Talent Talks Podcast

“You have to be relevant, and to be relevant you need to understand where the business is trying to get to.”

Creating transformation in procurement that actually makes a tangible impression on a business takes more than offering refined processes and cost-saving. But what exactly are the key ingredients to a successful procurement function?

Enter Nick Jenkinson, whose unique CV spans 7 companies in 7 different industries, providing him with a perspective on strengths & weaknesses in each area, and the experience to combine the best aspects from each.

Nick joins Martin Smith on Talent Talks this week to discuss the building blocks that puts procurement on the map in any organisation, the chasm currently observed in the mid-range of procurement’s talent pool, and the All Blacks’ ethos that’ll improve the mindset of any CPO...

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The key ingredients of a successful procurement function
• Nick’s perspective on procurement transformation
• Setting a successful strategy
• The current procurement talent pool, and how businesses can react to it
• Hiring a diverse range of personalities and skill sets

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.

When looking at the educators inducting our future procurement professionals, it’s always reassuring to see a wealth of experience behind them - Paul Alexander is exemplary in this, with decades in the corporate world across oil & gas, professional services and aerospace.

Now divulging his expertise at the University of Portsmouth, Paul’s unique perspective offers him a nuanced view on why applicant numbers aren’t matching the current demand in procurement, where students should focus their efforts to prepare for the corporate world, and changing our metrics for success.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Paul’s transition from the corporate world to academia
• Disparity between high demand for procurement and low applicant numbers
• Addressing misconceptions of what procurement really is
• Home working vs on-site, and the pros + cons of offshoring
• Qualities & experiences that graduates should be focusing on
• The importance of active listening
• Changing our metrics for success and kicking the obsession with process

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/category/talent-talks-podcast/

“I love transformation, because you can make a profound difference to organisations if you get it right.”

With broad industry experience that proves he’s no one trick pony - BA, Three, Estee Lauder and the Home Office to name a few varying examples - Tim Snow is a fine example of why procurement professionals shouldn’t be pigeonholed. After all, in what other industry can you work on security for the 2012 Olympics, then help launch rockets into space…?

Currently enjoying a scintillating CPO role at Inmarsat, Tim shares the wealth of experience behind his passion for commercial transformation, breaking away from the ‘outdated’ practice of category management, and building confidence in your vision from stakeholders and staff alike.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The secret sauce behind commercial transformation
• Breaking out from the pigeonhole of category management
• Tim’s two cents on the pertinent ‘cost vs value’ debate
• Building confidence as a reliable procurement professional
• How automation will set up more personal interactions

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/category/talent-talks-podcast/

“Leading with a discussion around sustainability and an organization's overall impact on the planet and on society is a way of opening doors.”

The Sustainable Procurement Pledge has an ambitious goal to enlist 1 million procurement professionals on their mission to transform sustainability from a luxury to a necessity in our industry. 

Bayer’s CPO and the pledge’s Co-Founder, Thomas Udesen, recalls how he’s seen the sector’s approach to quality become a non-negotiable standard, and hopes that the same can be true of environmental impact caused by supply chains.

Sharing the sentiment on episode 41 of Talent Talks, Managing Partner at 4C Associates, Nick Muir, considers how some industries may find this more of a struggle, and a growing number of executives who will be swayed by opportunities that demonstrate a dedication to sustainability.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The opportunities unlocked by appealing to more sustainability-focused execs
• How hybrid working has managed, and will continue, to reduce our environmental impact
• The Sustainable Procurement Pledge’s ambitious goals, and the incredible progress they’ve achieved so far
• Sustainability as a future ‘need-to-have’ rather than a ‘nice-to-have’
• Ensuring regulation is as universal as possible to avoid unnecessary confusion

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/category/talent-talks-podcast/

“The structure being put in place that hasn't been there before, around all the components that sit within social value, is enabling an acceleration of the whole agenda around social value.”

There’s an element of procurement beyond the nitty gritty that’s steadily come to the forefront of the agenda, particularly in the last 10 years - social value. For Jonjo Hobbs, Managing Director of Capita Procurement Solutions, the idea is not a new concept, but one which has gained traction in the wake of Covid.

In today’s episode of Talent Talks we dive deep on how a focus on social value within procurement affects the sector’s perception both internally and externally, the impact that both Covid and Brexit have had on localisation of supply chains, and we build on our previous episode and consider the lessons that each of the private and public sectors can learn from each other.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Social value in procurement, and its increased importance vs a decade ago
• Covid’s impact on Capita Procurement Solutions’ projects, and adapting to change
• Differing approaches in public and private sectors, and what each can learn from the other
• The renewed perception of supply chain’s value outside of procurement
• Covid and Brexit’s effects on localisation of supply chains

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Capita Procurement Solutions, the client-facing procurement consulting business within the Capita Group. They deliver a wide range of leading procurement solutions from short-term strategic advice and projects to fully-managed procurement services. 

“I always think procurement’s like a really good joke; it’s about timing.”

Innovation is a keyword thrown around in business like a well-loved frisbee, and perhaps with that it’s easy to lose sight of its definition and meaning in a procurement setting. 

Sarah-Jayne Aldridge is no stranger to innovating on a massive scale, with an impressive roster of roles at Sky, O2, G4S and now Network Rail. 

Joining Martin on this week’s Talent Talks podcast, ‘SJ’ dives into the scale on which procurement can innovate and how those innovations should link in with business objectives, as well as recalling the invaluable experiences that have come from the demanding realm of the public sector. 

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• What kind of innovation is capable within a procurement framework
• The links between innovation and supplier diversity
• Taking a different approach to innovation in younger functions
• Always being open to learning about new developments in the sector
• The invaluable lessons unique to public sector procurement

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/category/talent-talks-podcast/

“The next stage of the stakeholder understanding of what value could be for procurement is unlocking new things that they haven't already thought of.”

Procurement is an ever evolving world, and with several decades of experience between them, this week’s guests on Talent Talks are well acquainted with how to adapt to new technologies and opportunities. 

Robert Bonnar is a Global Procurement Director with valuable experience at SHV Energy, A-B InBev and GlaxoSmithKline, and Andy Neilson’s illustrious career includes time with Fitness First, Clarks, and now a position as Congress Member with CIPS. 

We hear their collective wisdom on the areas of focus that will further propel the procurement profession, the importance of innovation and tools that make collaboration with stakeholders easier, and how we can demonstrate procurement’s power as a go-to profession.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Main areas of focus in order to keep evolving the profession
• Unlocking value adding opportunities beyond cost-saving
• The need to focus on innovations and tools to collaborate with stakeholders
• Remote work and recruitment cutting out unnecessary travel
• Procurement specialists becoming more general
• Selling procurement as a go-to profession

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/

“What is procurement to an organization? Always come back to that.”

The power of business partnering is an often unfulfilled potential which can massively improve a procurement function’s impact on a business. Overcoming that first hurdle and making those connections is made easier through proper collaboration with the rest of the business, and helping stakeholders to understand the value in procurement.

On this episode of Talent Talks we hear from Karl Walton, Senior IT Procurement Manager at The AA, and Tom Mills, who’s setting up an exciting new procurement function at Bibby Financial Services. 

We deep dive into introducing self service procurement into a function, how jargon-free training can help educate the whole business into seeing procurement’s potential, and the key pillars of a procurement framework.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How to embed effective business partnering in a procurement function
• Proving your worth without overpromising or under-delivering
• Defining, measuring and delivering value in procurement
• Training stakeholders to be advocates for procurement
• Raising the profile of the profession both internally and externally

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/

“It's not just about just ripping cost out for the sake of it, but it's actually doing it in a more intelligent way that says ‘We’ll create value’.”

It can take a number of months or years to set up a supply chain, but as we’ve all discovered from the past year it takes far less time to stress test it to breaking point. The events of the past year highlight a necessity for any procurement function - supply chain resilience.

With an impressive career in procurement, Managing Director of Barkers Commercial Consultancy, David Loseby joins us to discuss the effects of single-source supply chains on resilience, and the need for modern procurement professionals to be as proficient in soft skills as they are in technical ability.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Reinforcing supply chain resilience in various categories
• The pros and cons of a single-source supply chain
• A growing emphasis on the value of soft skills
• The need for modern procurement professionals to be flexible
• Balancing theoretical and practical procurement, and being a “Pracademic”

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Suppleye - a free to access platform that provides fresh insights, breaking news and unique sentiment scores on the companies that interest you. Know your suppliers inside and out by visiting https://www.suppleye.com/ and signing up in less than 2 minutes.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/

“Globalisation is very much determined not by the organisation, but by how it serves its customers.”

“Globalisation is very much determined not by the organization, but by how it serves its customers.”

Jayesh Joshi joins us this week to discuss how he has managed to boost the profile of Procurement as an industry through many great initiatives including the APAC CPO Forum he created and how Procurement can do more to share best practice and help highlight Procurements importance to businesses.

Having managed an incredible portfolio of contracts (Vodafone, Barclays, Capita and many more), and serving as BT’s Global VP for 3 years now, Jayesh has a wealth of experience that offers a truly worldwide perspective on procurement. 

Joining Martin Smith for an episode of Talent Talks, rich with insights from all aspects of the procurement world, Jayesh shares his take on solving procurement’s ‘identity crisis’, increasing the strength of bonds between larger companies and SMEs, and how procurement can be a real force for good.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Procurement’s current perception in the market
• Procurement as a strategic enabler and a force for good
• The growing focus on SMEs
• Globalisation in procurement, and its dependence on client needs
• Pace of evolution of procurement in tech vs other sectors
• Jayesh’s route into procurement, and why you should choose it

This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by Suppleye - a free to access platform that provides fresh insights, breaking news and unique sentiment scores on the companies that interest you. Know your suppliers inside and out by visiting https://www.suppleye.com/ and signing up in less than 2 minutes.

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/