Thank You for Joining Us at the NWUPC Annual Conference 2025!
Thank You for Joining Us at the NWUPC Annual Conference 2025!
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our Members, speakers, and exhibitors who attended the NWUPC Annual Conference 2025 on Wednesday, 4th June at the University of Liverpool. This year’s event brought together procurement professionals from across the sector for a dynamic day of knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and forward-thinking discussion. With a full programme of expert speakers, thought-provoking sessions, and an engaging supplier exhibition, the conference provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of procurement in higher education.
It was a pleasure to see so many of you take part in networking sessions, share your experiences, and contribute to the lively conversations throughout the day. Your enthusiasm and participation made the event a real success.
We hope the conference left you inspired, informed, and better connected with colleagues across the sector. Stay tuned for further updates, resources, and highlights from the day — and we look forward to welcoming you again next year!
We opened the conference with a warm welcome from Julie-Ann Garton, NWUPC's Managing Director and NWUPC Chair, Stephen Dauncey.
We thanked Ian Jarvey, Head of Procurement at The University of Manchester for all his hard work in procurement with the Outstanding Contribution to Collaborative Procurement Award. Sadly, this is Ian's last conference with us as he enters a new chapter in his life. We wish Ian well in his retirement.
With a packed day of workshops and keynotes you can find contact details and downloadable slide packs from our speakers below.
Opening Keynote - 5 Habits for Using the Power and
Connection of Kindness at Work and Beyond
Kicking off the day was Sarah Browning of the Time for Kindness Programme. Sarah came with a powerful reminder that sometimes the smallest actions can have the biggest impact.
In a sector where hard work is often relentless—balancing tight budgets, shifting regulations, and complex stakeholder needs—it’s easy to lose sight of the human connection at the heart of what we do. But what if kindness isn’t just a “nice to have”? What if it's a strategic tool that boosts engagement, builds stronger relationships, and creates more collaborative, resilient teams?
You can find contact details for Sarah and a downloadable slide deck from the session here.
Procurement’s Blind Spots: Market Concentration and Supplier Diversity
Professor Jo Meehan, Professor of Responsible Procurement at the University of Liverpool and the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Business at the University of Liverpool’s Management School, explored how market concentration impacts procurement strategies and how institutions can promote supplier diversity. Public procurement is meant to open doors for SMEs - but is it closing them instead? Despite their role in driving local economic growth and innovation, many SMEs remain locked out of public contracts. In this talk, Professor Meehan shared insights from her award-winning research, revealing how procurement aggregation creates supply market concentration with far-reaching commercial, economic, and social implications. The evidence uncovers a critical blind spot: how well-intended efficiency measures are reshaping competition, reinforcing market dominance, and weakening supply chain resilience. This session invited attendees to have a deeper conversation on the future of supplier diversity in public procurement.
You can find Contact details for Professor Meehan and a downloadable slide deck from the session here.
Suppliers and Sustainability in HE: 10 Years of Impact and Engagement
Sheri-Leigh Miles, Director of NETpositive Futures, examined the evolving role of sustainability in procurement and its impact on supplier engagement. The session explored the journey that sector collaboration is making that supports suppliers and procurement teams. Sheri-Leigh also looked at the evolving role of procurement professionals and the critical skills needed to drive Carbon Net Zero initiatives. Reflecting on a decade of supplier development, the impact of NWUPC member collaboration, and what the next ten years could look like. These important conversations are shaping the future of sustainable procurement!
You can find contact details for Sheri-Leigh and a downloadable slide deck from the session here.
Transformation and Efficiency in Higher Education with Universities UK
Ed Castell – Head of Strategy and Insight, at Universities UK looked at how a new era of collaboration is reshaping the UK higher education sector amid increasing financial pressures and the need for greater cost-cutting. With universities facing tighter budgets and rising costs, sector-wide solutions are vital. Universities UK’s Transformation and Efficiency Task Force is leading the charge, exploring bold and innovative strategies to drive efficiency and long-term savings.
You can find contact details for Ed and a downloadable slide deck from the session here.
Keynote Panel Discussion: Procurement Act 2023 – Where Are We Now? Where are we going?
We went into the afternoon of NWUPC25 by bringing together a dynamic and engaging panel discussion hosted by Julie-Ann Garton – Managing Director at NWUPC. With 4 leading voices in procurement we explored the current state of implementation today and impact of the Procurement Act 2023. Featuring;
- Larissa Morrish, Director of Procurement at Lancaster University.
- Clare Egan, Head of Procurement at Ulster University.
- Jen Pallister - Head of Commercial Implementation (Procurement Reform) - Cabinet Office.
- Gemma Waring – Senior Consultant at Bip Solutions.
Providing valuable day to day insights this lively debate featuring a panel of procurement experts discussed the real-world impact of the Procurement Act 2023, sharing practical advice and strategies for success.
Unfortunately this was a must-see event that you had to be there for on the day to experience!
Leveraging Procurement for Good: Driving Social Responsibility with Electronics Watch
Kate Sullivan, Director of Affiliate Engagement at Electronics Watch, discussed responsible procurement and how institutions can drive meaningful social change. This essential session showed how Higher Education procurement professionals can drive real social impact through responsible procurement.
Kate looked at Electronics Watch and its mission to protect workers’ rights in electronics supply chains. Kate showed how through maximising your membership benefits—from supplier compliance to worker remedies and institutional accountability, you can take steps to embed social sustainability into your procurements.
You can find contact details for Kate and a downloadable slide deck from the session here.
Shaping the Commercial Future of Procurement in Higher Education
Gemma Waring, Senior Consultant at BiP Solutions, took this afternoon session, showing insights into emerging trends and strategies that are shaping the future of procurement in HE. Focusing on the strategic value of frameworks in driving commercial success, Gemma spoke about innovative approaches to leveraging frameworks for better outcomes. Covering areas such as practical negotiation techniques to maximise value and sector-specific challenges, this was a must-attend session for procurement professionals looking to enhance their commercial impact and gain valuable insights!
Unfortunately, Gemma's slides are not available to share to the wider public at this moment.
Our fabulous exhibition!
The NWUPC Annual Conference 2025 was more than just an event — it was an opportunity to gain valuable insights and engage directly with key framework suppliers. Through the exhibition area Members were also able to connect with fellow procurement professionals from across the sector. The conference offered a unique platform to explore innovations, share best practices, and strengthen professional networks.
A special thank you to our Gold Sponsor, Academia, for their generous support and continued commitment to the Higher Education Procurement Community.
FRAMEWORK SUPPLIER MARKETING
