Meet our Supplier Relationship Managers: Leo Shippam
Building positive supplier relationships works both ways. It helps us to develop a sustainable supply chain, build unrivalled knowledge of the supply markets in the category areas we specialise in, and actively manage and minimise supply risks on behalf of our NHS customers. The advantages for suppliers include building strong working relationships with the NHS and sharing new and innovative products and supply solutions with the healthcare industry. As part of #ServiceMatters month, we spoke to our Supplier Relationship Managers, Ruth Burns and Leo Shippam, about the work they carry out within their job roles. You can read our profile with Ruth Burns here.
Leo Shippam, Supplier Relationship Manager
Can you tell us what kind of work you carry out as an SRM?
"The SRM role is varied and includes working with both the Supplier and our Customers to facilitate the usage and the awareness of our NHS frameworks, created by the NHS, for the NHS. Marketing, networking and strategic planning are all parts of the role, with the goal of providing a great service and route to market for our NHS and wider public sector Customers."
What do you enjoy most about the role?
"My favourite part of any job I have had in my career so far is networking and relationship building, so this role suits me just fine."
What attracted you to the role of SRM?
"Making a difference in the public sector has always appealed to me and in this role my previous experience across many different industries and the various skills and expertise I have picked up along the way makes the job both enjoyable and valuable."
What is your professional background?
"I started my career in the health and fitness industry as a personal trainer and since then have worked in project management, both managing commercial and procurement-based projects. I have worked mainly in the private sector, so public sector procurement and its many differences to private sector has been one of the biggest changes for me in this role."
How do you feel the role has evolved since you first started?
“We are now working much closely with our Suppliers and Customers but there is still lots of work to do as we have so many Suppliers across so many frameworks. As mentioned above, a big part of the job is awareness. Awareness of the frameworks themselves as well as the many benefits to the NHS by using our route to market."
Can you tell us what type of projects you have been working on at NOE CPC?
"NOE CPC are currently running our ‘Tech Talks’ which are based around providing value added presentations by our framework suppliers to our Customers. This helps build awareness of our framework offerings whilst also giving our Suppliers an opportunity to present and network."
Do you have any future aims/targets or any projects you are currently working on in your role as SRM?
"Our aim is to provide comprehensive, compliant, and innovative procurement solutions which save the NHS money. New framework opportunities are always on the horizon, and we are always looking at new ways to provide a better service and more value to the NHS."
Why do you think it is important to build positive supplier relationships?
"Building a relationship with a Supplier, Vendor or Customer helps in all aspects of the work we do at NOE CPC. It helps create an open dialogue, it makes it easier to communicate, it helps when times are good and bad and ultimately builds trust and a collaborative approach to all opportunities."
What do you enjoy most about working at NOE CPC?
"There is a great collective interest in getting the best for our Customers in the NHS and the wider public sector, and providing great value and service to both our Customers and Suppliers is something everyone who works here is passionate about, which is what I enjoy the most."
Is there anything you would like to add?
"The role wouldn’t work without a great team behind it."