Procurement in HE: Innovating for Tomorrow

I lead the Procurement categories for Science and Research (covering a wide range of goods and services, from High Value Lab Equipment to lab consumables, chemicals, reagents, plus associated services), and IT (covering hardware, software licensing, networking, audio visual, print, and associated professional services).

I have secured a position at King’s College London in 2015 as an IT Apprentice, which shortly evolved into the IT Graduate Scheme, assisting the IT Governance Team with IT Communications as well as Supplier Management tasks. A year or so into my role, my responsibilities evolved with the permanent assignment as an IT Supplier and Contract Management Analyst, focused on supporting and maintaining the continuation as well as performance of IT-based contracts. The year after (in 2017) I was successfully appointed as an IT Buyer within the university, central Procurement Team.

I am now an IT Procurement Manager within King’s central Procurement, responsible for IT Procurement activities (including hardware, software, AV, peripherals, and accessories) across the organisation from requirement identification, through tendering, to contract formation. The role involves leading on central IT as well as institutional, research-driven procurements by leveraging direct procurements as well as established national procurement frameworks.

Mel has over 25 years business experience, managing supplier relationships, negotiating, providing tech services and delivering strong IT contracts across verticals including Education, Energy, Finance, Healthcare, Telecoms, Third-party logistics and Utilities. Mel is MCIPS qualified and is now in his fifth year as part of the IT senior leadership team at Royal Holloway, while also being part of Crown Commercial Services’ Digital, Data and Tech Community of Practice Steering Group, on the Advisory Board of Ahead by Bett and Chairing the UCISA Transforming IT Procurement Working Group.