Talent Talks Podcast

“Marketing is an investment, and we are guardians of that investment, and we can drive the value for that investment.”

If there’s one category within procurement that we haven’t yet really dived into on Talent Talks, it’s likely to be marketing procurement. It’s proven to be an area with some unique and interesting challenges, particularly recruiting and training in the sector. 

This poses a fantastic opportunity for the first panel discussion of 2021, gathering a wealth of experience between Lora Peach of Allianz Insurance, Paula O’Reilly from Britvic, and Tina Fegent, a Marketing Procurement Consultant of nearly 15 years. We hear why some recruiters are focusing more on soft skills than category experience, the benefits we all stand to gain from closer collaboration with suppliers, and the current landscape of mentoring and training.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• How marketing procurement is perceived in the wider industry
• Staying up to date with the market
• Demonstrating investment in training
• How to support marketing departments in achieving cost and value
• Adding value through the pandemic and avoiding crisis mode
• Overcoming the lack of face-to-face interaction
• Networking and pitching online

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/

“I think that women are more cautious about putting themselves out there in case of failure, where I think that men are much more willing to take that risk, and can see themselves succeeding, where women can see themselves failing..”

To see a greater representation for females at director level roles, we need to encourage women in procurement to seize the opportunities that they deserve. 

Speaking to the differing mindset between male and female counterparts, Dentsu International’s Procurement Director, Claire Willis, vouches for the support that could help level the playing field in our industry.

Also in this episode, we hear how seeking soft skills over category experience can help break bad habits, deconstruct the taboo over maternity and paternity in business, and the increasing focus on procurement’s power as a force for good.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The degree of diversity in director level roles
• Encouraging female colleagues to seize great opportunities 
• Balancing self-promotion and promoting your team
• The growing recognition of procurement’s capacity to add value
• Increasing importance of social impact, and being a force for good
• Excelling through various category transitions
• Claire’s most sought after traits for building a procurement team

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/

Where most businesses’ motivations are generally financial, one needs to take a different approach in the more philanthropic not-for-profit sector. The value added comes from a completely different operation to that of a private sector corporate.

Having progressed to Head of Procurement over his 4 and a half years with Wellcome Trust, Josh Dempsey has facilitated the supply chain behind some key health campaigns, and has had to concentrate his areas of focus since the need for vaccinations and public health efforts in the past year.

Josh joins Martin Smith on Talent Talks to discuss the unique challenges of governance and control in the non profit sector, working with a larger roster of suppliers than most businesses, and whether a non profit organisation should look at cost saving or adding value in the current economic climate.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Key challenges facing the not for profit sector
• Managing a uniquely diverse range of stakeholders
• Operating in a function which rarely stays with one supplier
• Cost saving vs adding value - which is better to focus on?
• Josh’s desire to see more collaboration

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/

“Once stakeholders are on board with e-procurement systems, they find it much more efficient. They're more enthusiastic about being involved in procurement processes.”

Like the digitisation of most things in the world, the rise of e-procurement promises to bring all parties closer together which, when trying to integrate procurement with the interests of stakeholders, is a giant leap for our industry!

Currently utilising e-procurement to its full potential is Anna Thorncroft, Head of Procurement at MTR Elizabeth Line, who advocates the importance of familiarising interested parties in the processes that may be second nature to us. 

Anna joins Martin Smith to detail MTR’s implementation of this, as well as considering how procurement can improve its representation for female professionals in the industry, and how that starts with better raising awareness for opportunities in procurement.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• The introduction of e-procurement
• Streamlining procurement through digitisation
• Varying levels of integration in different industries
• Becoming a more human face of procurement
• Attracting more female professionals to the industry
• Diversity and representation in procurement
• How home working has affected internal and supplier relationship management

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/

“Ultimately, unless you're joining a start-up, then it's not ever really a greenfield site. There's going to be existing practices.”

Generally a greenfield project can be considered one where the processes you implement aren’t constrained by prior practice, but the reality of breaking the habits already in place can be complex, particularly if your knowledge of the category is limited. 

From his experience as Virgin Atlantic’s Head of Procurement in Engineering, Simon Feeney vouches that this lack of knowledge can actually be a strength, allowing basic questions to be asked and discovering novel opportunities to drive value.

Now the Procurement Director at Collinson, Simon offers his views on the importance of understanding a category’s nuances before implementing processes that work elsewhere in the business, and a fresh perspective on the meaning of greenfield procurement.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• An alternate view on greenfield procurement
• Introducing new procurement processes to existing category areas
• Balancing tactical and strategic activities
• How lack of experience in a category can benefit your approach
• Collinson’s unique position to help restart the travel industry

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. 

One of the key links in the sourcing and procurement process is naturally the wealth of suppliers, without whom the supply chain would not function. Given the demands and pressure burdened upon them, it seems only fitting that those who go above and beyond should be recognised. 

A keen advocate of the supplier recognition awards hosted by his business, this week’s Talent Talks guest - Vitality’s Head of Sourcing, Chris Wilson - also considers the benefits of authenticity from struggling suppliers, how Vitality have changed their customer rewards programme in light of current events, and managing to onboard a new supplier without a single face to face meeting!

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Improving engagement through refining employee reward programs
• The importance of supplier recognition
• Key differences between working in the public and private sectors
• The authenticity of admitting concerns
• A growing emphasis on risk analysis
• How Vitality have adapted to the current working environment

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: [email protected]

“You can't have everyone wanting to have the next job up, otherwise you run the risk of getting into that conflict with the team”

Building a procurement team that works well together requires an overview of the whole team’s needs when hiring, not just looking at the role to be filled. Finding talent with the skill set you don’t yet cover may require an open-minded CPO to look beyond applicants already in the procurement profession.

The CPO of Dixons Carphone, Kendall Smith, has experienced procurement transformations in a variety of industries, from property, to IT, to phones and broadband, and knows the kind of traits that prop up a successful procurement team. In this episode of Talent Talks, we hear Kendall’s take on interim and permanent roles, the increasing need for high return on investment when hiring contractors, and how hiring too many budding CPO’s-to-be could be a detriment to your team.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• What CPO’s look for in talented procurement professionals
• The differing skill set required for different industries
• More effective use of contractors
• Interim vs permanent roles
• Identifying the team’s needs when hiring
• The dangers of a whole team wanting the top job

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: [email protected]

“You see dozens of LinkedIn posts, webinars, virtual conferences, forums, and they're all saying ‘Procurement’s time to shine, take a seat at the table’. And this isn't probably going to be very popular but here goes - it's not. If you've only just realized this now you're probably a bit late to the party.”

Gareth Hughes is well versed in a diverse range of procurement functions, from Bupa to L&G and most recently Whistl, and has one of the less popular opinions in the procurement world - if you suggest that now is procurement’s prime time then you’re already a step behind.

In this episode Gareth dives into the numerous lessons he’s learned from his time across a variety of industries. From managing demand in an industry that’s seen an increase in activity since March, to the responsibility for procurement professionals to explain that we are more than a cost-saving exercise in order to boost the profile of the procurement function.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Adapting to procurement in different industries
• Improving interactions with stakeholders
• Managing increasing demand from COVID-19
• Why now is not the optimal time for procurement to have a seat at the table
• Shortening and localisation of supply chains

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: [email protected]

Transforming a procurement function can seem a mammoth task, requiring the coordination of several people to create tangible change. To demystify procurement transformation and sustainable sourcing, Martin Smith is joined by CPO at Legal & General, Daniel Keyworth and Group Procurement Director at M&S, Andrew Newnham.

Daniel and Andrew break down the most effective way to generate procurement transformation, and how making changes over time can alleviate many potential problems with transformation. With respect to sustainable sourcing, they also discuss a shift in consumer attitude towards sustainability, and the potential this creates for influencing your suppliers

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Aligning procurement with broader company objectives
• Achieving smaller, more regular, evolutionary transformation
• Communicating with stakeholders
• Difference in approach for different sectors
• The impact of younger, more environmentally aware consumers

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: [email protected]

“I think the basis of SRM is building a program, and that sounds a bit grandiose, but building a strategy where you're helping suppliers treat you like you'd like to be treated, and also doing the same to them. So it's a two way street.”

The guest for this episode of Talent Talks has one of the most diverse procurement backgrounds we’ve seen yet. Scott Collins has been a Councillor for the London Borough of Hillingdon, as well as delivering procurement work for the Conservative Party and Ladbrokes before founding his own consultancy firm, Hawtrey Dene.

Scott joins Martin Smith for a discussion focused around supplier relationship management, in which we learn how to assess when you should check in with your suppliers, the growing trend for remote and flexible working, and Scott’s three top tips for remaining relevant and successful in the procurement industry.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Adapting to a leadership role
• Good practice in the supplier relationship management process
• The likely increase in remote collaboration, and how to cope with it
• Difference in approach from being a client vs being a consultant
• Determining a suitable frequency of contact with suppliers

Links and references at: https://talentdrive.co.uk/category/talent-talks-podcast/
Get in touch: [email protected]