Name: Megan Robinson
Position: Procurement Projects Advisor
How long have you been working at YPO? Two years
What do you like most about working at YPO?
I love the ethos of YPO! I feel so lucky to be part of an organisation that genuinely cares about its customers and employees.
What are your main responsibilities in the education procurement team?
As procurement projects advisor, I’m responsible for supporting our education customers with their procurement requirements. Whether it be helping a school put their new cleaning and catering contracts in place or supporting a MAT with a large technology project covering their 30 schools. I’m there to help the customer end to end, to make the whole process as simple and efficient as possible for them.
I’m passionate about helping customers buy better, achieve value for money and I’m proud to be part of a team that’s focussed on supporting the education sector in doing just that.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
I absolutely love being able to help customers with their procurement. Procuring through YPO’s frameworks is a compliant route and ensures best value but if you don’t have a background in procurement, the thought of managing a further competition for example can be very daunting. So, the fact that I can help take the pressure off the customer and simplify the process for them really makes me appreciate my role. That’s what our team is here for and our services are free of charge which makes it that much more rewarding, knowing that we’re giving back to the public sector.
Describe your role in three words: Fulfilling, rewarding, supportive
How did you get involved in procurement?
Prior to YPO, I was working in the private sector with a background in engineering, scaffolding and highways maintenance. My career has been varied and has seen me carrying out tasks from answering the telephone at the front desk to managing projects and completing take-offs from architectural drawings!
I’ve been at YPO for two years now and my journey started in the furniture team where I primarily managed the quotation process from initial enquiry through to delivery on-site. I started to get more involved in tender submissions and assisting the framework manager with the office furniture framework – and I loved it! So, when the opportunity came along to join the new team dedicated to helping customers procure through our frameworks, it was a no-brainer. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the team develops and where my career will lead.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
When I’m not binge-watching Netflix, I like to spend time with my family and friends. I’m getting married next year (depending on what COVID has in store for us!) and me and the husband-to-be enjoy going on walks with our Lhasa Apso, Coby.