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 convers...

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 hig...

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 Convers...

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...

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●&nbs...

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.TakeawaysNetworking is a power...

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 adapti...

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 d...

In this episode, Martin Smith interviews Claire Bevan, Global Procurement Director at Dentsu. Claire discusses her career journey and the challenges and opportunities she has faced in driving a global procurement transformation. Claire emphasises the importance of building relationships with stakeholders and proving the value of procurement. She shares her advice for aspiring procurement leaders, including taking every opportunity to learn and grow, and the importance of hiring the ...

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 pr...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...