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Meet the Buyer - Robyn Lamport-Rann

Blog
Robyn Lamport-Rann
05 Mar 2021

Name: Robyn Lamport-Rann

Position: Category Buyer - ICT

How long have you been working for YPO? Eight years

What do you like the most about YPO?

YPO is a great organisation who believes and lives by its values, which I love. It’s great to be part of a company who not only cares about the best interests of our customer by offering best value and creating savings, but also about their staff, providing many opportunities for development and progression.

What are your main responsibilities?

I work closely alongside the other members of the IT services team to develop and manage a catalogue of frameworks, covering most areas of technology equipment and services such as hardware and software, network connectivity, telecoms, as well as scoping out new and exciting opportunities with the likes of robotics, automation, and smart cities.

One of my main roles is to support customers in their procurement by offering advice and compliant market routes for them to use, to help make their purchasing a smooth and easy process. I also enjoy building relationships with our suppliers to ensure we are in touch with the latest innovations and market news so we can provide the best service possible to our customers.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging (but also the reason why I love my Category!) is keeping up to date with the latest pioneering and ever-changing technology and trying to make our offering suitable in the current climate and that of the future. It’s one of the areas where there is always something new to be researching, or to build knowledge on, and one of the biggest opportunities to transform the public sector.

Describe your role in three words

Enjoyable, rewarding, dynamic

How did you get involved in procurement?

My procurement journey started back at a major food retailer, in which I used to assist with the stores stock analysis and all the due diligence around it. I then made the move to YPO and have been lucky in that I’ve worked my way around the business from the customer service team, back to my supply chain roots as an analyst and then into the buying team where I’ve spent the previous 5 years.

Tell us a bit about your procurement experience

My journey around the organisation has really showcased the world of procurement from all angles.

The enjoyment of it started from my time as an Inventory Analyst working closely with our warehouse, buying team and suppliers, which set me up well for my move to Assistant Buyer within Trading, where I spent the next three years assisting with the management and procurement of catalogue products and spend, spanning AV, IT and business machines then moving across to Curriculum, covering Maths, Science and Computing.

I’ve now been Category Buyer within ICT Procurement Services for two years, in which I’ve established three brand new frameworks to the YPO offering, assisted with multiple customer call offs and where I’m still learning something new every day.

Working with knowledgeable and enthusiastic colleagues has helped to develop my own procurement skills, which alongside studying CIPS has given me the confidence and ability to keep progressing.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I always have the travel bug, so you can usually find me seeking out my next adventure, or failing that I have a creative flair so I may be in my craft room creating my next project!

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Author

Robyn Lamport-Rann

Category Manager for ICT

YPO