This event will review the future of the procurement function, its importance to company profitability and the organisations strategic development.

The event will discuss and explore the importance of the procurement function.

Hear directly from Virgin Trains on what it takes to run one of the busiest railways in the UK, how do you run a franchised railway and what part does procurement play in delivering service and profit?

Managing relationships such as the DfT, FM and rolling stock are diverse and varied, all affecting bottom line margin - how do you maximise such diverse relationships?

Last year’s West Coast franchise fiasco cost the UK tax payer over £50m in compensation, partially down to fundamental errors by the DfT in evaluating each bid, what part does procurement play in this and what lessons can be learnt for the procurement fraternity?

Evaluating bids, bonds and emotions can be a volatile and expensive game, hear directly from Virgin Trains Andy Cross, Business Support Director who is responsible for the procurement function within Virgin Trains.

Are you aware of what’s freely available to help you or your organisation build or benchmark capability?

At the centre of the Scottish public procurement reform programme is the concept of ‘building capability’. Scotland is leading the way on raising awareness of procurement in schools to encourage young people in to our profession. Various pathways in to a career in public and private sector procurement have been launched or are in development. This is an ambitious initiative but there is considerable pace on progress to date.

Since the Review of Procurement in 2006, the public sector has been investing in their people, organisational capability and in systems, tools, practices and training and to championing the development of private sector capability - sharing, bench marking and promoting good practice wherever possible.

Come and find out more…

The future of procurement can be determined by looking at how other professions have evolved. The speech will cover the importance of procurement to the FTSE 350, and use this as a launch pad into the debt humankind has to procurement, how procurement is evolving and what impact specialising and outsourcing is going to have on its future.

The aim of the event is to provide a different way to think about procurement, its role and its future. You will go home knowing that humanity would not be what it is today without our profession.

The Switzerland branch would like to invite you to their next event to be hosted in Basel after recent events in Zurich and Geneva. During this event we will explore the area of innovation within purchasing looking at the value purchasing can offer the wider business. We will provide an interactive event with guest speakers David Noble (CIPS CEO), the consultant Mckinsey and a speaker from industry (Douglas Else-Jack). As per our usual format we will also be providing ample time for networking.

The aim of this event is to provide our growing membership with an opportunity to interact on the innovation topic. The participation of the CIPS CEO is a particular highlight and we welcome his view to compare and contrast with the consultant and industry outlook. This event will also be an excellent networking opportunity