Get to know me: A 3-minute profile with Leah Leatherday
Welcome to the latest instalment of our Get to Know Me Series, where you can find out more about the people who make up our NHS Supply Chain: Facilities and Office Solution team. This month, we're introducing Customer Support and Assistant Buyer Leah Leatherday.
1. What is your role within Supply Chain?
My role is Assistant Buyer and Customer Support, and assist with multiple frameworks within NOE CPC, focusing mainly on catering equipment and medical pulp. Previously, I worked in procurement for Chesterfield Royal Hospital after kindly being given the opportunity to test the waters of this career, and I have not looked back since. Even after experiencing multiple different aspects of this demanding public sector career at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, such as logistics, warehousing and purchasing, I find great satisfaction in striving for a better service for our end users every day in this role.
2. What does your job involve?
I sit within a small team to overlook any customer queries or complaints that may arise from any of our frameworks within the wider procurement team. This means speaking directly with customers within NHS trusts from all over the country, resolving the problems they may be facing by finding a suitable solution with suppliers firsthand. Assisting with the catering equipment and medical pulp frameworks involves a wide variety of tasks. For example, amending our online catalogue daily, regularly meeting with suppliers (whether in person or on Teams!) to discuss innovative projects moving forward, any general pricing issues that arise, and ultimately making efforts to achieve the best customer satisfaction.
3. What do you enjoy most about your role?
When I joined this team in March 2024, I was studying for my CIPS Level 4 qualification in order to gain more knowledge on the ins and outs of every aspect of procurement. Since finishing this diploma, I can now transfer my textbook skills into play when at work, which I find fascinating. I see this role as an exciting opportunity to expand my experiences in public procurement and supply chain whilst having extremely helpful colleagues around me to assist in navigating my way.