Talent Talks Podcast

“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/

“Good people, regardless of function, generally have a choice. We've worked hard to get our hiring managers in a mindset that, when they go into the interview, it is a two-way thing.”

The market for new, ambitious procurement professionals might seem relatively thin right now, but could our industry set our sights further afield to create a wider talent pool with more varied skill sets?

Balfour Beatty’s Evan Sutherland has witnessed the benefits of being open-minded, and the missed opportunities that come from being too picky. After all, since procurement is a function that touches so many parts of the business, are candidates from commercial, marketing, finance, or anywhere in between not equipped with transferable skills?

On this episode of Talent Talks, Evan discusses the ever-growing focus on soft skills and attitude, his desire for a more centralised approach to procurement across the board, and how an openness to technology can transform the role that our function plays in generating bottom line revenue.

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Nurturing and developing a prolific talent pool
• How businesses can adapt to the job-rich, candidate-light market
• Centralising your procurement function to create a more cohesive unit
• The essential need for soft skills and personability
• Ways in which we can encourage more promising young professionals into the industry

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/

“We need to be hot on our game to ensure that suppliers are meeting ethical standards, and that we're operating in an ethical and compliant way ourselves.”

Procurement is bestowed with a power to join supply chains in a way that nobody else can, so we need to be hot on our game when it comes to sustainable procurement.

Sustainability is not just about carbon emissions - former CPO EMEA JLL and current SPP Ambassador Rob Alexander also holds a much-needed focus on key issues around child labour and modern slavery, all activities which procurement possesses a power to prevent.

Rob joins Martin Smith this week to consider the importance of aligning corporate goals with the common goal of sustainability, and how to educate senior directors that a move towards sustainable supply chains is as much about commercial value as it is about ethical practice...

This episode of Talent Talks covers:

• Why sustainability is more present in today’s agenda than ever before
• Aligning supply chains with the common goal of sustainable procurement
• The far-reaching impact of sustainability both for businesses and for teams
• What can be done to improve supply chains that are behind the times
• How the sustainable agenda is affecting value-based business decisions

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/

On this episode of the Talent Talks Podcast, Martin talks to Jonathan Wharfe, Director of Procurement and Commercial Operations at Transport for London.

Jonathan shares insights from his extensive career in procurement. He emphasises the importance of building communities, listening to stakeholders and fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.

Jonathan discusses the evolution of procurement practices, the impact of AI and the need to address geopolitical challenges.

He also highlights the significance of talent management and the necessity of changing the narrative around procurement to attract new talent.

Takeaways

· Listening is crucial for building trust in teams.

· Culture should be developed collaboratively with teams.

· Dyslexia can be a unique advantage in problem-solving.

· AI will enhance procurement processes and decision-making.

· Procurement must adapt to geopolitical challenges.

· The narrative around procurement needs to be improved.

· Mentorship plays a vital role in career development.
Chapters

00:00 Building Communities in Procurement

02:53 The Importance of Listening

06:12 Cultural Transformation

08:56 Career Transitions and Mentorship

12:12 The Evolution of Procurement Practices

14:56 AI

17:48 Geopolitical Challenges in Procurement

21:08 Talent in Procurement

24:01 Changing the Narrative

26:48 Advice for Aspiring CPOs

On this episode, Fraser McBeth, Procurement Director at Volta Trucks, shares his journey from working in established OEMs to leading procurement in a startup environment.

He discusses the unique challenges faced during the transition, particularly during the company's bankruptcy, and how he navigated these difficult times while maintaining team morale and supplier relationships.

Fraser emphasises the importance of building a high-performance culture, adapting to technological changes, and fostering open communication within the team.

He reflects on the lessons learned throughout this journey and offers insights for others considering a similar path in the startup world.

Takeaways

Startups require a different mindset and approach than established companies.

Navigating cash flow is crucial in a startup environment.

Building strong supplier relationships can provide access to valuable technology.
Creating a high-performance culture involves continuous improvement and engagement.

Transparency with the team fosters trust and resilience.

Adapting to technological advancements is necessary for competitiveness.

Flexibility in work arrangements can enhance talent acquisition.

Leadership during tough times requires a balance of support and accountability.

Learning from experiences in a startup can shape future career paths.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Volta Trucks

02:46 From OEM to Startup

06:08 Bankruptcy

11:51 Leadership in Crisis

17:57 Building a High-Performance Culture

24:00 Supplier Relationships

30:07 Reflection and Future Outlook