Procurement is under pressure to deliver on two fronts: cutting costs and advancing sustainability goals. Balancing these demands has only got harder in a period of supply chain uncertainty and developing regulatory climate. How can organisations make progress on sustainability without compromising cost and availability of stock? Where can trade-offs be found? And on top of this, how do you stay compliant as ESG regulations evolve? 

A senior procurement leader from national retailer Co-op shares how their team is tackling this balancing act on the frontline. And, get practical advice on how to engage suppliers and bring them with you on the journey to managing compliance and meeting your sustainability goals.

Session supported by EcoVadis

As the urgency to meet decarbonisation targets increases, procurement and supply professionals play a critical role in driving meaningful emissions reductions. But how do you reach and engage those hard-to-reach suppliers? What can procurement functions do to support SMEs and those organisations that don’t have existing capabilities to capture their emissions data, let alone manage it? And, how do you equip category managers and buyers with effective tools to have meaningful conversations with suppliers? 

Two procurement sustainability leaders will reveal how they are addressing these challenges and hear directly from an SME engaged in their own Scope 3 journey to better understand the supplier perspective.

The global risk landscape is shifting and procurement and supply professionals must develop strong visibility of the supply chain risks they are exposed to. How can procurement, risk and compliance work closer together? What are the evolving risks to be aware of? And how can you embed a risk management culture into every stage of the supplier lifecycle? 

Learn how a leading advertising and media agency has integrated risk and procurement functions to develop a strategic supplier due diligence programme. Followed by a discussion to explore practical ways of managing evolving risks.

Session supported by Atamis

The Procurement Act 2023 was designed to transform the way public-sector procurement is carried out in the UK. Six months into the new regime, what changes are we seeing so far? How are contracting authorities setting themselves up for success to take advantage of new mechanisms such as the competitive flexible procedure and pre-market engagement? And what is the view from those on the frontline? 

The Cabinet Office’s Lindsay Maguire shared her reflections on the Act’s impact so far; hear how (and why) a major county council underwent a governance refresh; and understand how housing associations are working together to drive best practice across the sector.