In this episode of Powering Procurement, hosts Sian Lloyd and Gareth Burch are joined by Filip Leonard, Group Head of Supply Chain, Procurement, and Social Value at Maximus UK. Together, they dive into the strategic changes Filip is spearheading at Maximus and what he envisions for the future of procurement.

With over a decade of experience in both the public and private sectors, Filip has led transformative procurement initiatives, playing a key role in revolutionising how procurement is approached at Maximus. Under his leadership, Maximus has implemented cutting-edge procurement technology, driving greater efficiency, risk management, and social value within their supply chain.

Filip’s experience extends to not only the operational challenges of large-scale procurement but also the ethical side, where he’s been instrumental in embedding policies such as the Real Living Wage across Maximus’ supply chain. His focus on sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility has made him a leading voice in procurement transformation.

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Episode Highlights:

• [09:03] - Turning Data Chaos into Clarity: Switching to a single source of truth has transformed Maximus' procurement approach from reactive to proactive. By centralising data, Filip and his team eliminated countless hours lost to spreadsheets and manual tracking, freeing them to focus on strategic, value-driven decisions. Now, the team is able to monitor renewals and risk alerts in real time, enabling mature discussions with stakeholders and allowing them to spot and address issues early.
  
  
• [14:36] - Ethics Meets Efficiency: Aligning social value and cost-efficiency in procurement doesn't have to be a trade-off. Engaging with suppliers, sharing your organisation's values, and working together to find solutions allow you to reduce costs while advancing responsible business practices. Moreover, this approach attracts like-minded vendors, supports talent retention, and helps the company align with future legislation.

• [30:50] - Staying Ahead of Supply Chain Risks: Maximus has embraced data-driven procurement transformation to stay ahead of supply chain risks. Leveraging dashboards that highlight trends instead of just historical data offers Maximus the possibility to proactively identify potential risks with vendors, such as financial issues or operational changes. This enables more informed, risk-focused conversations with suppliers, leading to better responses and quicker identification of emerging threats.

Episode Resources:

• Powering Procurement is brought to you by https://atamis.co.uk/
• How Atamis is supporting public bodies through to TPP go live https://atamis.co.uk/public-procurement-reform/
• Filip Leonard on LinkedIn
• Maximus UK Website

Powering Procurement is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Powering Procurement, hosts Sian Lloyd and Gareth Burch are joined by Lisa Stubbs, Head of Open and Transparent Contracting at Cabinet Office. Together, they discuss how the Procurement Act (TPP) will transform UK public procurement, enhance transparency, and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Lisa began her career in the civil service at 23, unsure of her future path. She quickly adapted, starting in telecoms and technology procurement for a centralised procurement organisation. Here, Lisa found space to learn and grow, with work that was both engaging and challenging.

She quickly rose to a management role and, by chance, discovered procurement policy, a field that allowed her to create new methods, rules, and legislation. Lisa was part of the team that adjusted UK procurement regulations post-Brexit, contributing to the development of a new regulatory framework.

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Episode Highlights:

• [06:21] - The Procurement Reform Act Takes Center Stage: The Procurement Reform Act marks a key step in transforming public procurement by introducing a flexible, data-driven framework that aligns with government policy priorities while being adaptable to future needs. The Act is designed to streamline the procurement process, enhancing efficiency and transparency for both public sector buyers and suppliers. Through the implementation of a central digital platform, data will be consolidated, simplifying processes and reducing redundant requirements for suppliers.
  
  
• [17:09] - Unleashing Flexibility in Public Procurement: The competitive flexible procedure is a game-changer for public procurement, allowing professionals to tailor procurement processes to fit specific needs, drive innovation, and enhance supplier diversity. Giving procurement specialists more freedom to apply their expertise and design customer approaches within a clear regulatory framework can lead to more impactful and creative solutions.
  
  
• [23:30] - How Transparency in Procurement Drives Success: Understanding and sticking to regulations is essential for fostering innovation while maintaining accountability. Publishing clear and structured notices throughout the procurement lifecycle allows organisations to ensure that everyone involved has access to essential information, creating a culture of accountability. This level of transparency helps compliance while encouraging innovation, as it allows companies to standardise data structures, streamline workflows, and adapt to changes more efficiently.

• [38:45] - Simplifying Procurement with The Central Digital Platform: The Cabinet Office is focused on leveraging technology to enhance procurement processes through the new Procurement Reform Act. A central digital platform will streamline data publication, ensuring that all procurement notices are publicly accessible while protecting sensitive information when necessary. Starting soon, the Cabinet Office will initiate extensive beta testing with users and suppliers to ensure the platform is fully operational by its February launch.

Episode Resources:

• Powering Procurement is brought to you by https://atamis.co.uk/
• How Atamis is supporting public bodies through to TPP go live https://atamis.co.uk/public-procurement-reform/
• Lisa Stubbs on LinkedIn
• Cabinet Office Website

Powering Procurement is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Powering Procurement, hosts Sian Lloyd and Gareth Burch are joined by Savita Mace, the Chief Procurement Officer for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Together they explore the critical role of risk management in procurement, the transformative impact of technology, and the importance of mentoring the next generation of professionals. 

As the Chief Procurement Officer at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSFT), Savita leads a team of eighty procurement and supply professionals who deliver value for money, quality, and efficiency across the health system. With over twenty years of experience in procurement and supply chain management, Savita has directed world-class procurement functions for global companies such as AstraZeneca, Roche, and Sony, driving and accelerating business growth and innovation.

Savita is passionate about developing and mentoring the next generation of procurement leaders, and she shares her expertise and insights as a visiting lecturer and course mentor at University of Sussex and Durham University. She is also the UK representative of the Membership Committee at CIPS - The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, the leading professional body for procurement and supply chain management. She holds a Master's degree in Strategic Procurement from University of South Wales, and is a chartered fellow of CIPS. 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. Also, rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, we appreciate all feedback from our listeners.

Episode Highlights:

• [13:11] The Humbling Experience of Public Sector Procurement - Savita discusses her transition from the private sector to the NHS, describing it as a humbling experience that deepened her understanding of accountability in procurement. She says  that “This is the real world. This is the most vulnerable people”, emphasising the critical role her position plays in ensuring that patients receive necessary care and services. This shift brought her closer to the end-users of her work, forcing her to confront the pressures of timely supply chain management and the impact of procurement decisions on patient outcomes. Savita’s experience underscores the importance of being directly connected to the customers served and understanding the real-world implications of procurement decisions.
  
  
• [27:48] Importance of Adaptability and Self-Reflection in Leadership - In today's fast-paced environment, effective leadership in procurement necessitates a commitment to adaptability and self-reflection. Savita emphasises the significance of checking in with one's resilience and energy levels to avoid overstretching oneself and letting down both professional responsibilities and personal commitments. This proactive approach fosters a supportive team culture where members feel empowered to express their challenges and collaborate on solutions. Furthermore, maintaining a forward-looking perspective enables leaders to stay informed about evolving legislation, such as the CS Triple D EU regulations, which impact supply chain management and corporate responsibility. Savita asserts that understanding these developments not only aids compliance but also contributes to improving living standards, showcasing a leader’s role in driving positive change within their organisation and beyond. 
  
  
• [33:05] Embracing Failure as a Learning Opportunity - Savita articulates that embracing a "fail fast" mentality is crucial in procurement, as it fosters a culture of innovation and learning. She underscores the need for organisations to view failure not as a setback but as an essential component of growth and development. This approach encourages teams to experiment and iterate without fear, leading to quicker problem-solving and adaptability in response to challenges. Moreover, by engaging in quality circles that promote collective learning from mistakes, procurement professionals can enhance collaboration and resilience. As Savita points out, failure is inevitable, but the key lies in how organisations respond—by failing fast, learning quickly, and moving forward with renewed insights.

• [49:00] Technology's Role in Procurement - Savita highlights the transformative power of technology in procurement, particularly in managing reputational risk and enhancing decision-making through data analytics. She emphasises that utilising sentiment data can protect organisations from aligning with companies that pose a reputational threat, whether due to cultural misalignment or negative media coverage. This approach not only influences purchasing decisions but also impacts share prices, illustrating how critical it is for procurement professionals to leverage technology for comprehensive risk assessment and informed decision-making. She remembers evaluating craft sentiment data software using 400 different data points to generate one report in about 2 minutes, and highlights how that would be near impossible to do on pen and paper. 

Episode Resources:

• Powering Procurement is bought to you by https://atamis.co.uk/
• Savita Mace on LinkedIn
• University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Website

Powering Procurement is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Powering Procurement, hosts Sian Lloyd and Gareth Burch are joined by John Wallace, Director of Procurement at Clarion Housing Group. Together, they navigate procurement challenges in social housing, how Clarion is driving social value beyond cost, the role of sustainability in social housing procurement, and how procurement can drive innovation.

In his role, John leads the procurement strategy for an organisation that provides homes for 350,000 people and builds over 2,000 new homes annually. His work is central to Clarion’s mission of addressing the housing crisis by ensuring the delivery of affordable homes and improving communities across the country.

John brings over 35 years of procurement experience from both the public and private sectors, having held senior positions across healthcare, housing, and F&B. His previous roles include Procurement Director at Metropolitan Thames Valley and Head of Procurement at Anchor Trust.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. Also, rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, we appreciate all feedback from our listeners 🙂

Episode Highlights:

• [14:36] - Driving Value in Social Housing: Balancing cost reduction with core values is crucial in social housing. John highlights the importance of integrating sustainability, social value, and effective contract management into procurement strategies, as well as focusing on developing commercial skills and understanding market dynamics. As the industry shifts, this is an opportunity for procurement teams to respond proactively, ensuring they contribute significantly to their organisations and communities.
  
  
• [25:08] - Mastering Compliance in the New Procurement Act: Compliance with the new Procurement Act 2023 is essential for housing associations, but it can be a challenge. To succeed despite the new administrative requirements, procurement teams should focus on streamlining processes to free up resources for strategic initiatives. To enhance procurement outcomes without losing momentum, organisations must stay proactive and be transparent.
  
  
• [33:35] - The Role of Sustainability in Social Housing Procurement: Sustainability in the social housing sector is becoming increasingly important, especially in procurement. Organisations like Clarion are taking significant steps to understand and reduce their carbon footprints by focusing on new builds and repairs. Collaborating closely with sustainability teams, they integrate sustainability criteria into their procurement processes, ensuring that projects, like property regeneration, align with environmental goals.
  
  
• [46:22] - How Procurement Can Drive Change: Procurement plays a key role in driving innovation within organisations, acting as a catalyst rather than an incubator. To foster innovation, it's essential to break down silos and encourage open collaboration across various teams, from sustainability to compliance. This means shifting from traditional requests for information to requests for outcomes, focusing on the desired results.

Episode Resources:

• Powering Procurement is bought to you by https://atamis.co.uk/
• John Wallace on LinkedIn
• Clarion Housing Group Website

Powering Procurement is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Powering Procurement, hosts Sian Lloyd and Gareth Burch are joined by Travis Crouch, Head of Commercial Systems and Intelligence for the UK Department of Health and Social Care. Together, they dive into the transformative power of procurement in the public health sector. Travis shares insights on why data is key for smart procurement strategies, how to navigate compliance challenges in a rapidly changing landscape, the importance of leveraging advanced technologies and data analytics to enhance procurement processes across the NHS, and how AI is set to transform public procurement.

Travis is a skilled expert in procurement, combining rich experience from both public and private sectors. He's led teams at Aviva and NHS Digital and has significantly impacted the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Now, at the DHSC and NHS, he's transforming procurement processes by harnessing advanced technologies and data-driven strategies to improve public health outcomes. Additionally, as an Associate Commercial Specialist for the Government Commercial Function, he shares his expertise to strengthen procurement capabilities across the government.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; instructions on how to do this are here.

Episode Highlights:

• [06:31] - How DHSC Is Leveraging Procurement to Save Big: Driving digital transformation in procurement at DHSC goes down to focusing on compliance with regulations while leveraging technology for strategic outcomes. The main priority for the team is to create efficient workflows and templates to ensure compliance, enabling them to gather aggregate data that reveals opportunities and risks in the supply chain. Success is measured through tough targets, adoption rates, and significant savings, like the £34 million identified from contract aggregation.
  
  
• [12:20] - Why Data Is Key for Smart Procurement Strategies: Harnessing quality data is essential for driving effective strategies and minimising risks. Without solid data, businesses face significant challenges in predicting potential issues. Implementing the right controls and using data-driven insights allows procurement teams to enhance their sourcing and supplier management efforts. Travis also notes that good data is key for making informed decisions, such as optimising team sizes and understanding spending trends.

• [19:10] - Innovating Within Regulatory Frameworks: To successfully introduce innovative practices in procurement within a regulatory framework, it's essential to strike a balance between compliance and creativity. Leveraging technology like automation can streamline processes while ensuring adherence to standards. Engaging commercial teams with training programs on new regulations empowers them and fosters excitement for the opportunities these changes present.

• [32:37] - How AI Is Set to Transform Public Procurement: AI is poised to revolutionise public procurement, enhancing efficiency and outcomes by leveraging advanced data analysis, automating documentation tasks, and enabling professionals to focus on strategic value. However, for this transformation to succeed, we need high-quality data, widespread adoption among users, and robust security measures to protect sensitive information.

Episode Resources:

• Travis Crouch on LinkedIn
• UK Department of Health and Social Care Website
• Government Commercial Function Website

Powering Procurement is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Join hosts Sian Lloyd and Gareth Burch on Powering Procurement, a podcast by Atamis, as they dive into the evolving world of procurement. Hear from industry leaders and innovators on how digital technologies, AI, and data-driven decisions are reshaping the field. Get actionable strategies to enhance your procurement processes and stay ahead of the curve. Subscribe now and don't miss an episode! Powering Procurement is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so