Public Procurement Training in 2026

 Well, we are all back at work and remembering what we used to do in 2025.

I hope.

In my case it is delivering training. And the first open course is imminent - Introduction to Public Procurement for PASS Procurement at BIP Solutions.

So, if you want to know about public procurement as either a buyer or supplier, or want a reminder, or just to usefully spend those budget pennies left down the back of the sofa before end of March....

The course is online 27th January 2026 - and full details are here.

There are more courses on the programme (not all delivered by me) if that date does not work for you.  More details as we get nearer each one.

Built Intelligence - an Overview of Procurement

 I had the pleasure of recording an hour long webinar making the case for Procurement (especially in the construction and engineering industries) with Built Intelligence.

This should be made available free of charge later in the year.  I'll let you know when.

Basically this was me just raising (again) the need for a strategic Procurement plan.  With the current global economic turbulence it becomes even more important to try and get ahead of the game rather than just reacting with transactional purchasing.

The acronym VUCA - Volatile Uncertain Complex Ambiguous - certainly seems appropriate for our times.  A strong Procurement strategy may not avoid all problems, but it should certainly help businesses to be better prepared for whatever happens.

BIP - DPRTE - The Procurement Act 2023 for Defence Suppliers - 1st February 2024

I was a late substitute called off the bench to moderate this webinar, which will go out on Thursday 1st February 2024.

The Procurement Act 2023 has big implications for all public sector bodies, but for the defence industry there is a really big change as their standalone DSPCR 2011 is combined with other procurement processes.

We have two experts from MOD to talk through the changes, and (as it says) what it means for Defence Suppliers.  I'm just your genial host.

I found the session really interesting, and Alex and Ben have been intimately involved in the legislation and now in the role out - so they know what they are talking about.  

There is a slide pack to go along with the webinar, which will be less than an hour (currently in editing).

Hope you enjoy it.  Joining instructions are here or here (which my system thinks is a dodgy site, but isnt. Honest)

Last call for IChemE - What Engineers Need to Know about Contracts 9/10 August 2021

This regularly popular course is being run again by IChemE on 9th/10th August 2021 as 2 half day sessions.  The course is live to allow for discussion and interaction.  And of course, delivered by me.

We have fewer than a dozen attendees at the moment so there will be a good chance to interact rather than be lectured at.

We are sticking with online courses for the time being.  No doubt we shall go back to face to face training when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Full details are here.

We are in discussions about some other courses - face to face when allowed or online, and as downloadable webinars.  Full details if and when go ahead.  But it looks likely that they will be on the schedule for first run this year (2021)

CIPS Exam Preparation & Revision Tips - CIPS Yorkshire branch 26th June 2020

I've been invited to run an online seminar for CIPS students at lunchtime on Friday 26th June 2020 (12 till 1:30pm).  It is being organised by CIPS Yorkshire Branch (my home branch), but as far as I know is open to any and all CIPS members studying for exams.

I am running a number of exam training programmes at the moment for The Procurement Academy , so I recognise how worrying the prospect of exams can be - especially if you haven't had to sit one for a number of years.

I don't want to give away too much of what I am going to say (translation: I haven't written it yet) but one thing I will say is "Don't panic".  The stress of exams can turn your mind to jelly as we get a surge of adrenaline that triggers a fight or flight mode, and sometimes just paralyses you into inaction.

It's easy to say relax, but harder to do.  I know.  But breathing helps.  (oh, and revision too)

Booking for this free webinar is here.

EuroMaTech webinar Crisis Managment 14th June 2020 - 9:30UK

I shall be one of the hosts for an online webinar from my colleagues EuroMaTech in Dubai.

This free of charge event gives an opportunity to think about the challenges and opportunities created by the current pandemic, and to see in action some of the trainers you might meet on our courses.  Details here.

I shall of course be talking about Supply Chains and the crisis.

You might note that this is due to be running at the same time as I was due to be running Restarting International Supply Chains.  Well, I am afraid that in this time we are having to be flexible and we have decided to reschedule that course.  (This is why I say I have the easier job in training - I just have to write and present.  I don't have to do all the admin) I'll let you know the new date asap.

Webinar: Advanced Purchasing Management and Restarting your Supply Chain

The webinar I recorded for EuroMaTech is now online if you are interested.  It lasts about an hour an includes material from two courses, which I have melded together into something I hope is useful. The attendees seemed to like it.

The webinar is available here.

You will see that there are more webinars planned, which you can sign up to in the same place.

The Courses are;
Advanced Purchasing Management 21/22 June 2020
and Restarting International Supply Chains on 14/15 June 2020
http://www.euromatech.com/seminars/restarting-international-supply-chains

(Yes, I know that seems the wrong way round.  I can assure you it will work fine).

I hope to see you then.

Webinar - Advanced Purchasing and Covid-19 27 May 2020

I am running a webinar for EuroMaTech on Wednesday 27th May 2020, at 9:30am UK (12:30 Dubai).  Details are here.  This is a brief taster for two courses we are running in June - Restarting your Supply Chain, and Advanced Purchasing Management.  I have re-worked some of the sample content so that it works as a standalone (I hope).

I may be biased but having tried the webinar software today, I like it.  Same sort of flexibility as Adobe Connect, but much simpler to use.

Hope you can join us.

Possible future course on Re-starting supply chains.

We are already running some courses online, and probably about to start re-working some for the middle east market.  Looking at the courses made me wonder if there might be interest in a new course....

When things do start getting back to "normal", it will not be like flicking a switch.  A lot will have changed in the supply market, and particularly in the demand market.  Supply chains take a lot of work to make them Efficient, i.e. Lean.  Which means that they will not be Resilient.  So, our lovely smooth Lean supply chains are going to splutter into life rather than spring back perfectly formed.  There will be lots of blockages, broken links and delays.
Some businesses will be out of business - others will have changed their mode of operation.
Should we still buy from China?  Or should we develop local suppliers (who may be more expensive at first).
What did our contracts say about Force Majeure and what should they say for the future?

If you think there would be interest in such as course, please do let me know.  I am particularly interested in what you think should be covered, and whether we can do it in 1 day or will need 2.

Take care of you and yours.

Procurement webinars and on line training

With in person training off the agenda for the foreseeable future then I am looking at running some on-line webinars and training programmes.

Anyone interested please let me know what you are interested in, and what would best meet your needs.

Thanks.  Now I'll go back to looking at all the technology (simple) and hosting options (not so much)

BIP Solutions webinar on Use of Reg 32 for Public Procurement

My good friends at BIP Solutions are running some useful webinars in the next week.
The next one is Thursday 26th March 2020 at 11am, and covers the use of Regulation 32 (Use of Negotiated Procedure without prior publication) in light of the current Corvid-19 epidemic.

I don't know exactly what they will say, but it is bound to be useful.

Booking details are here.

Online course: Engineering Procurement

I've just got a royalty cheque, which reminds me that my webinar series for IChemE is still on line and available for purchase.  It is 4 hour long webinars covering both procurement and pricing - so useful for suppliers too.  Very reasonably priced at £235+VAT - but I would say that, wouldn't I?

You will be pleased to hear that while it does have my voice, the visuals are the slides rather than me standing at a flipchart.

Full details are here at IChemE.

IChemE: Engineering Procurement Online course

Well we are nearly at the end.  The last webinar is tomorrow 7th February 2018 at 9am and 4pm.
This session is called Improving Engineering Procurement, and is based around a series of 5 tips to improve procurement in your organisation.  It should pay for itself.

All 4 webinars will be available to buy online after the event.

Full details are here.

IChemE webinar series: Engineering Procurement January 2018 - part 3; Price, Cost and Value

So the next webinar in our series is tomorrow, Tuesday 30th January 2018 at 9am and 4pm.

This time I am going to be talking about Price, Cost and Value.  As well as looking at the Total Cost Iceberg, we shall touch on Volkswagen Group cars, the world's most expensive painting to date (see above) and why bottled water costs so much at Schipol airport.

Hopefully something in there for you.

The previous 2 webinars are available for purchase, and the last one will be next Wednesday 7th February 2018 and will give some (hopefully) useful hints and tips for improving Engineering Procurement.

Details are here.

IChemE webinar series: Engineering Procurement January 2018 - part 2

We have run the first module of four and the next one is on Tuesday 23rd January 2018 at 9am and 4pm.  These are 2 different sessions so that we can pick the best recording and make it available for purchase on line.

So if you missed the first one you can still catch up by buying the course, and then joining in.  I am happy to take questions as we go along, or at the end - which of course you cannot do unless you are joining the live sessions.

The first session was Introduction to Engineering Procurement.

The next one is about Supplier Positioning - how we segment what we spend, and how we get the right relationships with our suppliers.

Full details of the courses (or the recordings) is here.

IChemE webinar series: Engineering Procurement January 2018

I am delighted to be dipping my toes into the webinar waters with a series on Engineering Procurement for IChemE.

These 4 webinars will be first run in January/February 2018, and will then be available to purchase from IChemE.

Details are here. 

We start on Tuesday 16th January 2018 9am and 4pm.  The advantage of joining us then is that you can take part in the live Q&A sessions.

Hope you can join us.
PS (sorry about getting the day wrong - definitely Tuesday 16th - part 2 Tuesday 23rd January 2018)

The Impact of the new EU Procurement Legislation

"The impact of the new EU Public Contract legislation" is a new event from PASS, which should be all you need to understand the change in the law from 26th February 2015/1 April 2015.  The good news is that the course is being run in a wide range of locations around the country, from Exeter to Newcastle, Cardiff and Belfast - so there should be one relatively near you.  The bad news (possibly) is that I shall be leading some of those events, but to make it interesting I won't tell you which ones yet.  So there is still a chance you will be lucky and get one of PASS's other tutors. 

Don't want to take the risk?  Well I shall be in Birmingham on 31st March 2015, and a further 5 or 6 during April, May and June  - none of which are actually on the website yet.  So book early and you can avoid me!

Those of you who were at Procurex North recently will I hope have found that this topic  is interesting - the law has changed, and so there will be a whole bunch of new case law to be developed.  And most Buyers will be hoping it is not them that is the basis of that case law.  We hope to point out some of the risky areas. 

And do remember these regulations apply in the UK, excepting Scotland who will have their own legislation later in the year - and yes we shall have events about that too.

Joking aside I hope to see you at one of the events.  You might also want to listen in to Eddie Regan, our in house guru, during his free webinar on Monday 9th March 2015 at 10:30.  I know I shall.