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Describe your role at South West Procurement Alliance: 

I joined SWPA, the South West regional hub of the LHC Procurement Group as Regional Procurement Manager in August 2023. My main role is to support clients with accessing our frameworks. I’m able to offer flexible procurement services which best assists the clients from identifying solutions, building and putting together tender documentation right through to a full call-off service.  

What was your work experience before joining South West Procurement Alliance? 

I’ve worked in procurement for over 10 years and whilst gaining experience through work also completed my MCIPS qualification in June 2023. Prior to joining SWPA I worked as a Procurement Lead for Exeter City Council for 4 years, working with the housing team as well as other directorates. I really enjoyed my time at Exeter City Council and gained valuable experience working across compliance, planned and reactive asset management. I also held procurement roles at Mid Devon District Council and NHS Royal Devon University Healthcare, as well as a smaller NHS trust.  

Bringing experience from the client’s perspective has been really impactful to my current role, where I have been able to provide an insight on how we can deliver best value to our clients and maximise the benefits of using our frameworks.   

Why did you choose South West Procurement Alliance? 

Having utilised the SWPA frameworks in my previous role I was fortunate to have direct experience of the services and products SWPA provide. SWPA’s professional approach and high-quality products were appealing to me, but what was most important was the focus on social value.  

Our mission statement is “improving lives and places through quality procurement solutions” which is exactly what we work to deliver, in part, by use of the Community Benefit Fund along with ensuring social value is embedded within our frameworks. 

Working for a not-for-profit organisation is really inspiring, and despite being spread across the whole of the UK and having five regional hubs, we are very much working together to ensure that public money is spent well and compliantly. Our frameworks enable clients to achieve this and with a focus on regional requirements, clients can be confident that their projects are having a positive impact, and they are achieving and delivering social value within their communities. 

What does the future hold for your role at South West Procurement Alliance? 

With the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023, it’s a busy and exciting time for all of us who work in the sector. As an organisation we are focussing on making sure we understand the new regulations fully to ensure our products are not only compliant, but easy to use and potentially reduce the administrative obligation for our clients. We are lucky to work with high-quality appointed companies who share our values and understand the challenges and opportunities within the region. 

The future is bright, procurement is at the top of the agenda and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with the legislative changes and making sure I continue to offer a professional, client focussed service as part of a fantastic team here at SWPA.