From a cyber-attack in New York and the Ever Given Suez Canal incident, to legislative changes in Germany and skills shortages in the UK... In this episode we take a look at procurement 'behind the headlines'. Jonathan and Paul are joined by special guest Bill Young, a procurement consultant, commentator, and host of the FORVM 499 podcast. We discuss some of the reasons these stories made the headlines, and consider if procurement was at fault or could even help prevent these incidents from happening again.

Jonathan and Paul discuss the importance of language during a negotiation, and how tone of voice and phraseology can be used to help drive a negotiation in the direction you want. Examples include leading questions, hidden meanings, inflections, and how to tune in to your audience. We explore the subtle nuances we use everyday, and consider ways in which we can proactively embrace these nuances to your advantage.

Jonathan, Paul and Chris discuss the circular economy, what it means, and how the future of manufacturing and procurement methodology is key to ensuring organizations can focus on being more restorative or regenerative towards our planet and society at large. The discussion includes communicating values within an organization to obtain full buy-in, cultures and mindsets, and obtaining a detailed understanding of the supply chain in order to drive change.

Special guest, Andy McMinn, Chief Procurement Officer at University Hospitals Plymouth and Lead Spend Analysis for NHS England and NHS Improvement gives an open account of his experiences of procurement during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Including the importance of having a trusted supply chain, wider teamwork, and areas where organisations like the NHS could be better equipped for future crises.

KA truly global topic in this episode. How can procurement play its part in the worldwide effort towards sustainability? Jonathan shares a fascinating selection of data and detailed industry knowhow to help us understand where we are now, and what the future holds. From identifying hotspots, to strategically analysing your supply chain, this episode contains insight which will be of interest to all - from raw material providers to consumers.

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to buying; a fascinating discussion about how data can enhance your approach to cost modelling. Where can we find the right data? What sort of data is out there? And when we have all the data, what do we do with it? Our guest is Antony Fisher from Mintec Limited, a business that helps you tap into a wealth of information out there just waiting to be harnessed. It's not just the 'big data' too. We talk about how seemingly small anomalies and changes to commodity prices can have a wide impact.

With special guest Peter Smith, fellow and past president of CIPS and author of the book Bad Buying - he is an expert on why and where companies go wrong. Featuring a wealth of real-world examples, this interview will make you smile but more likely cringe. Our Procurement Fun Fact is read by Peter Smith and is taken from his book, and our Ask Jonathan explores managing the expectations of stakeholders and what they 'need' versus the advice you can give them from a procurement viewpoint.

Jonathan talks about negotiating remotely, and how the method has certainly become the 'in thing', albeit through necessity. Plus, tips on negotiating over video platforms such as Zoom and Teams, the good old telephone and other methods - even text messages! From picking up on nuances during a discussion to training yourself to be a negotiation performer. Our Procurement Fun Fact comes from the book by Peter Smith called Bad Buying about a shipping firm without any ships, and our 'Ask Jonathan' explores the decoy tactic.

How is procurement adapting to the current global situation? What long-term effects will we see from a world that's shifted more towards using digital? Jonathan and Paul talk about the effects of COVID-19 and the changes to business that may still be coming. Featuring our first Procurement Fun Fact and Ask Jonathan.