The end of this series? Framed CIPS certificates and a metal filing cabinet...

I’ve been reading the feedback on the survey.

Thank you for your comments. I’ve read every single one and also been looking at the poll results. Let’s just say the Wednesday rant series could have run its course.

I’ll share the findings on Monday but if you’ve not yet answered, please take your time to do so with this survey link here. It will take 2mins to answer and help inform what I provide on here moving forward.

A reminder to anyone on the fence about signing up to my Paid subscription too. As well as all time access to my archive of 160+ Procurement, direct access to my Monday insights articles, I’m also giving away my 5 star LinkedIn course here (how to grow your following to 50k+) for free.

The moment you sign up you get a free code which enables you to download the course for £0 (£100 off!)

But the free LinkedIn course offer expires 30th April 2024. So if you plan to sign up, do so now! I will be withdrawing the whole course at that point too.

Framed CIPS certificates and a Metal filing cabinet

I was nervous and excited at the same time.

A new challenge.

Relocating my family to the south-west of the UK and a transition from a Head of Purchasing role to a Head of Procurement role.

This was nearly 11 years ago (and also the trigger for my worst case of Severe Anxiety Disorder…a time when I really did think ending it all in a dramatic accident could be my only way out, I felt so isolated and lonely)*

* I talked to people and sought help. Talk to people. Always talk to people.

The team I joined was almost entirely men save a PA who was so welcoming to me and has since become one of my best friends. She was the only one who actually asked me how I was and made me feel welcome.

The environment was staid and stank of ‘old school’ ineptitude.

Three things stood out more than even the clear lack of diversity:

1. There was this guy (a peer in terms of levels) who had framed MCIPs certificate above his desk. Yeah…there really were fixed desks even as recently 2013.He was the most unhelpful and unwelcoming person I’ve ever met in business. He’d do that thing many insecure colleagues do of chasing the new starter for things even though he’s not your boss, but giving you one word answers if you asked for help or advice.

2. I remember day 3 realising I wanted to get a handle on the supplier spend in the categories I would be heading up: Marketing and Professional Services. I asked the question about spend data with the Procurement Analyst. His answer was astonishing: "I’ll try to run an excel report at the end of the month and we’ll see what that churns out”

3. Day 5 I asked someone where the contract database was. He turned round to me and said it was in the metal filing cabinet behind me (hard copies, yes paper copies!) but to be careful, it wasn’t all in alphabetical order.

If it hadn’t been for the importance of moving to Somerset and the promises I’d made to my family, I would have quit on that day.

I’d have run a long way.

This memory of how not to do Procurement is my why.

It’s my purpose.

It’s why I’ve named myself the Procurement Protagonist.

It’s why I’ve set up this wonderful Procure Bites community of kindred souls.

It’s why I’ve set up my Procurement Protagonist Ltd business and will be releasing my first course very soon.

These types of environment existed then.

They still do.

And we can do so much better.