Name: Laura Hills
Position: Category Buyer – Facilities Management
How long have you been working at YPO: I have worked at YPO since May 2018
What do you like most about working at YPO?
YPO has great values at its core when it comes to both their customers and their employees. In terms of customers, YPO lives by its values of offering excellent customer service and value for money. For the employees of YPO, you really are given the opportunity to develop yourself and progress within the business, meaning there is a vast amount of knowledge that YPO retain. It certainly lived up to its reputation of been a friendly and supportive place to work!
What are your main responsibilities?
I manage several frameworks that fall with the FM category, such as Decorative Paints, Building Material and Internal Fitout and Maintenance. My main responsibilities are to manage these frameworks through the procurement cycle, market the frameworks, assist customers utilising the framework. In addition, it is also my responsibility to ensure I keep up to date with market conditions and ensure that my frameworks offer the best solutions for our customers, which is achieved through consistent engagement.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job in the last 12 months, has been learning about the new markets for the categories I procure for. Recently moving from Emergency Services and Blue Light to Facilities Management, I have had to learn a completely new Supplier and Customer base.
Describe your role in three words
Diverse, rewarding and enjoyable.
How did you get involved in procurement?
I was working as an administrator for a college and was looking for my next challenge, when an internal job opportunity came up for a Procurement Officer. I was successful in my application and commenced the position dealing with a variety of procurement needs for the college. I found a passion for making sure that I was getting the best value for money for the college and ensuring that we were following the legislation surrounding public sector procurement.
Tell us a bit about your procurement experience?
I have now been in public sector procurement for three years, dealing with a variety of categories. Working at the college gave me the experience of doing my own tenders and working alongside the end users, developing their specifications and evaluating. My time at YPO so far has given me a different experience of putting together the frameworks that customers can utilise to compliantly procure their needs.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Having completed my Degree in Business Studies, I am now looking to complete the CIPS qualifications to compliment my knowledge. I enjoy spending time with my family, but I am also a keen traveller and enjoy adventuring to new places, both in the UK and abroad….Travelling to Indonesia and spending three days in a Jungle, has to be the best experience I have had to date.