Procurement The Key In The Battle For Savings And Value In 2013

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 26, 2012 - Leeds based Science Warehouse hosted leading figures from the procurement profession, from both the public and private sector, to debate the future of   procurement, one of the most rapidly evolving sectors in the UK.

With 40% of an organisation’s revenue being spent with external providers, effectively managing this spend is vital in an environment of low growth. The ‘Battle for Procurement Round Table’ debated the future of UK procurement and asked how the perception of procurement can be transformed from one of transactors to strategic value creators.

The twenty strong debate saw leading Yorkshire industry figures, included Tim Brannon from University of Leeds, Malcolm Taylor from DWP and Faye Barker from Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation, debate the future sector challenges at Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Tim Brannon, Head of Procurement for 7,000 employee strong University of Leeds, commented:  “Procurement needs to align itself with organisational objectives and be seen as credible, adaptable and non-bureaucratic to ensure buy-in.”

David Hames, Chairman of Science Warehouse, a UK leader in web-based purchasing solutions and round table host, said: “Faced with a challenging economic environment, cost reduction remains a priority for the majority of organisations. However, the ‘Battle for Procurement’ debate recognised that cutting costs is only half the story as organisations strive to deliver sustainable value. The key challenge is seeking a balance between supporting under-pressure businesses with quick saving wins while simultaneously driving long term value.

“To secure a second wave of benefits beyond simple cost reduction, procurement best practice needs to be part of the culture of an organisation, from the top to the bottom. Delivering that needs the business to invest intelligently in top talent and training .”

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