

Founder of the world’s first online business network built exclusively for procurement and supply chain professionals, Tania Seary is recognised as one of the influential members of the industry. In this episode of Talent Talks, Tania provides insights into how different countries have dealt with resource issues, public perception of procurement and how to take advantage of its time in the spotlight and skills in demand in the aftermath of the pandemic. In this series of short bonus Talent Talks episodes, Martin Smith interviews leading procurement professionals from a range of brands about their views and experiences on the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic. This episode of Talent Talks covers: - How different countries have dealt with resource issues - Developing local sourcing strategies - Public image and perception of procurement - Sustainable sourcing - Procurement skill sets - Developing a category strategy. Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/ This episode of Talent Talks was sponsored by Bridge Procurement. Bridge Procurement helps companies of all sizes to reduce their operating expenditure whilst improving contract governance. They always provide a return on investment and a refreshing approach to outsourced procurement. For more information please visit bridgeprocurement.com  

How did the UK healthcare profession tackle unprecedented shortages and demands during a global pandemic? In this episode of Talent Talks, Martin Smith talks to Andrew Jones, Owner & Director or Expert Procurement and current Director of Procurement at Aspen Healthcare. Andrew discusses sourcing PPE during a global shortage, the future role of adaptability in choosing products, collaborating across professions and key considerations for building a procurement team. This episode of Talent Talks covers: - Bringing people back into health care - PPE supply- Impacts of panic buying - Long-term impacts on the procurement industry - Adaptability in purchasing - Collaborating across professions - Building procurement teams. In this series of short bonus Talent Talks episodes, Martin Smith interviews leading procurement professionals from a range of brands about their views and experiences on the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

As a purely bricks and mortar business, with no online services, Primark were one of the hardest hit industries during the COVID-19 lockdown. No-one could have ever imagined that their top line could become zero overnight. In this episode of Talent Talks, Martin Smith, Founder of Talent Drive interviews Ross Grierson, Head of Indirect Procurement at Primark about how his role and team has adapted during the pandemic. Ross discusses building a new team remotely, who have never physically met each other, the importance of being considerate during supplier negotiations, and why you should “Be bold but be humble”. This episode of Talent Talks covers: - How retail is adapting - Building new teams remotely - Embracing new technology - Long-term impacts on the procurement industry - Valuable skills moving forward. Links and references at https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/ This episode of Talent Talks was sponsored by Bridge Procurement. Bridge Procurement helps companies of all sizes to reduce their operating expenditure whilst improving contract governance. They always provide a return on investment and a refreshing approach to outsourced procurement. For more information please visit bridgeprocurement.com  

Is your supply chain resilient enough to survive unprecedented times? A question many of us have learnt the answer to in the last few months with the outbreak of COVID-19. But with the pandemic far from over, what can you do now to make it stronger and rebuild it’s foundations more securely? In episode 13 of Talent Talks, Martin Smith welcomes Nick Wildgoose, Director of Procurement Advantage. Nick has an impressive career working with brands such as PwC, Virgin and Zurich, before becoming a well-known leader in supply chain resilience through his own procurement consultancy. They discuss the assessment of geopolitical, financial and technological risk, the development of digitalisation and why being second in supply chain isn’t good enough. This episode of Talent Talks covers: - Building a resilient supply chain - Embedding risk management within the sourcing process - Ethical sourcing - Understanding your full bill of materials -Effects on different industries - Digitalisation and big data in supply chain. Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

Are you selling yourself short? In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with information how can you make yourself stand out to your next employer?

Andrew MacAskill, Founder of Executive Career Jump heads up this weeks’ conversation with over 16 years experience in the recruitment industry and having run his own business now for just short of two years. He talks us through the importance of personal branding, professionally authentic content and his thoughts on how the job market is going to pan out amidst these challenging times. 

Martin and Andrew also talk over: 

• How and why Personal Branding is important
• LinkedIn Hints & Tips 
• Differentiating and selling yourself
• Changes and trends in recruitment 
• Working around furlough

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

“Get it right now and you're saving yourself some more time down the line.” 

Susan Walsh Classification Guru set up her own company three years ago when she left her job in data classification, and wasn’t sure where to turn next. Her confidence and ability to classify spend data for businesses solidified her decision to start up on her own. 

In episode 15 of Talent Talks, Martin and Susan Walsh dive deep into the meaning of spend data and classification, as well as winding back to last weeks’ topic of personal branding, which Susan has worked on a lot over the last year… this includes talk of her love of pyjamas and pink. 

This Episode of Talent Talks covers: 

• The definition of Spend Data 
• Money saving in monitoring and data entry
• Future of the procurement industry
• Underestimating procurement as a skill 
• Importance of data quality

Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

Your role in procurement is to achieve and to promote the aims of the business.” 

Daniel Barnes, Founder of World of Procurement and host of the World of Procurement Podcast works across all sectors of procurement, which in itself is pretty niche. Starting his career with a degree in Commercial Law and a Masters in IT and Commerce Law, Daniel truly found his passion within the world of procurement.

Martin and Dan touch on a variety of topics but mostly around the need to humanise and change mindsets of those working in procurement. As professionals in the industry, they need to be acting more like business people - considering the business as a whole, realigning business goals and targets to that of the CEO’s or your Directors. 

This Episode of Talent Talks covers: 

• What makes a good procurement employee
• Neglect of contract management 
• Differences in the global approach to procurement
• Problems in procurement networking and conferencing
• The future of procurement through Daniel’s lense

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/ Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

For this very special episode of Talent Talks, I’m delighted to be joined by three well-known leading experts in the world of procurement consultancy for a panel discussion;

• Simon Whatson - Principal - Efficio Consulting
• Simon Geale - VP - Proxima
• Jeremy Smith - Managing Partner - 4C Associates

We discuss using external consultants versus hiring procurement talent in-house and what the mindset and skills  it takes to succeed as a Procurement Consultant. 

We also flip the questions and discuss CPO’s experiences on when working and engaging with procurement consultancies hasn’t worked and why, the importance of empathy and understanding, and the future of the profession. 

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

What is the impact of digitalisation on modern day procurement? In this episode of Talent Talks, Martin Smith, Founder of Talent Drive is joined by three procurement leaders in the tech and digital area;

- Dave Jones - Indirect Procurement Senior Leadership Team at John Lewis Partnership
- James Meads - Consultant & Host of The Procuretech Podcast
- Dr. Thierry Fausten - Consultant at Informed Decisions

They discuss their experiences of engaging with tech partners, which areas of tech will be expanding in the near future and the changing role of a Buyer & Procurement Manager.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

Did you know that 50% of the workforce in procurement is now female? There’s been a tremendous sea of change in the last 10 years, but the board level and leadership teams don’t yet represent this at the higher levels. 

In episode 19 of Talent Talks Martin Smith welcomes an excellent panel who discuss how to attract, nurture and develop female talent within the procurement and supply-chain industry;

• Rebecca Lonsdale, Director of Procurement at Britvic Soft Drinks
• Victoria Sargeant, Head of Category and Supplier Management at BAE Systems
• Sarah-Jane Ellis - Former Director of Procurement at Heathrow and Head of Sourcing at the BBC, now founder of Procurement Presence

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

2020 has accelerated diversity and inclusion in procurement through the impact of the global pandemic and BlackLivesMatter protests. In this special episode of Talent Talks, Martin welcomes another incredible line-up who discuss how their own companies are encouraging diversity and inclusion and how we can continue this momentum within the procurement industry.

Our panel includes:

• Laura Grant. Former VP of Procurement at Virgin Atlantic
• Tunde Adeniyi, Clinical Sourcing Lead for Salisbury NHS
• Caroline Lloyd, Head of Procurement Operations North/Central Europe at DS Smith

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• What is the meaning of diversity and inclusion?
• Examples of embracing diversity and inclusion within Virgin, NHS, DS Smith 
• How to ensure it is actively implemented throughout your team
• The impact of the #blacklivesmatter initiative on businesses
• How the procurement industry can improve
• Supporting women into leadership roles
• Tips & advice to be proactive in diversity and inclusion

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

Martin head’s across the Atlantic this episode with a North American panel to discuss how to improve the revolving door in procurement and supply-chain, the impact of COVID-19 in the American market and the increase in content marketing and personal branding movement in the industry.  

Our panel includes:

• Richard Ham - CEO at Fine Tune: 
• Sarah Barnes-Humphry - CEO of Shipz - Host of “Lets Talk Supply Chain” 
• Mark Raffan - Host of Negotiations Ninja Podcast and Head of Marketing at Content Callout 

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The art of negotiation
• Handover and CRM management between accounts
• The impact of COVID-19 on the procurement industry in America
• Improving hiring processes
• Content marketing and personal branding in procurement
• The rise of entrepreneurship and innovation

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

There’s a key difference between viewing procurement as a cost-saver and as a driving force for business growth, and the chance to take this optimistic approach is occasionally overlooked. 

In episode 22 of Talent Talks, Martin Smith welcomes Jeremy Bowley, Managing Director of Insider Pro and Tom Lewers, former Commercial Director of Network Rail, CPO Royal London & LV= and now MD at Procurement Potential. With experience on both sides of the procurement equation, Jeremy and Tom offer tips to maximise the impact that you can offer to a business by improving faith in the procurement functions, as well as boosting the reputation of CFO’s. 

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Delivering tangible strategic value
• Making interventions to ensure sustainable growth
• How procurement can support CFO’s in reputational matters
• Showing confidence to better identify client needs
• The procurement approach to risk diversity
• Sharing ‘best practice’ with fellow professionals
• Improving the chances of acquiring funding from the boardroom

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

“If you're collaborating and networking with your peers, you're probably getting better insights and better knowledge into what you do for a day to day job.”

Michael Cadieux is the Founder and CEO of an exclusive, free network of procurement professionals called The Procurement Foundry which, over the course of the past year, has transformed the way people define networking. 

Given the current restrictions on travel, events and socialising, this particularly pertinent episode of Talent Talks sees Martin Smith delve into how creating an online networking platform achieves its goal more effectively, the benefit of opening The Procurement Foundry up to a global community, and maintaining a level of exclusivity on a free platform.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Improving the quality of your online interactions
• How to be more connected in the procurement industry
• Operating outside of your comfort zone
• Nurturing business relationships over time
• Quality over quantity in thought leadership

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

In an increasingly global business environment, there is a growing necessity to focus on Supplier Risk Management. The impact of reputational risks, data security breaches and issues within the supply chain have evolved over the course of 2020 in particular.

In episode 24 of Talent Talks, Martin Smith is joined by Oliver Mountain and Avnish Patel, whose decades of experience with Revive Consulting and Air Products respectively have provided key insights into how you can increase the resilience of your supply chain, and formulate a plan to mitigate supplier risk before it materialises. Oliver and Avnish share some of the trends in SRM to which the industry has had to react, and the impact that social media has had on the importance of reputational risk.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The current impact of Supplier Risk Management
• Trends in SRM
• Effects of globalisation on risk
• Increasing cases of ransomware and data security breaches
• Mitigating reputational risk
• Developing supply chain resilience
• The evolution of analytics in inventory management

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

Transforming a procurement function can seem a mammoth task, requiring the coordination of several people to create tangible change. To demystify procurement transformation and sustainable sourcing, Martin Smith is joined by CPO at Legal & General, Daniel Keyworth and Group Procurement Director at M&S, Andrew Newnham.

Daniel and Andrew break down the most effective way to generate procurement transformation, and how making changes over time can alleviate many potential problems with transformation. With respect to sustainable sourcing, they also discuss a shift in consumer attitude towards sustainability, and the potential this creates for influencing your suppliers

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Aligning procurement with broader company objectives
• Achieving smaller, more regular, evolutionary transformation
• Communicating with stakeholders
• Difference in approach for different sectors
• The impact of younger, more environmentally aware consumers

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

“I think the basis of SRM is building a program, and that sounds a bit grandiose, but building a strategy where you're helping suppliers treat you like you'd like to be treated, and also doing the same to them. So it's a two way street.”

The guest for this episode of Talent Talks has one of the most diverse procurement backgrounds we’ve seen yet. Scott Collins has been a Councillor for the London Borough of Hillingdon, as well as delivering procurement work for the Conservative Party and Ladbrokes before founding his own consultancy firm, Hawtrey Dene.

Scott joins Martin Smith for a discussion focused around supplier relationship management, in which we learn how to assess when you should check in with your suppliers, the growing trend for remote and flexible working, and Scott’s three top tips for remaining relevant and successful in the procurement industry.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Adapting to a leadership role
• Good practice in the supplier relationship management process
• The likely increase in remote collaboration, and how to cope with it
• Difference in approach from being a client vs being a consultant
• Determining a suitable frequency of contact with suppliers

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

“You see dozens of LinkedIn posts, webinars, virtual conferences, forums, and they're all saying ‘Procurement’s time to shine, take a seat at the table’. And this isn't probably going to be very popular but here goes - it's not. If you've only just realized this now you're probably a bit late to the party.”

Gareth Hughes is well versed in a diverse range of procurement functions, from Bupa to L&G and most recently Whistl, and has one of the less popular opinions in the procurement world - if you suggest that now is procurement’s prime time then you’re already a step behind.

In this episode Gareth dives into the numerous lessons he’s learned from his time across a variety of industries. From managing demand in an industry that’s seen an increase in activity since March, to the responsibility for procurement professionals to explain that we are more than a cost-saving exercise in order to boost the profile of the procurement function.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Adapting to procurement in different industries
• Improving interactions with stakeholders
• Managing increasing demand from COVID-19
• Why now is not the optimal time for procurement to have a seat at the table
• Shortening and localisation of supply chains

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

“You can't have everyone wanting to have the next job up, otherwise you run the risk of getting into that conflict with the team”

Building a procurement team that works well together requires an overview of the whole team’s needs when hiring, not just looking at the role to be filled. Finding talent with the skill set you don’t yet cover may require an open-minded CPO to look beyond applicants already in the procurement profession.

The CPO of Dixons Carphone, Kendall Smith, has experienced procurement transformations in a variety of industries, from property, to IT, to phones and broadband, and knows the kind of traits that prop up a successful procurement team. In this episode of Talent Talks, we hear Kendall’s take on interim and permanent roles, the increasing need for high return on investment when hiring contractors, and how hiring too many budding CPO’s-to-be could be a detriment to your team.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• What CPO’s look for in talented procurement professionals
• The differing skill set required for different industries
• More effective use of contractors
• Interim vs permanent roles
• Identifying the team’s needs when hiring
• The dangers of a whole team wanting the top job

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

One of the key links in the sourcing and procurement process is naturally the wealth of suppliers, without whom the supply chain would not function. Given the demands and pressure burdened upon them, it seems only fitting that those who go above and beyond should be recognised. 

A keen advocate of the supplier recognition awards hosted by his business, this week’s Talent Talks guest - Vitality’s Head of Sourcing, Chris Wilson - also considers the benefits of authenticity from struggling suppliers, how Vitality have changed their customer rewards programme in light of current events, and managing to onboard a new supplier without a single face to face meeting!

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Improving engagement through refining employee reward programs
• The importance of supplier recognition
• Key differences between working in the public and private sectors
• The authenticity of admitting concerns
• A growing emphasis on risk analysis
• How Vitality have adapted to the current working environment

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: martin@talentdrive.co.uk

“Ultimately, unless you're joining a start-up, then it's not ever really a greenfield site. There's going to be existing practices.”

Generally a greenfield project can be considered one where the processes you implement aren’t constrained by prior practice, but the reality of breaking the habits already in place can be complex, particularly if your knowledge of the category is limited. 

From his experience as Virgin Atlantic’s Head of Procurement in Engineering, Simon Feeney vouches that this lack of knowledge can actually be a strength, allowing basic questions to be asked and discovering novel opportunities to drive value.

Now the Procurement Director at Collinson, Simon offers his views on the importance of understanding a category’s nuances before implementing processes that work elsewhere in the business, and a fresh perspective on the meaning of greenfield procurement.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• An alternate view on greenfield procurement
• Introducing new procurement processes to existing category areas
• Balancing tactical and strategic activities
• How lack of experience in a category can benefit your approach
• Collinson’s unique position to help restart the travel industry

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Suppleye - a free to access platform that provides fresh insights, breaking news and unique sentiment scores on the companies that interest you. Know your suppliers inside and out by visiting https://www.suppleye.com/ and signing up in less than 2 minutes. 

“Once stakeholders are on board with e-procurement systems, they find it much more efficient. They're more enthusiastic about being involved in procurement processes.”

Like the digitisation of most things in the world, the rise of e-procurement promises to bring all parties closer together which, when trying to integrate procurement with the interests of stakeholders, is a giant leap for our industry!

Currently utilising e-procurement to its full potential is Anna Thorncroft, Head of Procurement at MTR Elizabeth Line, who advocates the importance of familiarising interested parties in the processes that may be second nature to us. 

Anna joins Martin Smith to detail MTR’s implementation of this, as well as considering how procurement can improve its representation for female professionals in the industry, and how that starts with better raising awareness for opportunities in procurement.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The introduction of e-procurement
• Streamlining procurement through digitisation
• Varying levels of integration in different industries
• Becoming a more human face of procurement
• Attracting more female professionals to the industry
• Diversity and representation in procurement
• How home working has affected internal and supplier relationship management

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Suppleye - a free to access platform that provides fresh insights, breaking news and unique sentiment scores on the companies that interest you. Know your suppliers inside and out by visiting https://www.suppleye.com/ and signing up in less than 2 minutes.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

Where most businesses’ motivations are generally financial, one needs to take a different approach in the more philanthropic not-for-profit sector. The value added comes from a completely different operation to that of a private sector corporate.

Having progressed to Head of Procurement over his 4 and a half years with Wellcome Trust, Josh Dempsey has facilitated the supply chain behind some key health campaigns, and has had to concentrate his areas of focus since the need for vaccinations and public health efforts in the past year.

Josh joins Martin Smith on Talent Talks to discuss the unique challenges of governance and control in the non profit sector, working with a larger roster of suppliers than most businesses, and whether a non profit organisation should look at cost saving or adding value in the current economic climate.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Key challenges facing the not for profit sector
• Managing a uniquely diverse range of stakeholders
• Operating in a function which rarely stays with one supplier
• Cost saving vs adding value - which is better to focus on?
• Josh’s desire to see more collaboration

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Suppleye - a free to access platform that provides fresh insights, breaking news and unique sentiment scores on the companies that interest you. Know your suppliers inside and out by visiting https://www.suppleye.com/ and signing up in less than 2 minutes.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“I think that women are more cautious about putting themselves out there in case of failure, where I think that men are much more willing to take that risk, and can see themselves succeeding, where women can see themselves failing..”

To see a greater representation for females at director level roles, we need to encourage women in procurement to seize the opportunities that they deserve. 

Speaking to the differing mindset between male and female counterparts, Dentsu International’s Procurement Director, Claire Willis, vouches for the support that could help level the playing field in our industry.

Also in this episode, we hear how seeking soft skills over category experience can help break bad habits, deconstruct the taboo over maternity and paternity in business, and the increasing focus on procurement’s power as a force for good.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The degree of diversity in director level roles
• Encouraging female colleagues to seize great opportunities 
• Balancing self-promotion and promoting your team
• The growing recognition of procurement’s capacity to add value
• Increasing importance of social impact, and being a force for good
• Excelling through various category transitions
• Claire’s most sought after traits for building a procurement team

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Suppleye - a free to access platform that provides fresh insights, breaking news and unique sentiment scores on the companies that interest you. Know your suppliers inside and out by visiting https://www.suppleye.com/ and signing up in less than 2 minutes.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“Marketing is an investment, and we are guardians of that investment, and we can drive the value for that investment.”

If there’s one category within procurement that we haven’t yet really dived into on Talent Talks, it’s likely to be marketing procurement. It’s proven to be an area with some unique and interesting challenges, particularly recruiting and training in the sector. 

This poses a fantastic opportunity for the first panel discussion of 2021, gathering a wealth of experience between Lora Peach of Allianz Insurance, Paula O’Reilly from Britvic, and Tina Fegent, a Marketing Procurement Consultant of nearly 15 years. We hear why some recruiters are focusing more on soft skills than category experience, the benefits we all stand to gain from closer collaboration with suppliers, and the current landscape of mentoring and training.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How marketing procurement is perceived in the wider industry
• Staying up to date with the market
• Demonstrating investment in training
• How to support marketing departments in achieving cost and value
• Adding value through the pandemic and avoiding crisis mode
• Overcoming the lack of face-to-face interaction
• Networking and pitching online

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Suppleye - a free to access platform that provides fresh insights, breaking news and unique sentiment scores on the companies that interest you. Know your suppliers inside and out by visiting https://www.suppleye.com/ and signing up in less than 2 minutes.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“Globalisation is very much determined not by the organisation, but by how it serves its customers.”

“Globalisation is very much determined not by the organization, but by how it serves its customers.”

Jayesh Joshi joins us this week to discuss how he has managed to boost the profile of Procurement as an industry through many great initiatives including the APAC CPO Forum he created and how Procurement can do more to share best practice and help highlight Procurements importance to businesses.

Having managed an incredible portfolio of contracts (Vodafone, Barclays, Capita and many more), and serving as BT’s Global VP for 3 years now, Jayesh has a wealth of experience that offers a truly worldwide perspective on procurement. 

Joining Martin Smith for an episode of Talent Talks, rich with insights from all aspects of the procurement world, Jayesh shares his take on solving procurement’s ‘identity crisis’, increasing the strength of bonds between larger companies and SMEs, and how procurement can be a real force for good.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Procurement’s current perception in the market
• Procurement as a strategic enabler and a force for good
• The growing focus on SMEs
• Globalisation in procurement, and its dependence on client needs
• Pace of evolution of procurement in tech vs other sectors
• Jayesh’s route into procurement, and why you should choose it

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Suppleye - a free to access platform that provides fresh insights, breaking news and unique sentiment scores on the companies that interest you. Know your suppliers inside and out by visiting https://www.suppleye.com/ and signing up in less than 2 minutes.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“It's not just about just ripping cost out for the sake of it, but it's actually doing it in a more intelligent way that says ‘We’ll create value’.”

It can take a number of months or years to set up a supply chain, but as we’ve all discovered from the past year it takes far less time to stress test it to breaking point. The events of the past year highlight a necessity for any procurement function - supply chain resilience.

With an impressive career in procurement, Managing Director of Barkers Commercial Consultancy, David Loseby joins us to discuss the effects of single-source supply chains on resilience, and the need for modern procurement professionals to be as proficient in soft skills as they are in technical ability.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Reinforcing supply chain resilience in various categories
• The pros and cons of a single-source supply chain
• A growing emphasis on the value of soft skills
• The need for modern procurement professionals to be flexible
• Balancing theoretical and practical procurement, and being a “Pracademic”

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Suppleye - a free to access platform that provides fresh insights, breaking news and unique sentiment scores on the companies that interest you. Know your suppliers inside and out by visiting https://www.suppleye.com/ and signing up in less than 2 minutes.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“What is procurement to an organization? Always come back to that.”

The power of business partnering is an often unfulfilled potential which can massively improve a procurement function’s impact on a business. Overcoming that first hurdle and making those connections is made easier through proper collaboration with the rest of the business, and helping stakeholders to understand the value in procurement.

On this episode of Talent Talks we hear from Karl Walton, Senior IT Procurement Manager at The AA, and Tom Mills, who’s setting up an exciting new procurement function at Bibby Financial Services. 

We deep dive into introducing self service procurement into a function, how jargon-free training can help educate the whole business into seeing procurement’s potential, and the key pillars of a procurement framework.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How to embed effective business partnering in a procurement function
• Proving your worth without overpromising or under-delivering
• Defining, measuring and delivering value in procurement
• Training stakeholders to be advocates for procurement
• Raising the profile of the profession both internally and externally

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“The next stage of the stakeholder understanding of what value could be for procurement is unlocking new things that they haven't already thought of.”

Procurement is an ever evolving world, and with several decades of experience between them, this week’s guests on Talent Talks are well acquainted with how to adapt to new technologies and opportunities. 

Robert Bonnar is a Global Procurement Director with valuable experience at SHV Energy, A-B InBev and GlaxoSmithKline, and Andy Neilson’s illustrious career includes time with Fitness First, Clarks, and now a position as Congress Member with CIPS. 

We hear their collective wisdom on the areas of focus that will further propel the procurement profession, the importance of innovation and tools that make collaboration with stakeholders easier, and how we can demonstrate procurement’s power as a go-to profession.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Main areas of focus in order to keep evolving the profession
• Unlocking value adding opportunities beyond cost-saving
• The need to focus on innovations and tools to collaborate with stakeholders
• Remote work and recruitment cutting out unnecessary travel
• Procurement specialists becoming more general
• Selling procurement as a go-to profession

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“I always think procurement’s like a really good joke; it’s about timing.”

Innovation is a keyword thrown around in business like a well-loved frisbee, and perhaps with that it’s easy to lose sight of its definition and meaning in a procurement setting. 

Sarah-Jayne Aldridge is no stranger to innovating on a massive scale, with an impressive roster of roles at Sky, O2, G4S and now Network Rail. 

Joining Martin on this week’s Talent Talks podcast, ‘SJ’ dives into the scale on which procurement can innovate and how those innovations should link in with business objectives, as well as recalling the invaluable experiences that have come from the demanding realm of the public sector. 

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• What kind of innovation is capable within a procurement framework
• The links between innovation and supplier diversity
• Taking a different approach to innovation in younger functions
• Always being open to learning about new developments in the sector
• The invaluable lessons unique to public sector procurement

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

“The structure being put in place that hasn't been there before, around all the components that sit within social value, is enabling an acceleration of the whole agenda around social value.”

There’s an element of procurement beyond the nitty gritty that’s steadily come to the forefront of the agenda, particularly in the last 10 years - social value. For Jonjo Hobbs, Managing Director of Capita Procurement Solutions, the idea is not a new concept, but one which has gained traction in the wake of Covid.

In today’s episode of Talent Talks we dive deep on how a focus on social value within procurement affects the sector’s perception both internally and externally, the impact that both Covid and Brexit have had on localisation of supply chains, and we build on our previous episode and consider the lessons that each of the private and public sectors can learn from each other.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Social value in procurement, and its increased importance vs a decade ago
• Covid’s impact on Capita Procurement Solutions’ projects, and adapting to change
• Differing approaches in public and private sectors, and what each can learn from the other
• The renewed perception of supply chain’s value outside of procurement
• Covid and Brexit’s effects on localisation of supply chains

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Capita Procurement Solutions, the client-facing procurement consulting business within the Capita Group. They deliver a wide range of leading procurement solutions from short-term strategic advice and projects to fully-managed procurement services. 

“Leading with a discussion around sustainability and an organization's overall impact on the planet and on society is a way of opening doors.”

The Sustainable Procurement Pledge has an ambitious goal to enlist 1 million procurement professionals on their mission to transform sustainability from a luxury to a necessity in our industry. 

Bayer’s CPO and the pledge’s Co-Founder, Thomas Udesen, recalls how he’s seen the sector’s approach to quality become a non-negotiable standard, and hopes that the same can be true of environmental impact caused by supply chains.

Sharing the sentiment on episode 41 of Talent Talks, Managing Partner at 4C Associates, Nick Muir, considers how some industries may find this more of a struggle, and a growing number of executives who will be swayed by opportunities that demonstrate a dedication to sustainability.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The opportunities unlocked by appealing to more sustainability-focused execs
• How hybrid working has managed, and will continue, to reduce our environmental impact
• The Sustainable Procurement Pledge’s ambitious goals, and the incredible progress they’ve achieved so far
• Sustainability as a future ‘need-to-have’ rather than a ‘nice-to-have’
• Ensuring regulation is as universal as possible to avoid unnecessary confusion

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

“I love transformation, because you can make a profound difference to organisations if you get it right.”

With broad industry experience that proves he’s no one trick pony - BA, Three, Estee Lauder and the Home Office to name a few varying examples - Tim Snow is a fine example of why procurement professionals shouldn’t be pigeonholed. After all, in what other industry can you work on security for the 2012 Olympics, then help launch rockets into space…?

Currently enjoying a scintillating CPO role at Inmarsat, Tim shares the wealth of experience behind his passion for commercial transformation, breaking away from the ‘outdated’ practice of category management, and building confidence in your vision from stakeholders and staff alike.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The secret sauce behind commercial transformation
• Breaking out from the pigeonhole of category management
• Tim’s two cents on the pertinent ‘cost vs value’ debate
• Building confidence as a reliable procurement professional
• How automation will set up more personal interactions

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

When looking at the educators inducting our future procurement professionals, it’s always reassuring to see a wealth of experience behind them - Paul Alexander is exemplary in this, with decades in the corporate world across oil & gas, professional services and aerospace.

Now divulging his expertise at the University of Portsmouth, Paul’s unique perspective offers him a nuanced view on why applicant numbers aren’t matching the current demand in procurement, where students should focus their efforts to prepare for the corporate world, and changing our metrics for success.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Paul’s transition from the corporate world to academia
• Disparity between high demand for procurement and low applicant numbers
• Addressing misconceptions of what procurement really is
• Home working vs on-site, and the pros + cons of offshoring
• Qualities & experiences that graduates should be focusing on
• The importance of active listening
• Changing our metrics for success and kicking the obsession with process

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/

“You have to be relevant, and to be relevant you need to understand where the business is trying to get to.”

Creating transformation in procurement that actually makes a tangible impression on a business takes more than offering refined processes and cost-saving. But what exactly are the key ingredients to a successful procurement function?

Enter Nick Jenkinson, whose unique CV spans 7 companies in 7 different industries, providing him with a perspective on strengths & weaknesses in each area, and the experience to combine the best aspects from each.

Nick joins Martin Smith on Talent Talks this week to discuss the building blocks that puts procurement on the map in any organisation, the chasm currently observed in the mid-range of procurement’s talent pool, and the All Blacks’ ethos that’ll improve the mindset of any CPO...

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The key ingredients of a successful procurement function
• Nick’s perspective on procurement transformation
• Setting a successful strategy
• The current procurement talent pool, and how businesses can react to it
• Hiring a diverse range of personalities and skill sets

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

“We need to be hot on our game to ensure that suppliers are meeting ethical standards, and that we're operating in an ethical and compliant way ourselves.”

Procurement is bestowed with a power to join supply chains in a way that nobody else can, so we need to be hot on our game when it comes to sustainable procurement.

Sustainability is not just about carbon emissions - former CPO EMEA JLL and current SPP Ambassador Rob Alexander also holds a much-needed focus on key issues around child labour and modern slavery, all activities which procurement possesses a power to prevent.

Rob joins Martin Smith this week to consider the importance of aligning corporate goals with the common goal of sustainability, and how to educate senior directors that a move towards sustainable supply chains is as much about commercial value as it is about ethical practice...

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Why sustainability is more present in today’s agenda than ever before
• Aligning supply chains with the common goal of sustainable procurement
• The far-reaching impact of sustainability both for businesses and for teams
• What can be done to improve supply chains that are behind the times
• How the sustainable agenda is affecting value-based business decisions

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“We're trying to get value for money, but we still use the word savings. We've got to change our language accordingly to sell procurement.”

Welcome to a very special episode of Talent Talks, recorded live at last month’s Talent Talks event in central London! We were lucky enough to bring together a panel of wonderful procurement professionals to discuss some of the burning issues facing the industry today, with questions from a live audience.

Visa’s Sarah-Jayne Aldridge, DS Smith’s Alex Jennings, and 4C Associates’ Jeremy Smith shared their collective wealth of experiences as we touched on where hybrid working promises to evolve how we collaborate, creating opportunities that satisfy the demands of procurement’s upcoming candidates, and how we can promote supply chain stories so that they’re heard by the wider business world.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The types of skillset needed in modern procurement professionals
• Guiding a move towards return on investment over pure cost-saving
• Satisfying the demands of procurement’s next generation
• How hybrid work promises to change how our industry operates
• Unapologetically keeping our seat at the C-suite table

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“From a recruitment perspective, it's one of the first questions candidates ask us now: What is that business's sustainability agenda?”

With the well-publicised COP26 bringing sustainability ever closer to the front of consumers’ minds, there’s a renewed focus on supply chains to become greener at every stage.

For such a current and pressing topic, it was a delight to host a panel discussion at Talent Talks Live in December with Jo Ennion, Tim Snow, and Allison Ford-Langstaff. 

Our guests on this week’s live episode of the podcast share their open, honest experiences with the sustainability journey each of them is currently on, and answer audience questions on the impact of AI & automation, ways to upskill your team in sustainably practices, and how to incite sustainable change from the board.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Recent research indicating how well procurement is fulfilling the sustainability agenda
• How to upskill your teams in environmentally conscious practices
• The role of diversity & inclusion in developing innovative, sustainable impact
• Ways to bring sustainability issues to the board’s attention and ensure they’re acted upon

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates - a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/