Talent Talks Podcast

“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/

“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/

“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/

“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/

“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/

“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/

“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/

“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/

“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/

“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/