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...

“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...

“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...

“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 &...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...

“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...