Shortlist 2024

We are delighted to announce our shortlisted entries for this years' CIPS Excellence in Procurement & Supply Awards 2024.

Check out our 2023 winners here.

6
BEST APPROACH TO RISK MITIGATION

Sponsored by: 

SOCAR Türkiye

Executive Summary

SOCAR Türkiye's project involves integrating an AI-supported system into an operational framework, fundamentally enhancing occupational health and safety (OHS) compliance processes. This advanced application has necessitated a complete overhaul of traditional safety protocols, ensuring a higher level of precision in safety monitoring and incident detection. Critical to the project's success was developing human-centered communication strategies to facilitate smooth adoption among its' workforce. Experiences from implementation highlighted the importance of adaptability and foresight in employing new technologies effectively. This initiative not only boosts safety and efficiency but also sets new industry standards, reinforcing SOCAR Türkiye's commitment to innovation and excellence in all operational facets.

Nationwide Building Society

Executive Summary
The success of our organisation starts with our strategy and is delivered through the safe execution of a strong set of business principles and risk management via both internal teams and external supplier teams. The total loss of a material supplier represented significant risk to our organisation’s services, which could lead to material harm to our customers as well as regulatory and reputational damage. This project’s objective was to understand the end-to-end impacts and risks of a complete loss of a material service, and create a strategy to maintain operational services with no/limited harm to customers.

Philip Morris International

Executive Summary
PMI’s multi-tier resilience project addresses a level of risk in the supply chain which is often less visible but can incur substantial financial losses – disruptions to Tier-1 suppliers’ sub-tier entities. Having experienced these challenges first-hand, PMI set out to enhance the visibility of this critical aspect of the supply chain, with the express aim of safeguarding business operations for electronic devices, the cornerstone of PMI’s vision for a Smoke-Free Future. By analysing disruptions and establishing a concrete risk mitigation action plan to ensure supply security, the organisation has enhanced supply chain visibility up to Tier-4 and secured its competitive advantage.

PepsiCo

Executive Summary

In 2022, PepsiCo embarked on a strategic expansion of Popcorners into the APAC region to capitalise on its success in the US. However, in 2023, challenges arose when production capacity reached its limit, compounded by scarcity of key raw materials and escalating costs. Through proactive measures led by procurement, including securing additional investment, sourcing alternative raw materials, and implementing cost-saving initiatives, the project successfully addressed these challenges. Within four months, the commissioning of the production line exceeded expectations and achieved significant cost savings emphasise the project's success. Moreover, sustainability initiatives aligned with PEP+ Scope 3 targets further enhancing its impact.

EDF Nuclear Operations

Executive Summary
Last year, the EDF Nuclear Operations Supply Chain Team successfully introduced a novel approach to securing critical operational resource to support the delivery of maintenance outages. Market conditions created a demand for certain skillsets far exceeding supply resulting in a significant operational risk. EDF worked with their key contract partners to secure resource on a retained basis at a specified level throughout the year. Consequently, the business was not only able to secure resource of the right calibre and with crucial nuclear experience, but was also better positioned to respond to emergent operational events and maximise value from the retained resource.

Rolls-Royce

Executive Summary
Recent history has brought unprecedented levels of risk to Rolls-Royce; the aerospace sector was severely impacted by the pandemic, with demand crashing overnight. Risk levels have remained very high, whilst demand for our products has continued to rise in parallel. Bolstering our risk and resilience capabilities during 2023 was therefore essential. We launched a comprehensive external risk management improvement programme during 2023 focusing on improvements in six key areas, including risk identification, prioritisation, mitigation planning, and enhancing external intelligence. These enhancements to our risk management capabilities will enable both us, and our supply chain, to succeed into the future.
12
BEST COLLABORATIVE TEAMWORK PROJECT

Sponsored by:


7 Force Commercial Services & South East and Eastern Region Police Insurance Consortium (SEERPIC)

Executive Summary
The project was for the provision of Motor Insurance (and associated claims handling service), for the 10 police forces that comprise the SEERPIC collaboration in a historically challenging market. A collaborative approach was undertaken to enable optimum risk financing arrangements arising from the collective knowledge, experience and joint purchasing power of the consortium members. The critical success factors for procurement were to ensure that the collective forces were an attractive proposition to the insurance market through demonstration of their effective management of fleet risk, and that the contract was affordable to the forces.

HSBC

Executive Summary
Digital accessibility plays an important role in the HSBC bank's overall ESG objectives around diversity and inclusion. Procurement has a significant role to play to ensure our suppliers are meeting these standards and requirements.

Crown Commercial Service

Executive Summary
CCS, leading of a collaborative cross-departmental team on behalf of the UK Government and Public Sector, has negotiated a new three-year, non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) which establishes improved terms and pricing, upskilling and support programmes for government departments, agencies and organisations in the wider public sector — all to help them accelerate their use of and derive greater value from AWS’ cloud computing services.

Balfour Beatty

Executive Summary

Engaging the right expertise and perspectives was critical to tackling the daunting and complex issue of modern slavery within Balfour Beatty’s supply chain. Recognising the apprehension surrounding audits, especially within a modern slavery context, 'Balfour Beatty's procurement leadership function sought to redefine the narrative. Through business-wide teamwork, the procurement function integrated risk management, supply chain upskilling, and relationship building into its approach, ultimately improving supply chain relationships, and driving sustainable change. Cross-functional team's dedication culminated in a Modern Slavery Supply Chain Audit Programme of 123 audits in Q4 2023, highlighting the power of collaboration in achieving impactful change in human rights.

Ministry of Defence

Executive Summary
Collaborating to centralise procurement of the UK Government's need for IP Cryptographic devices not only secures the best possible prices and achieves economies of scale. It also alleviates supply chain pressures by assigning a single Contracting Authority responsibility to manage and prioritise deliveries to areas of highest need. Further ensuring taxpayer money is used efficiently on a pan-Government basis, whilst maintaining security and continuity of government operations; with a keen focus on UK security of supply and growing sustainable export opportunities.

HM Revenue & Customs

Executive Summary
The UK’s exit from the EU was the single biggest change in international trade of our generation. With political pressure to “Get Brexit Done” and an antiquated Customs process to navigate, HMRC Commercial, Borders & Trade and Cabinet Office collaborated to appoint, mobilise and manage a new site operator of Inland Border Facilities (IBFs). This was developed and delivered through a novel commercial contract, from a previously disaggregated model. The outcome being a world class border solution, implementation of industry-leading automation technologies on-site unlocking £40m+ savings, improving health & safety, improving customer experience, and increasing employee engagement & retention.

Lloyds Banking Group

Executive Summary
Our 2+ year transformation aimed to uplift our procurement analytics capabilities to foster data-driven decision-making, whilst also preparing for future priorities around sustainability, resilience and accessibility. The programme was rooted in deep collaboration between LBG & Accenture, where Accenture resources acted as an extended arm of the LBG core team, also engaging with 50+ LBG stakeholders. The transformation was crafted from strategy through to scaled execution and was structured into functional workstreams to establish ‘single-pane’ supplier visibility (SPSV), CPO/Executive reporting, procurement process measurements and Scope 3 emissions. These pillars were underpinned by people capability development, digital accessibility and automation foundations.

Nationwide Building Society

Executive Summary
The T3 project is a Nationwide strategic programme setting the direction of Nationwide’s new technology strategy, focused on reducing the cost of application development, support and testing services across the Society, whilst accelerating the modernisation of Nationwide’s application estate. Procurement have driven truly cross functional workstreams, internally and externally and have grown as a result into a team willing to adapt its approach to best support organisation wide goals and work in true partnership whilst ensuring that it delivers on the core values of the Building Society towards mutual growth and success.

nupco

Executive Summary
The National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO) successfully implemented the Command and Control Tower (CCT) project, revolutionising its supply chain operations. The 24-month initiative executed by NUPCO involved collaborative teamwork across diverse departments. The CCT introduced automation, actionable dashboards, and streamlined processes, achieving significant milestones such as enhanced demand prediction, reduced order-to-delivery timelines, and strengthened supplier relationships. The project's success, guided by the CECOR Methodology (Calibrate, Explore, Create, Organize and Realize) and the BOT framework (Build, Operate and Transfer), positioned NUPCO as a leader in procurement innovation, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability.

RV Services Limited

Executive Summary
As a leading retirement community, Retirement Villages Group (RVG) set-up Project Phoenix, a cross departmental team to overcome procurement challenges and bring their systems into the 21st century, implementing a cutting edge P2P and full ERP system. With 16 siloed villages ordering via email or telephone there was no visibility of spend until an invoice hit the AP system, leading to manual approval, task duplication, late payments, and limited spend visibility. RVG's collaborative efforts led to transformative change that has been embraced by the business leading to streamlined processes, eliminating duplication, improved payment timelines, and provided real-time spend

BA Euroflyer

Executive Summary

With little over a year to deliver, a new small team with procurement being a key feature, British Airways were tasked with setting-up a new short-haul airline operating under the British Airways brand. The airline, called BA Euroflyer, would serve short-haul destinations from London Gatwick - representing a remarkable turn-around for British Airways at the airport having very nearly permanently ceased its short-haul operation there following the COVID pandemic. In that time the airline, underpinned by entrepreneurial, empowered and collaborative minds, has risen to become one of the largest operators of flights out of Gatwick Airport.

Sainsbury's

Executive Summary
Delivery of our strategic priorities required monumental effort; we’ve had a cultural shift in how we deliver for our customers and undergone significant transformational change. The results are a fantastic example of colleagues and suppliers working together to achieve our goals of ‘First Choice For Food’ and ‘Save & Invest To Win’ as described in this submission. Redefining and implementing an infrastructure that is critical to our performance brought many risks. This cross functional group worked tirelessly, developing solutions that make our business better, giving us a competitive edge with continuous improvement and innovation at the heart.​
6
BEST COMMITMENT TO CARBON REDUCTION IN SUPPLY CHAINS

7 Force Commercial Services

Executive Summary
7 Force Commercial Services identified the need to take a cross organisation/sector approach to addressing the decarbonisation challenges affecting estates and fleet colleagues. A series of workshops were delivered to enable sharing of best practice, lessons learned and to agree a common approach to the challenges. Key outputs included carbon mapping of the regions estate, identification of opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and save money and innovative exploration of electric vehicle charging infrastructure with the private sector to facilitate new ways of working for emergency services fleet.

Nationwide Building Society

Executive Summary
As the main challenger to the shareholder-owned banks, we provide a good way to bank for our customers, delivering the value, service and mutual good that others cannot. Environmental consciousness is core to our mutual purpose. We’ve set an intermediate science-based target to reduce our upstream Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030 versus 2021. Our procurement team has driven activity to establish new, proportionate science-based target expectations for suppliers of high value contracts, supported by internal capacity building. As of April 2024, suppliers representing 48% of our 2023 emissions had set or committed to set their own science-based targets.

Vectura Fertin Pharma

Executive Summary
Vectura leads in inhalation solutions, spearheading sustainability with near-zero-emission products and a net-zero future. Through innovative initiatives, we revolutionise carbon reduction in supply chains, starting with reformulating our Flutiform® inhaler to lower its carbon footprint. By sourcing alternative propellants and collaborating with new suppliers, we aim to align with EU regulations. We pioneer bio-based materials in medical devices, leveraging sustainable alternatives. Our commitment is evident in improved Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) supply chain engagement and deployment of EcoVadis supply chain management. Vectura's journey towards sustainability goes beyond corporate responsibility — it's about creating a better world through collaboration, innovation, and unwavering commitment.

National Highways

Executive Summary
The Lower Thames Crossing will not only deliver a strategic and nationally critical piece of infrastructure for the UK, but will also transform how we design, build and deliver major construction projects in the UK. The ambitions set and the outcomes delivered to date, are already creating a legacy with the supply chain, within the communities and in the industry and will set a new benchmark for low carbon construction and how public procurements can lead the way to truly create transformative change that leave a lasting and sustainable legacy.

Essex County Council

Executive Summary
Climate Action is one of Essex County Council's key priorities. To help the organisation achieve its goals, the supply chain must be engaged to help reduce Scope 3 emissions. The procurement team have led on the "Climate Action through Procurement" Project, looking at how procurement practices can support key services to bring climate action into their contracts. By building on central government practices, ECC has developed a set of simple yet effective tools that brings climate action into procurement processes.

Schneider Electric

Executive Summary
Schneider Electric engaged 1000+ suppliers accounting for >65% of emissions from purchased goods and services, with an aim to reduce 50% emissions (Scope1 and Scope 2). By May 2024, a 30% reduction in overall emissions was achieved, despite >70% of suppliers having no previous knowledge on decarbonisation. This was achieved by providing customised support via >150 trainings, digital toolkits and strong implementation support via dedicated workshops curated at region, country and factory level. Access to technological experts, financing solutions to facilitate implementation (Opex, Capex) and implementation support resulted in the timely identification of bottlenecks and successful resolution resulting in strong decarbonisation performance.
6
BEST INITIATIVE TO BUILD A DIVERSE SUPPLY BASE

Co-op

Executive Summary
Since the Co-op was founded in 1844, we’ve been committed to driving social value for our colleagues, communities, and members to enable our industry and beyond to be truly inclusive. Now in 2024 our Endless Inclusion Hub has become a critical business tool which brings GFR and GNFR suppliers together to achieve broader D&I impact. This pioneering partnership has allowed us to collectively develop tools to support our smaller supplier partners through the Apiary Incubator scheme alongside our partnerships with MSDUK and SEUK. For Co-op, inclusion isn't just a nice thing to do, it's how we do business.

Coventry Building Society

Executive Summary

Coventry Building Society has expanded opportunity and access for diverse firms by including questions about supply chain diversity and inclusion in its onboarding due diligence for new and current suppliers. We host an annual supplier awards, where diverse suppliers are shortlisted by colleagues because of the great outcomes they receive from them. Our sustainable procurement working group host an annual diverse supplier event to inspire potential suppliers. In 2024, The Head of SRM co-hosted an educational video with the CBS Executive Sponsor for Race, featuring ethnically diverse led suppliers to support the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.

HM Revenue & Customs

Executive Summary

Digital and Legacy Application Services (DALAS) is a new £6bn IT framework, created by HMRC in partnership with CCS, and is the latest stage in HMRC’s commercial change programme. DALAS provides a strategic gateway to support the delivery of future application services. This gateway helps move HMRC toward an application services support model that is less dependent on legacy technologies, and more focused on HMRC being a products and platforms organisation. DALAS successfully delivered phase 1 and phase 2 by April 2024, paving the way for greater engagement with the market, fostering fair and open competition and delivering innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Rolls-Royce

Executive Summary

The aerospace supply chain has historically faced a significant lack of gender diversity, limiting the potential for varied perspectives, ideas, and discussion. A group of women at Rolls-Royce decided to tackle this by creating the Women Powering Change Network. The network, which welcomes colleagues and suppliers, was designed to be a safe space for women, free from from the influences of competitor dynamics. Throughout 2023, the network was a forum for virtual discussions on topics including gender bias, mental health, female qualities in the workplace, and positivity during difficult experiences.

National Highways

Executive Summary
To achieve the ambitious objectives set out in our Social Value Plan, we needed to look for ways to deliver differently, increase the diversity of our supply chain and drive greater social value. The Social Enterprise Dynamic Purchasing System (SEDPS) was designed to promote supplier diversity across the organisation, our supply chain, and the wider public-sector, allowing these organisations, who would not usually have access to these contracts, the opportunity to bid for more work. A small team worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the SEDPS, the first in England with the aspiration to be available transport-sector wide.

bp

Executive Summary
BP delivers heat, light and mobility products and services to people all around the world in ways that will help to drive the energy transition to a lower carbon future. Supplier diversity is good business, encouraging diversity of thought, innovation and efficiencies. As the traditional oil and gas company shifts to become an integrated energy company, doing business with partners and suppliers – small, local and diverse - unlocks value creation all around. BP aims to increase diverse supplier spend annually and deliver greater equity for our workforce and customers, and with our suppliers – and no doubt progress.
6
BEST INITIATIVE TO DELIVER SOCIAL VALUE THROUGH PROCUREMENT

Sponsored by:


Crown Commercial Service

Executive Summary

'The CCS's Crown Hosting data centres are modern, hugely energy efficient, secure, and importantly provide reliability for the dependent business of the UK public sector. An innovative procurement approach undertaken by Crown Commercial Service has delivered realisable savings for the public sector, but at the same time has significantly reduced associated CO2 emissions, which is a critical (social value) component to “Fighting Climate Change”.  'Crown Commercial Service has an impeccable record of saving public sector customers over 54,000 tonnes of C02 emissions per year - equivalent to planting 2.3 million trees, twice the amount of all new forests planted in England in 2020-21.

National Highways

Executive Summary

At National Highways, social value is defined as “the benefits that National Highways and its supply chain delivers for people, the environment, and the economy”. We want to ensure that we are delivering the maximum value to the communities we work in as we operate, maintain, and enhance the Strategic Road Network to ensure that we leave a lasting legacy. Our organisation-wide Social Value Plan aims to not only achieve but exceed our ambitious objectives. We're looking for innovative ways to deliver differently and maximise the positive impact we have on communities through our delivery of schemes and our procurement activity.

Lloyds Banking Group

Executive Summary
No child in care should carry their life in a bin bag, but unfortunately many do. Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) wanted to make a positive change to the lives of these children by partnering with Madlug: a community interest company who manufacture luggage that ‘Makes a difference’. With every bag purchased, Madlug donate a bag to a child in care. With determination and passion, coupled with an innovative approach to sourcing, this partnership was realised in weeks, with LBG colleagues wearing their bags with pride, supporting our purpose of helping Britain prosper, and improving the lives of children in care.

Crown Commercial Service

Executive Summary

The Public Sector Resourcing (PSR) framework is a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) led agreement delivered by AMS. It is one of the largest MSP programmes of its kind servicing over 140 customers and delivering contingent labour, statement of work and recruit, train, and deploy services to the UK Government. Led prior to PPN 06/20, with no contractual obligation to deliver social value, the organisation recognised the importance and opportunity to provide added value to its customers by developing a comprehensive Social Value programme to widen the diversity of the contingent workforce. The programme would help to break down barriers to underrepresented talent to address industry wide skills shortages.

Schneider Electric

Executive Summary

Protecting worker rights/human rights is a core and foundational element for any sustainable supply chain. Global corporations largely adopt a risk-based approach, which involves assessing high risk suppliers for malpractices and rectifying identified gaps. However, studies by the UN and post-COVID labour research show vulnerability and exploitation of the global workforce are at an all-time high. Thus, proving the ineffectiveness of traditional risk-based approach. Schneider Electric has adopted a three-pronged approach: 1. De-risk high-risk suppliers to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. 2. Ensure continuous improvement by mandating suppliers to adopt leading policies. 3. Be aspirational by deploying preventive controls to reduce the likelihood of any potential malpractice.

Transport for London

Executive Summary

TfL's Women into Transport and Engineering (WiTnE) Pre-Employment Programme is designed to bridge the gap between unemployment and stable employment for adults facing job market barriers. This initiative focuses on skill development, job readiness training, and personalised support to enhance employability. The programme includes professional skills workshops, one-on-one career counselling, and work placements with key suppliers. These elements are tailored to equip participants with both the hard industry specific skills and the soft skills crucial for overall career success. The WiTnE Programme has established partnerships with over fifty local businesses, enriching the community and strengthening the transportation and engineering sectors.

6
BEST PRACTICE IN SUPPLY CHAIN INTEGRATION

CBRE

Executive Summary

Identifying the need for a transformative approach, we developed a solution that not only bridges the gap between procurement and operations but also enhances visibility, accessibility, and searchability of our partner innovations. This initiative aimed to elevate client satisfaction, contract retention, and growth by showcasing exceptional client outcomes driven by supply chain collaboration. This initiative represents a significant stride towards integrating our supply chain more effectively, demonstrating our commitment to innovation, client satisfaction, and operational excellence. As well as addressing our immediate challenges, we've laid down a robust foundation for value creation across our global operations.

Philip Morris International

Executive Summary
Enabling PMI's smoke-free vision involves a fundamental change in our operations, resulting in a longer, more complex sourcing, supply chain. The need for a stronger integration between the different parts of the supply chain becomes critical. Sync Hub provides a complete, digital insight into the planning and distribution processes. Integrated risk management is one of the core enablers for agile, flexible and reliable supply chains, allowing PMI to simulate different scenarios to avoid production downtime even in crisis situations. Sync Hub brings the required standardisation, flexibility and agility to PMI's organisation and processes - effectively supporting their transformation.

nupco

Executive Summary
The NUPCO Command and Control Tower project stand as a testament to transformative excellence in procurement and supply chain integration. Adopting the BOT framework and CECOR Methodology, the project systematically addressed challenges, from demand prediction to logistics optimization. With a phased approach, the initiative successfully reduced lead times by 30%, increased supply chain visibility by 20%, and decreased operational costs by 15%. Stakeholder feedback, including positive responses from CEO Fahad Shebl and COO Fahad AlButhi, underscores the project's significant impact. The Command and Control Tower is not just a solution; it's a paradigm shift, embedding a culture of continuous improvement.

nupco

Executive Summary
Sharek serves 120 health entities, facilitating 13,000 orders, 16,000 items, and saving 242 MSAR, with a 10-day service journey. Stakeholders are kept informed through automated notifications via SMS, website announcements, and support tickets, ensuring their involvement in all details, developments, and updates.

RV Services Limited

Executive Summary

Retirement Villages Group (RVG), a leading retirement community facing a fragmented supply chain with 5,000+ unmanaged suppliers and no PO system, launched Project Phoenix. With 16 siloed villages struggling to locate suppliers often onboarded post-invoice causing quality, cost and compliance issues. RVG's commitment to local suppliers was hampered by late payments, exceeding the 30-day mark and souring relationships. Project Phoenix implemented a state-of-the-art P2P and ERP system, ensuring seamless integration, supplier visibility, and timely payments. The initiative not only addressed critical challenges but has helped to foster stronger supplier relationships and operational efficiency.

National Grid

Executive Summary
How do you procure net zero? The clean energy transition requires a substantial upgrade to the UKs electricity transmission network at a pace we have never seen before – The Great Grid Upgrade. National Grid sits at the heart of Britain’s energy system. The scale and pace of this upgrade requires us to unite as an industry and to think and act differently as a client and as a supply chain. To move away from commercial transaction and towards the challenge of accelerating a £4.5bn infrastructure programme, driving programmatic innovation, collaborating, and sharing in mutual success. A Great Grid Partnership.
6
BEST PROCUREMENT TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME

Sponsored by:


Costa Coffee

Executive Summary
Rising from the ashes of a major company restructuring programme, a newly formed procurement team pulled the business together to deliver phenomenal and record breaking results in 2023, through the Fuel For Growth programme. Leading the strategic category management of 52 sub categories, 1,000 suppliers, and £1 billion of spend, the Procurement Team spearheaded over 235 savings projects. Including key supplier transitions, network redesigns and advanced tendering via a newly implemented digital platform. Through brilliant execution, advanced business partnering and a growth mindset the team delivered exceptional results to beat challenging targets and the previous year’s results by over 74%!

AstraZeneca

Executive Summary

Scout is the one-stop-shop for every employee’s purchasing journey in AstraZeneca. Scout delivers four tangible benefits to AZ – it directs 90,000 people, whether they are a scientist or part of the salesforce, on how to make a purchase through an AI powered search application. It also simplifies the supplier onboarding process, integrating several existing technology platforms, encouraged faster purchasing methods, and streamlines the support model for users to get help. Scout has created a single pathway to purchase; saving time, effort, and costs, allowing our people to focus on following the science, making new medicines, and saving patient’s lives.

Swisscom

Executive Summary

Reflecting increased margin pressure in the core business, our procurement function has sought to contribute more value faster. This required a transformation led by the principles re-group, accelerate and level-up. The transformation was addressed comprehensively and was accomplished in less than 18 months. Procurement changed their role within the organisation but also how they collaborate within procurement. Thanks to the efforts driven by the leadership, the team, and the newly established Centre of Excellence, procurement are now delivering more and faster. This was achieved without much noise, and with a team who were continuously involved in the transformation process.

RSPCA

Executive Summary

RSPCA undertook a journey in 2022 to transform Procurement with breakthrough results. Collaboration was secured across all functions to deliver more for animal welfare and reduce cruelty. Savings, risk and cost avoidance was achieved in the millions. The team underwent extensive category management training, deploying new tools and techniques to challenge embedded relationships resulting in more creative contractual outcomes and value including revenue generation. The profile was raised at Executive leadership level with Procurement now being regarded as a valued-added and essential function.

WPP

Executive Summary
WPP's procurement transformation journey has delivered impressive results. The focus was on establishing a category management-led model, restructuring the team and enhancing talent capabilities, and driving cost savings while fostering collaboration. Despite hurdles like organisational complexity (>1000 legal entities, >300 ERP instances, very little integration and an extremely federated operating environment), the results delivered by the transformation included a more than doubling in savings delivery, much deeper stakeholder relationships and a step change in our responsible procurement practice and performance. This transformation highlights the power of great procurement, setting the WPP procurement team up for continued success in the future.

NHS Supply Chain

Executive Summary
We transformed our operating model from multiple third-party procurement service providers to a principally insourced model. This has enabled us to improve the way we work with the NHS, a federated system of trusts and integrated care systems, and become the partner of choice for accessing the supply market. It has also made us the preferred route for suppliers into the NHS. The new model is based on category teams supported by three shared services: a Centre of Excellence, Supplier Relationship Management and Sourcing Execution. The transformation began in early 2023 and was completed in early 2024.
7
BEST SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

Sponsored by:


NATS, Leidos, and partners

Executive Summary
By adopting a collaborative approach to working with long term suppliers that goes beyond traditional supplier relationship management, NATS and Leidos, with support from Think Research, have jointly delivered a solution called Intelligent Approach to Dutch air traffic control provider, LVNL, and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. It is an arrivals spacing tool that enables air traffic controllers to safely optimise runway capacity to improve airport operational resilience, deliver better on-time performance, reduce emissions, and increase revenue. The solution is born from a NATS/Leidos relationship of over 30 years and builds on previous successful deployments of Intelligent Approach to Heathrow and Toronto.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) And ISS Mediclean Limited (ISS)

Executive Summary
The Work Place & Facilities Management 2024 (WP&FM24) project is a top 30 Defra Group Corporate Services Transformation Programme project, pulling together two large existing contracts into one single new Total FM management contract. The project from its inception recognised the importance and benefits of strategic supplier relationship management. This project is testament to the hard work and resilience of Defra and ISS working together in partnership to mobilise a contract with a complicated operating model, across a diverse portfolio. This long term relationship that started at early market engagement has paved the way for long term success and benefits.

Ministry of Finance – UAE

Executive Summary
The Digital Procurement Platform, driven by the vision of UAE Leadership, is a transformative, award winning (most innovative project) initiative to revolutionise the procurement journey for Federal Entities and suppliers. By digitising and simplifying the end-to-end process, it dramatically shortened the procurement cycle from 60 days to just six minutes. Implemented across 30+ entities, this cloud-based platform ensured swift supplier onboarding (<1 day) with a strong focus on supplier management, supplier onboarding, SMEs and cost optimisation (achieved >30%cost reduction). Catalogues, e-auctions, digital signatures, and a completely paperless contracting journey contribute to its transformative impact.

Monsha’at

Executive Summary

Monsha'at's platform is a ground breaking initiative designed to transform supplier relationship management in Saudi Arabia. It empowers SMEs by facilitating their access to public and private sector procurement opportunities. In doing so, it addresses longstanding challenges by streamlining eligibility verification, providing capacity-building resources, and fostering communication between buyers and SMEs. The platform has achieved significant success, with over 1,000 SMEs registered and partnerships established with 20 key stakeholders. User feedback highlights increased transparency, efficiency, and access to new opportunities for both SMEs and buyers. Jadeer demonstrably aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification and SME growth.

Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority

Executive Summary

The Vendors Portal project was all-in-one solution and initiative that aimed to resolve different challenges we had, including delayed payments, inaccurate data and expired documents, long and lengthy processes, manual vendor registration, and finally delayed certificate of completion issuance. This project is a great example of suppliers and customers working tirelessly together to achieve great results and create a culture of storytelling which expanded to other organisations.

MTN Group – Global Sourcing and Supply Chain

Executive Summary

MTN buys billions in goods and services every year for its 17+ operating companies. With more than 20,000 suppliers and 10+ ERP systems, MTN wanted to enhance its supplier compliance and governance significantly. Achieving this for 22,000 suppliers required the use of big data and advanced machine learning algorithms. MTN's Procurement Excellence team developed an in-house algorithm to perform automated due diligence and checks on its entire supplier database. Aptly named as Compliance Passport, the algorithm scans the supplier database for due diligence non compliances and high risk events, identifying potential risks for upcoming and ongoing sourcing events.

Crown Commercial Service

Executive Summary

Crown Commercial Service, operating as part of the strategic partnership NHS Workforce Alliance, has been actively driving improvement across the healthcare temporary workforce market. Through a programme of remediation and supplier training, improvements across audit results and trends have been widely evident. This supports the overall goal of improving patient safety across all public sector settings.

6
BEST SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR

National Highways

Executive Summary
Our sustainable procurement project goes beyond cost savings, aligning with our broader Social Value Plan and objectives to maximise the benefit to local communities, the environment, and economic prosperity over time. The creation of the Social Enterprise Dynamic Purchasing System (SEDPS) enabled opportunities for National Highways, our supply chain and the wider public-sector to practice sustainable procurement through spending money with organisations who inherently deliver social value. The SEDPS is the first of this type in England, increasing awareness of Social Enterprises and in turn contributing to a more equitable and accessible supply chain.

Greggs plc

Executive Summary
We partnered with Biffa, our waste management supplier, to support the establishment of an innovation fund, with which we created the Greggs Sustainability Challenge. We invited 32,000 colleagues to come forward with their sustainability ideas whether it was an internal business change or a new project to help the local community. Finalists presented to a panel of senior leaders from both businesses and we’re now implementing the winning ideas. Our joint goal was met: to engage our colleagues in our sustainability agenda, drive value from our strategic partnership and deliver a tangible local benefit

Direct Line Group

Executive Summary
By implementing a new process for recycled parts, Direct Line Group (DLG) took an estimated 333,000kg of carbon dioxide emissions out of the supply chain in 2023 and delivered a £1.3m reduction in vehicle repair costs. Before our intervention, the salvage yards had no way of understanding the shape of the market demand for individual parts and so could not meet the logistics and timing challenges associated with the vehicle repair cycle time. DLG changed that through innovation with our parts procurement system partner. Now, we take a third of all Green Part opportunities, and this number is growing.

QBE European Operations

Executive Summary

QBE and Sedgwick, a strategic supplier, collaborated to reduce carbon emissions. Using Sedgwick’s carbon values calculator and their carbon reduction surveyor, we identified suitable property claims to promote low-carbon alternatives for building and contents repair options. The pilot, involving 70 losses valued at a total of circa £7 million, ascertained that 80% of customers supported sustainable repairs. The results of the pilot have indicated that the emissions attributed to commercial property claims can be reduced by as much as 70% by using low-carbon alternatives, and at little or no extra cost.

Sainsbury's

Executive Summary

With a bold commitment to carbon reduction and a clear customer need, the Sainsbury's procurement team partnered with the business to develop and roll out a retail-first, ultra-rapid charging network across our sites for Electric Vehicles (EVs). “The procurement team have been the driving force behind accelerating positive change and reducing carbon across Sainsbury’s and our supply chain. They have changed the way we talk about value," says Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury's. He adds that "the team’s dedication to re-imagining what procurement stands for is shown in its fantastic results.”

Condé Nast

Executive Summary
Condé Nast’s content reaches over 1 billion consumers across our digital, print and media platforms. A pioneering sustainability programme led by Procurement, partnering with CarbonQuota, a carbon management specialist, was launched to automate data collection, calculations, reporting and improve all procurement processes and policies to address, for the first time, all Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions. With enhanced visibility of data to support every brand, market and platform, we could offer new and exciting opportunities to drive industry and market leading eco design solutions. Always creating. Always innovating. Always curating. Always influencing across 37 brands and in 32 markets.
9
BEST USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Sponsored by:


bp

Executive Summary

BP fast-tracked digital transformation for the procurement team, managing $30bn+ in spend and 12,000+ contracts annually. Building a one source of truth analytics platform enabled data-driven decisions, presented targeted and actionable alerts, automated requests, and reduced cycle times from days and weeks to seconds. The enhancements addressed a substantial third-party contracting risk and resolved the root cause of multiple process inefficiencies, derived from a high number of expired contracts and those without a contract owner. In six months, data quality improved exponentially to 98%, saving over $18m, while building a foundation for the procurement’s function’s AI implementation strategy.

Ministry of Finance – UAE

Executive Summary

Driven by the visionary leadership of the UAE, the Digital Procurement Platform redefines the procurement landscape for federal entities and suppliers alike. Through the strategic utilisation of digital technology, this platform revolutionised the entire procurement journey, compressing what once took 60 days into a mere 6 minutes. Rolled out across over 30 entities, this cloud-based solution facilitates supplier onboarding in less than a day, expedites the procurement cycle, and delivers significant cost savings exceeding 30%. At the heart of this digital transformation are innovative features such as catalogues, e-auctions, digital signatures, and a fully paperless contracting process.

Scottish Government

Executive Summary

The innovation landscape in the Scottish public sector can be challenging to navigate, with suppliers finding it difficult to identify appropriate contacts to pitch their innovation solutions. Scotland Innovates is a supplier-led innovation service developed to provide an easy to use, secure online route for suppliers of innovative goods and services to connect with the entire Scottish public sector, including NHS Scotland. Scotland Innovates also provides potential suppliers with information, guidance and support on how to develop ideas and innovations into products and technologies that may be of use in the provision of public services in Scotland.

Lloyds Banking Group

Executive Summary

Lloyds Banking Group is going through one of the biggest ever transformations in UK banking, including ‘digitising the bank’. And two of our digital deliverables have transformed our support for suppliers and colleagues. A new way to verify bank account details – moving from 26 days to just seconds – has transformed how we onboard suppliers for payment. A new chatbot means that colleagues buying goods and services can get 24/7 support for the first time ever. Both mitigate risk and have developed colleague skills and competencies, making us fit for the future.

bp

Executive Summary

Current legacy solution is outdated for all global warehouses. As a result, warehouse workers rely on paper-based processes to capture material movements and subsequently return to a desk to enter those movements into the system of record. This results in delayed and inaccurate system data as well as inefficient processing. Time in motion studies have indicated that over 30% of transactional activity is non-value adding. Warehouse workers should be able to perform all the required transactions that correspond to physical handling of materials on the go, using mobile devices and scanning of labels with minimised data entry and simplified screens.

RV Services Limited

Executive Summary

Retirement Village Group (RVG), a leading retirement community established Project Phoenix to tackle legacy systems by incorporating a full ERP system and P2P system. These innovative solutions set the cornerstone to bring together 16 siloed villages with manual systems, resulting in payment delays, manual reporting and limited spend visibility. Implementing Coupa and MRI systems revolutionised RVG's procurement. Real-time insights improved transparency, minimising delays, and enabling informed decisions. Cultural shifts fostered collaboration and accountability. Tangible benefits include reduced cycle times, enhanced reporting accuracy, and strengthened supplier relationships. The new systems’ ability to continually improve allowed RVG to embrace digital transformation.

MTN Group – Global Sourcing and Supply Chain

Executive Summary

MTN buys billions in goods and services every year for its 17+ markets. With more than 20,000 suppliers and 10+ ERP system, MTN wanted its digital procurement transformation to align with overall procurement transformation. MTN’s developed a neural engine for procurement by using open-source data science and machine learning libraries. The neural engine is an ensemble of algorithms that leverages data from various tools and brings together one view for whole organisation. Aptly named Procurement Excellence 360 (Px360), the central procurement intelligence platform focuses on 3 principles: sourcing intelligence, supplier governance and behaviour modelling, and knowledge.

Experian

Executive Summary

The ProcExperianTools initiative represents a groundbreaking leap in procurement efficiency, harnessing the power of generative AI and Microsoft's suite of automation tools to redefine the procurement landscape. Our project has revolutionised the way procurement processes are managed across our global operations, delivering unprecedented efficiency gains, cost reductions, and enhanced user experiences. By empowering our team with cutting-edge technologies and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning, we have set new standards for operational excellence in procurement. The initiative underscores our commitment to driving sustainable, technology-driven transformations, making a profound impact on the industry.

Shell Global Solutions International B.V.

Executive Summary

Freight Forwarding is a critical business capability for our Supply Chain. Shell wanted to improve the structuring of multi-million-dollar Freight Tenders to improve Centralized Governance, increase Transparency, deliver Cost Optimization, and include CO2 Emissions for Freight Forwarding Tendering. In 2022/23, Shell conducted an extensive market scan to identify a solution for Freight Tender Management. Shell partnered with SHIPSTA, a market leading technology solution provider, because the platform was both configurable and we could integrate into our complex technology landscape. SHIPSTA has addressed our business pain points and has delivered significant commercial outcomes across the Shell Supply Chain, and we estimate the annual savings from avoided costs to be in the $multi million range.

3
OUTSTANDING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PRACTICES IN PROCUREMENT TEAMS

Unitel LLC

Executive Summary

Unitel LLC, part of Veon Group, has prioritised diversity and inclusion since its inception in 2006. With a mission to facilitate communication for all, Unitel's internal culture champions diversity across age, gender, race, and abilities. Despite being in a male-dominated sector, Unitel’s procurement team is predominantly female and multinational. The company has also enhanced service accessibility for individuals with disabilities by delivering SIM cards nationwide, addressing logistical and infrastructural challenges. These efforts reflect Unitel’s commitment to DE&I, resulting in improved customer satisfaction, a more inclusive workplace, and positive stakeholder feedback, reinforcing the company's strategic objectives in Uzbekistan.

EDF Nuclear Operations

Executive Summary

EDF's nuclear operation supply chain team has made a significant effort in fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As part of this journey, EDF engaged with external organisations, implemented inclusive meeting practices, utilised a bespoke font for accessibility and hosts challenging yet educational discussions based on cultural events. A review of procurement processes was also undertaken identifying where D&I practices can be further embedded. These actions are bringing about positive changes evidenced by results of the employee survey and recruitment statistics, and the team continues to learn and drive for meaningful change towards greater equity, diversity and inclusion.

Lloyds Banking Group

Executive Summary

“Innovation is not about solo genius; it is about collective genius” – professor Linda Hill, Harvard University, extols the power of collaboration being the secret to unlock creativity. The strong relationship between Lloyds Banking Group technology supplier management and supplier board intelligence teams, was the springboard for an exciting collaborative initiative, driven by a shared sense of purpose to promote diversity in the supply chain, specifically gender diversity. By engaging in a dynamic exchange of ideas, both parties sought to challenge conventional thinking focussed on internal considerations. The result was to create a successful flagship panel event, comprising both internal and external executives.

9
OUTSTANDING PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

SABIC

Executive Summary

SABIC’s global procurement team has achieved many successes in achieving its strategy and has taken steps on its transformational journey to position itself within the first quartile for efficiency, performance and value added. Human capital has remained the foundation block that has allowed the evolvement and transformation of the business. We remain certain that the talent within our procurement team will enable us to meet our business needs going forward. Such focus in investing in employees through our human capital strategy pillars – attract, develop and retain – has supported SABIC in being a profitable enterprise.

Defra

Executive Summary

Defra’s introduction of a learning and development strategy in June 2021 has enabled the commercial function to support staff to acquire both the technical and those “softer” skills needed to work in a modern commercial environment. Our blended approach to learning and development is highly innovative, based on a 70/20/10 model, it is volunteer led and has yielded some remarkable results, including substantial savings and had led to Defra being the highest ranked department for learning and development across the Government commercial function in 2023.

Government Commercial Function, Cabinet Office

Executive Summary

The culture and ethos of the Contract Management Capability Programme is very much one of experiential learning and putting the principles into practice back in the workplace. To promote the developmental nature of the programme and reinforce that it is more than just numbers through training, the team set about creating that essential culture of “contract management plus” – to give learners and alumni more. Much, much more: more good practice, more organic skills, more resources, more experiential learning. This award nomination represents the journey undertaken in 2023/24 to realise that ambition.

EDF Nuclear Operations

Executive Summary

Recognising the importance of developing people at every stage of their career, the EDF Nuclear Operations Supply Chain Team set out to review and enhance their approach the continuous learning and development. Through the implementation of a dedicated working group and greater collaboration across business units, enhancements have been made and carefully curated tools have been introduced to supplement existing resources. As a result, the EDF Nuclear Operations Supply Chain Team has created a more intentional, accessible and effective programme for development from those on early career schemes through to the most experienced professionals.

Balfour Beatty

Executive Summary

In a pursuit to combat modern slavery within the construction industry, Balfour Beatty (BB) procurement identified a need for action alongside valuable opportunity to upskill the function and supply chain. Exemplifying the multifaceted role procurement functions often play, BB procurement’s Modern Slavery Audit programme embraced the often-dreaded ‘audit’ concept as one that could address a critical industry issue, provide cross-departmental support, and drive meaningful change. Through a rigorous internal upskilling initiative, BB procurement equipped itself to effectively audit the modern slavery risks within key supply chains, expanding the function’s capabilities, whilst positioning BB as industry catalysts in unethical labour risk-mitigation.

BlueLight Commercial

Executive Summary

The success of our innovative people development programme is helping execute one of BlueLight Commercial's core objectives – to “deliver commercial excellence” across blue-light services, working with members to increase commercial capability, encouraging collaborative working and sharing best practice to transform commercial and procurement activity. Our training for commercial professionals, operational managers and suppliers across the commercial lifecycle, together with the collaborative approach embedded into the commercial forums, is developing a single voice to market, smarter contracting, improved specifications, whilst resulting in both savings, efficiencies and improved market stability in an inflationary market. Ultimately leading to better value for the public purse.

Roads Academy

Executive Summary

Roads Academy is a leadership development programme developed by National Highways and its supply chain to equip leaders with the skills and experience required to meet evolving sector demands and ensure the attraction and retention of talent. Roads Academy is delivered by a collaborative team between National Highways and EY, steered by a federated advisory board. Roads Academy is delivering impressive outcomes through increased accessibility and a dramatically improved uptake, empowering leaders to develop skills focused on improving customer outcomes and social value. Roads Academy drives value across the sector by developing more skilled leaders, able to deliver against National Highway imperatives.

Sellafield Ltd

Executive Summary

The Sellafield team’s initiative was far more than just process enhancement or the attainment of immediate procurement objectives, it catalysed an unprecedented transformation within the nuclear sector. The multi-award winning team, having already achieved record cost savings, sought to further excel through the implementation of their capability programme and learning pathways. The initiative helped to reshape procurement practices and embed a culture of agility and innovation in an industry traditionally defined by caution and conformity. The programme has created a new culture of continuous improvement and innovation, resulting in a comprehensive uplift in procurement practice, team integration and operational excellence.

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S.

Executive Summary

In today's ever-evolving world, we are constantly navigating change. It's imperative for employees to adapt to this transformation. Thus, within Turkcell Procurement, we've elevated talent development as a cornerstone strategy. Through meticulous research, we conducted skill gap analyses, crafting projects and programmes in formats optimal for individual growth and aligning targets accordingly. We have equipped our workforce with competencies such as innovative thinking, leadership, game theory, stakeholder management, effective communication, representation, digital literacy, RPA development, mentoring, crisis management and sustainability. We've also incentivised them through numerous rewards. Consequently, our programmes have yielded exceptional participation, project outputs, and financial contributions, surpassing expectations.

11
PROCUREMENT CONSULTANCY PROJECT OF THE YEAR

PwC

Executive Summary

PwC partnered with private-equity-owned Corden Pharma to improve earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) via procurement as a value-creation accelerator. Having been carved out from a parent company, Corden lacked any dedicated procurement capability. Utilising spend analytics, the project achieved a significant EBITDA uplift, enhanced gross margins, reduced corporate costs (in a growth business) and consolidated spend with select strategic partners. Notably, key direct material costs significantly decreased, whilst also improving supply chain resilience through dual/low-cost sourcing. To sustain savings, a transformation was delivered which elevated procurement's role, introducing global category management and business partnering, and automation through S2P platform implementation.

Fusion21

Executive Summary
National social enterprise Fusion21 partnered with Social Investment Business (SIB) to provide compliant procurement and maximise social value through a government funding scheme to create, expand and improve youth facilities across England. SIB and its partners are delivering grants of more than £300 million as part of the UK Government’s Youth Investment Fund Phase 2 (YIF) to registered charities, community interest companies and local authorities in targeted areas. Selected as procurement partner, Fusion21 is providing services to grant recipients, helping procure contracts for the delivery of works in building refurbishment, new build construction, modular building, and consultancy services.

GEP

Executive Summary

WestRock, a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions, faced challenges leveraging the full potential of it purchasing power and maximising value. The Fortune 500 company partnered with GEP to enhance sourcing velocity and identified over $80 million in additional savings but could not realise its full extent due to process gaps and siloed operations. GEP collaborated with WestRock to drive a rapid procurement transformation programme, centralising and streamlining processes, strengthening business alignment and partnership, improving supplier management, optimising indirect spend, and positioning it to realise the identified savings in a sustained way.

Novo-K Limited

Executive Summary

Novo-K has worked closely with The Children’s Society (TCS), as its procurement team, with a multi-skilled resource of three. Novo-K developed, implemented and continues to support a centralised buying centre, the purpose of which is to educate and streamline the procurement process, successfully engage stakeholders, and ensure best practice procurement is accessible at all levels across the charity. Novo-K supports both self-services buying as well as leading on the strategic and high value/high risk procurements. Our objective is to provide TCS with clarity of expenditure, implement the right controls and provide confidence to donors and trustees that funds are spent correctly.

ProcureTech

Executive Summary

ProcureTech Accelerator is the only accelerator on the planet for corporate procurement teams to scout, select and scale innovative digital procurement solutions. It's a 7-week, fast-track, co-creation programme built by ProcureTech with companies like Roche, Fidelity, AXA, Walmart, JLR, and digital procurement providers. The Accelerator employs deep digital procurement expertise and co-creation to shape solutions, alongside proof-of-concept evaluation to transition from pilot to scale. Using an agile approach, cross-functional teams quickly grasp solution capabilities, ensuring future-proof design, completing business cases, due diligence, and ensuring solution fit. This collaborative effort yields faster results, maximising cost, risk, and innovation impact at scale.

Curzon Consulting

Executive Summary

Marston Holdings Ltd (MHL) embarked on a remarkable journey of growth, through a major business transformation programme, commissioning Curzon Consulting’s expertise to design and lead a transformative procurement programme unlocking £3.9 million in annualised savings across MHL's non-pay expenditures. In the face of a challenging economic landscape marked by a 40-year high in inflation and the complexities of long-standing opaque supplier relationships, our strategic partnership exemplified resilience and innovation. We exceeded expectations by delivering results 28% above target. Our successes included quick wins amounting to £0.5 million and immediate cash impact savings of over £2.0 million within the fiscal year.

Agility Arabia

Executive Summary

MTN’s Global Sourcing and Supply Chain (GSSC) department oversees a substantial operational scope, managing a $7 billion annual spend with a network of 22,000 suppliers. This team, comprising 350 procurement professionals spread across 18 different countries, in partnership with Agility Arabia, they embarked on a ground-breaking journey to reshape procurement in an age where flexibility and agility are paramount. In just 6 months, this agile transformation project had delivered exceptional outcomes, not only to the department, but the wider organisation. The project reduced costs while delivering increased speed, quality and team engagement.

Efficio Consulting

Executive Summary

Efficio entered a strategic partnership with a government body in KSA to support the development and transformation of the procurement function. Efficio worked closely with the client to embed critical supply chain capabilities, develop a revised functional strategy, implement robust procurement planning capabilities, and support the team to increase overall capacity and specialist capability. The government body is responsible for safeguarding and developing the culturally significant region in Saudi Arabia that's the size of Belgium. The client aims to make this region a sustainable archaeological and cultural destination, targeting two million annual visitors by 2035, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision2030.

TSM | Touchstone Spend Management

Executive Summary

The project aimed to transform ISG's supplier management with a robust S2P solution. Partnering with Touchstone Spend Management (TSM), ISG automated onboarding, integrated risk checks, and optimised payment cycles using the Ivalua platform. Key outcomes included reduced onboarding time, enhanced risk management, and streamlined payments. The project fostered collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, setting a benchmark for excellence in procurement.

GEP

Executive Summary

E&I, a leading US-based group purchasing organisation that offers procurement services to the education sector, partnered with GEP after facing challenges in streamlining its procurement processes. GEP transformed E&I’s procurement by designing and implementing a new operating model, upskilling its team’s capabilities through comprehensive training, finding new and diverse suppliers, and securing favourable contracts. The programme yielded remarkable results, including a 100% year-over-year increase in revenue forecast, fourfold increase in efficiency and significant acceleration in sourcing activities. The project has set a new benchmark in procurement excellence, highlighting the value of strategic partnerships.

Proxima Group

Executive Summary

The Scope 3 Maturity Benchmark is a pro bono project designed in collaboration with a peer group of organisations seeking to tackle their Scope 3 emissions faster and with more certainty. To date, over 170 organisations have participated in the benchmarking project, with a combined turnover of $ 2.7 tr, and employing over 8 million people. This is the economic equivalent to the world’s eighth largest economy, all working towards a unified goal of decarbonisation. And it continues to build. Whilst each organisation receives tailored feedback and direction, we are now using the insights to identify and start-up industry collaborations.

7
PROCUREMENT TEAM OF THE YEAR - LARGE ORGANISATION

Sponsored by:


Costa Coffee

Executive Summary

The Costa Coffee procurement team was forced to radically reform and reinvent itself following a challenging company restructure and demanding macro economic conditions. Through exceptional leadership, a growth mindset and close business partnering, the team delivered record breaking results whilst implementing a wide variety of transformational change programmes, embracing digital practices and broadening responsibilities. During 2023, the team stuck together, continuously improved and addressed poor engagement results to emerge as a high-performing strategic function with world-class business partnering capabilities.

EVRi

Executive Summary

EVRi is a dynamic and rapidly growing business with a strong culture of continuous improvement and huge ambitions for decarbonisation. The EVRi procurement function is able to continuously deliver high impact results to the business across executive change agenda topics down to operational headaches. The procurement team is universally respected and sought out in the business early in strategic planning. The team is well known particularly for its members’ improvement mindsets, which focus on being truly curious to make sense of complexity, courageous to ask and stand up for hard choices to do the right thing, and incredibly collaborative across the business.

National Highways

Executive Summary

National Highways seeks every opportunity to improve the communities touched by its construction and maintenance activities and those who benefit from using the strategic road network. Two key areas of focus during 2023 were reducing carbon emissions and increasing social value benefits. The Lower Thames Crossing programme involved road building and tunnelling so presented a fantastic opportunity to decarbonise construction involving the supply chain right back to OEMs to find innovation in off-site construction and use of hydrogen. Social value change included the creation of the Social Enterprise Dynamic Purchasing System, a first of its kind in England.

MTN Group – Global Sourcing and Supply Chain

Executive Summary

MTN group procurement wanted to transition itself from a cost centre to a strategic function to actively drive key strategic investment programs such as 5G rollout, 4G rollout, etc, in Africa that directly impact 290 million subscribers. With $7 billion spend, 22,000 suppliers, 17 markets in Africa and over 10 different ERP systems, this project was one of the most strategic projects for MTN. We identified three broad challenges. 1. Transform procurement operations from a cost centre into a value-generating function 2. Introduce ESG as part of sourcing and supply chain strategy. 3. Enhance the resilience of supply chain operations.

solutions by stc

Executive Summary

STC’s procurement team addressed challenges like ad hoc requests, poor planning, and manual data entry by adopting a comprehensive approach integrating best practices and innovative methods. This led to significant enhancements in performance, culture, and contribution, driven by a culture of continuous improvement and well-defined KPIs. The team reduced the proposal preparation cycle from three weeks to one week, achieved a 7% reduction in overall procurement costs, won opportunities resulting in a $35 million bottom-line saving, and supported a 28.35% revenue growth by Q3 2023. These achievements underscored their ability to drive transformative change, optimise processes, and deliver measurable value.

Schneider Electric

Executive Summary

Schneider Electric’s sustainable procurement team is a well-balanced, multi-ethnic, and geographically distributed, which demonstrates comprehensive command over a range of sustainability issues impacting global supply chains. The team combines a unique ability to look at the big picture/emerging trends and interlinkages of various sectors and players and translate it into tangible actionable programs that can be implemented with suppliers and explained in a simple, lucid yet effective manner. Each member of this team owns a unique set of skills, which has been consistently proven by a variety of global awards and recognitions won for their strong work in furthering sustainability with suppliers.

Submarine Delivery Agency

Executive Summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency commercial team delivers contracts for the Ministry of Defence and UK Government across the build, operation, and disposal of the Submarine fleet. Responding to a clear case for change, the team embarked on an ambitious improvement programme incorporating stretching operational, stakeholder, and team engagement targets. The results have been compelling, delivering measurable improvements across all facets of their operations and working more as a wider enterprise to deliver this critical national endeavour.

5
PROCUREMENT TEAM OF THE YEAR - SMALL ORGANISATION

7 Force Commercial Services

Executive Summary

7 Force Commercial Services is a regional collaboration serving the police forces, and police and crime commissioners in the east of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk). The collaboration has been live since January 2020 and exceeded all expectations by delivering £60m of savings against a target of £10m through collaborative procurement, investment in team development and a more commercial approach to public sector procurement.

Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing

Executive Summary

With this submission, we showcase the continued positive impact we have had over the last twelve months. We have improved collaboration with colleagues and suppliers, with a never-ending focus on our customers and residents. Despite a reduction in team numbers, we have increased our operational effectiveness, influenced and driven cultural change and increased compliance across our organisation. We have been deliberate about managing our team brand and reputation and engaged with our suppliers to deliver maximum value. This will be the third year in a row we have submitted and hopefully shortlisted – with hope, this will be “our year”.

Heywood Limited

Executive Summary

Following the appointment of a new chief financial officer at Heywood early in 2022, a new procurement manager joined in December of the same year to kick-start a refreshment of the procurement function. The aim was to first look at the key fundamentals and build a solid foundation to start growing procurement in maturity, sophistication, and technology. There are a notable number of differences during the 16 months the procurement manager joined Heywood. Two procurement-focused software technologies have been implemented, cost savings realised, a list of all contracts created, unused licences and agreements removed, and more stakeholder acceptance.

Vectura Fertin Pharma

Executive Summary

The Vectura Fertin Pharma procurement team has played a key role in expanding the company’s purpose into a broader healthcare and consumer wellness business. The team has collaborated cross-functionally, shown great personal resilience and developed an enviable reputation for exceeding expectations. This has helped to extend its value proposition and innovative capability to commercialise products. The attitude shown when taking on new categories has been impressive and the energy from business partners has been first class. Delivering financial performance is one element, but doing this against economic headwinds of rising inflation, increased political unrest and unpredictable commodity markets was exceptional.

Monsha’at

Executive Summary

Monsha'at's dynamic procurement team embodies excellence and innovation. Our focus on value-based sourcing and supplier relationships optimises costs and mitigates risks. Through automation and data analytics, we streamline processes and make data-driven decisions. Our commitment to collaboration fosters internal alignment and knowledge sharing. Most importantly, we prioritise SME support through innovative selection methods and capacity building initiatives. This award nomination showcases our journey towards becoming a strategic partner, driving efficiency, and empowering Saudi Arabia's thriving SME sector.

6
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR

7 Force Commercial Services & South East and Eastern Region Police Insurance Consortium (SEERPIC)

Executive Summary

The project was for the provision of motor insurance (and associated claims handling service) for the ten police forces that comprise the SEERPIC collaboration in a historically challenging market. A collaborative approach was undertaken to enable optimum risk financing arrangements arising from the collective knowledge, experience and joint purchasing power of the consortium members. The critical success factors for the procurement were to ensure that the collective forces were an attractive proposition to the insurance market through demonstration of their effective management of fleet risk, and that the contract was affordable to the forces.

Building Digital UK

Executive Summary

Building Digital UK’s (BDUK) Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy procurement programme is a triumph of public sector procurement and shows the scale of what is possible when public procurement is done brilliantly. Successfully running 37 high-value procurements in just over two years, BDUK will now be able to deliver lightning-fast broadband to over 900,000 homes and businesses in rural locations, which are most in need, up and down the country. This procurement programme has brought an emerging market along with it, from strategy to contract signature, and set the UK up for success for years to come.

Crown Commercial Service

Executive Summary

The Crown Commercial Service has successfully launched its new market shaping mobile voice and data services procurement frameworks borne out of the exemplar category strategy for mobile communications. Following a comprehensive discovery and consultative process, the agreement delivers an innovative step change in the procurement of mobile communications that significantly reduces the cost to the taxpayer, enhances government policy and improves public sector productivity. This new agreement uses the buying power that CCS has, to deliver cost effective and soundly procured services for hundreds of thousands of users right across the UK, offering an average of 65% savings.

HM Revenue & Customs

Executive Summary
Digital and Legacy Application Services (DALAS) is a new innovative £6bn IT framework, created by HMRC in partnership with CCS (Crown Commercial Services). DALAS aligns with HMRC’s technology strategy and supporting HMRC’s transition from legacy services towards becoming a platforms and products organisation, in a way that no other commercial framework has done before. DALAS has successfully delivered Phase 1 and 2 by April 2024, paving the way for greater engagement with the market, fostering fair and open competition and delivering innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Ministry of Finance – UAE

Executive Summary

The Digital Procurement Platform is a transformative, ‘Most Innovative Project’ award winning platform, driven by UAE’s visionary leadership. It has revolutionised the procurement journey for federal entities and suppliers by digitising and simplifying the end-to-end process – the procurement cycle has been dramatically shortened from 60 days to just six minutes! Implemented across 30+ entities with over 1000 users and a strong focus on SMEs, it has accelerated the procurement cycle and achieved a substantial (>30%) cost reduction. Catalogues, e-auctions, digital signatures, and a completely paperless contracting journey underline the transformative impact of this project.

ONGC

Executive Summary

ONGC, India's leading upstream operator, faced procurement challenges due to dispersed operations, limited strategic focus across categories, disproportionate workforce allocation, and process duplication. To meet the challenges, a three-pillar strategy was conceived and implemented consisting of setting up a centralised procurement department (CPD), creating a strategic procurement cell (MIND), and a technical user group (NTAs) acting as an interface between CPD and work centres. The introduction of MIND and CPD is a pioneering move in the Indian public sector landscape and reinforces ONGC’s dedication to industry-leading standards, including ESG excellence and innovative digitisation in procurement while boosting efficiency, governance, and productivity.

4
SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT CHAMPION

Chloe Dodman | bp

Executive Summary
Chloe has spent all of her career at bp within procurement. Two years ago she pursued her longstanding interest and passion for sustainability, joining the central procurement sustainability team. During that time she spearheaded the development of BP procurement's sustainable purchasing position, as well as bp's first formal engagement at scale with suppliers focused solely on sustainability.

Serkan Çatar | SOCAR Türkiye

Executive Summary

Serken is the Product packaging & storage manager and was involved in developing the first comprehensively integrated model of the 5S methodology for sustainability, which has enabled SOCAR Turkiye to achieve sustainability and strategic goals. We have improved our operational costs by using highly efficient engine technologies in our packaging lines. We have also implemented emission-reducing projects including switching to electric forklifts, making more use of daylight by installing skylights in our product warehouse, and reducing the use of single-use pallets by using returnable plastic pallets.

Halyna Habegger | Philip Morris International

Executive Summary

In the intricate web of global supply chains, PMI sustainability commitments transcend mere aspirations. As the senior manager for procurement sustainability, Halyna is at the forefront of these commitments, actively engaging with suppliers, fostering a collaborative ecosystem beyond procurement. She governs across stakeholders to create a ripple effect far beyond our immediate operations. PMI remarkable results in sustainability procurement garnered also external recognition; spotlighting PMI leading Scope 3 data accuracy and supplier engagement or applauding our efforts with electronics suppliers to commit towards shared goals. Halyna, a sustainability champion, plays a fundamental role driving positive change in our organisation, believing in its value and feeling proud daily.

Mat Langley

Executive Summary
Mat is the global head of procurement for sustainability, where the focus is on decarbonising the supply chain and circular economy, supplier diversity and responsible procurement at CBRE, the largest real estate company globally. He is also a co-chair of the Scope 3 Chapter of the Sustainable Procurement Pledge. Prior to this, Mat was the Global Head of Procurement Operations, Technology and Transformation, where he initially started building the ESG programme. Mat gained an MSc in Sustainable Development over 15 years ago.
6
YOUNG TALENT

Alina Ladha | Transport for London

Executive Summary

Alina commenced her journey with Transport for London in 2018 as a commercial procurement graduate. Through her enthusiasm and performance, she swiftly advanced to her current position as a seconded senior category manager at Places for London, TfL’s wholly owned property company. Since joining TfL, Alina has contributed to various initiatives, including electric vehicle charge point installation in collaboration with the GLA and London Boroughs, implemented bus safety programmes and most recently, led a competitive dialogue procurement for a joint venture partnership which will deliver affordable homes across London. Alina holds an LLB in Law with Business from Aston University.

Rajan Tyagi | BGIS

Executive Summary

Having arrived in Canada only five years ago with a degree in Business/Commerce (Honors) from Delhi University, Rajan augmented his education with certificate programmes in marketing and data analytics. Joining BGIS as a strategic sourcing analyst in 2021, he immersed himself in building a strong understanding of the strategic procurement processes/strategies and continuing his education in sourcing. Passionate about sustainability, diversity and technology, Rajan has found a way to combine these interests to become a valued member of the BGIS procurement team. He has earned numerous accolades and is providing training to team members with more experience than himself.

Katie Hawkins | Evolve Commercial

Executive Summary

In the male-dominated cyber and defence environment, Katie challenges diversity norms, leading high-profile projects worth nearly £50 million aged just 25. Representing the contracting authority, she confronts age and gender biases, whilst liaising with governing bodies. Achieving MCIPS at 25 validates her competency, fostering self-assurance and professional growth. Delivering complex IT programmes in cyber defence demands innovative strategies and influencing high-profile stakeholders, both of which she excels in. Navigating technical complexities, she realises the potential to drive real change, leveraging her influence for societal impact as evidenced through her delivery of a school mentoring programme tackling economic inequality.

Harrison Obi | HSBC

Executive Summary

Harrison joined HSBC’s procurement team in 2020 and currently holds the role of category manager. He is currently responsible for spend globally across HSBC global functions and digital business services workforce sourcing. Harrison has taken the lead on several key initiatives, not only in consultancy but across the team, where he continues to go above and beyond bringing new ideas and ensuring we are pushing the boundaries. Outside of the day job, Harrison has supported various people initiatives and demonstrates strong team behaviours across the whole of procurement.

Simon Lawford | HSBC

Executive Summary

Simon, notwithstanding his relatively short career, possesses an impressively varied background as a procurement professional across areas such as fintech, IT and corporate real estate, where he has been instrumental in leading many global initiatives that resulted in positive outcomes for the bank. Most notably, Simon co-led the global RFP that saw the bank launch to market with five individual global RFP’s simultaneously across the corporate real estate space. This RFP undertaking required meticulous planning, development, and management of stakeholders globally which resulted in a market-leading commercial outcome, including substantial investments from our partners to revolutionise our technology estate.

Adele Bleakley | Sainsbury’s

Executive Summary

I am a highly driven procurement professional with a track record of delivering results through collaborative ways of working, leveraging my authentic leadership style. A BA Business Graduate at Nottingham Trent University, I started my career in the automotive industry on Nissan’s procurement graduate scheme. Having honed my technical skills, I moved to a broader buyer role in Sainsbury’s where, in a fast-paced retail environment, I’ve grown my skillset, procuring with a focus on value not just cost, evolving my influencing skills to drive outcomes at the highest levels, and approaching decision making with a customer-centric lens.