Talent Talks Podcast

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 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.

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 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.

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.

“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

“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/.

“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/.

“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/.