Pre-conference masterclasses - Tuesday, 4 March

Available to book separately or as part of your 3-day conference pass

The pre-conference masterclasses provide attendees with morning and afternoon tea breaks and a 1-hour lunch break allowing for extra networking opportunities and in-depth learning.

The masterclasses start at 09:00 and finish at 17:00.

8:30
Registration and welcome coffee
Masterclass A: Driving efficiency in public sector procurement – commercial strategies for success

This masterclass offers a unique opportunity for public sector procurement professionals to enhance their understanding of commercial capabilities and their role in improving procurement efficiency. With increasing demands for cost savings and operational effectiveness in government procurement, this session provides valuable insights into different commercial models and practical strategies for building capabilities that can deliver better results. Attendees will leave equipped with the knowledge to implement commercial approaches, streamline processes, and drive more value from contracts and supplier relationships.

Key Takeaways:

  • Identifying different commercial purchasing approaches and models for public sector use
  • Learning how to build and implement commercial capabilities in public sector divisions to achieve more effective contract and supplier management
  • Analysing implementation challenges and how to overcome them
  • Examining the skills required to transition from traditional administrative approaches to commercial service delivery
  • Reviewing the limitations of commercial-based approaches in government procurement
  • Comparing and benchmarking your procurement practices with other professionals
  • Developing best practice contract management approaches from the private sector

This masterclass is essential for anyone looking to improve their procurement strategies and drive efficiency in public sector operations.

Masterclass B: Unlocking value through effective supplier management in public procurement

This masterclass offers public sector procurement professionals the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of strategic supplier engagement and its impact on procurement success. With a focus on building long-term, mutually beneficial supplier relationships, this session covers practical approaches to improving communication, collaboration, and trust. Attendees will learn how to create more effective partnerships that drive better outcomes, improve supplier performance, and ensure value for money in procurement projects. It’s an essential session for professionals seeking to enhance procurement processes and deliver more sustainable, impactful results.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding the key principles of building strong supplier relationships in procurement
  • Learning best practices for enhancing supplier performance through effective collaboration
  • Exploring communication strategies that improve transparency and trust between procurement teams and suppliers
  • Discovering techniques for managing supplier risk and ensuring accountability
  • Gaining insights into aligning procurement goals with supplier capabilities for maximum value
  • Reviewing case studies on successful supplier relationship management in public procurement
  • Implementing supplier evaluation and feedback mechanisms to drive continuous improvement

This masterclass will empower procurement professionals with actionable strategies to build and sustain productive supplier relationships that enhance overall procurement effectiveness.