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Let's Talk Procurement

Let's Talk Procurement

Two Lukes, One CIP 71 episodes Jun 16, 2026

Let's Talk Procurement is a podcast about purchasing and supply chains hosted by two people named Luke. They discuss negotiating deals, contracts, bulk discounts, and procurement careers with humor, puns, and dad jokes. The show mixes practical procurement topics with light entertainment and listener contact details. It is aimed at people interested in procurement education without relying only on textbooks.

Episodes

S3.E11. Procurement Under Pressure: Procurements most pressing topics
S3.E11. Procurement Under Pressure: Procurements most pressing topics Jun 16, 2026 46:22 Send us Fan MailProcurement can feel like the job where every problem lands, even when you do not control the root cause. We start by catching up on a listener’s hunt for buyer and procurement assistant roles, why apprenticeships (including CIPS Level 4 pathways) can be a real shortcut to credible experience, and the one skill we both wish we had built earlier: staying calm when a supplier call tu
S3.E10. Force Majeure In Procurement
S3.E10. Force Majeure In Procurement May 19, 2026 25:11 Send us Fan MailForce majeure gets tossed around whenever the world gets messy, but most procurement teams only discover what their clause really says when a supplier is already late. We take a clear, buyer-friendly look at how force majeure works in supply chain contracts, what it can legitimately excuse, and why “boilerplate” wording can quietly shift risk onto you at the worst possible time.We
S3.E9 How Procurement Thinking Can Stretch A South America Travel Budget
S3.E9 How Procurement Thinking Can Stretch A South America Travel Budget Apr 7, 2026 27:36 Send us Fan MailForty-seven and a half hours before a flight, Luke admits he has not packed, has no local currency, and only has a rough budget for a four to six month backpacking trip across Central and South America. So we do what we do best: drag travel planning into the world of procurement and see if cost control can survive contact with real life. If you care about smart spending, practical
S3.E8. Has Procurement got..Easier? 1990s CIPS v 2026 CIPS
S3.E8. Has Procurement got..Easier? 1990s CIPS v 2026 CIPS Mar 17, 2026 28:23 Send us Fan MailA listener asks a simple question that every procurement professional should take personally: what can we do right now to stay future-proof over the next five years? Our first instinct is to joke about AI hype and quitting to “find yourself”, but the real answer sits underneath the banter: the best way to future-proof your procurement career is to build durable skills that survive
S3.E7. The final Procurement assignment: Does Luke 10 get his CIPS?
S3.E7. The final Procurement assignment: Does Luke 10 get his CIPS? Mar 3, 2026 35:40 Send us Fan MailWe turn a silly pun challenge into a serious guide to passing the Advanced Practitioner project and building change that lasts. It ends with a live CIPS results reveal at the airport and a cheer as the plane boards. Will Luke 10 get his final pass of the journey? Will we ever hear from him again??• how to frame an assignment title that wins approval• primary research using stakehol
S3. E6. Procurement Frameworks Made Simple, Really Simple
S3. E6. Procurement Frameworks Made Simple, Really Simple Feb 10, 2026 34:39 Send us Fan MailWe answer a listener’s question on breaking into procurement, then unpack how frameworks speed buying while staying compliant. Along the way we share real CCS evaluation insight, social value pitfalls, and where a DPS can beat a framework.• translating a law degree into procurement advantage• core procurement cycle from need to contract management• interview tactics using everyday
S3. E5. We Share Big Life Updates And Tease A Packed Procurement Lineup For 2026
S3. E5. We Share Big Life Updates And Tease A Packed Procurement Lineup For 2026 Jan 6, 2026 13:15 Send us Fan MailWe share a quick check‑in from a cold January, outline what’s coming in 2026, and talk through Luke’s sabbatical plans with a mix of jokes and practical next steps. From a CIPS tutor session to vintage exam papers, we set a path for useful, human, and curious episodes.• 2026 preview with banked episodes and production update• CIPS tutor insights and assignment module results on the
S3.E4. Data Protection Essentials for Procurement Professionals
S3.E4. Data Protection Essentials for Procurement Professionals Dec 16, 2025 46:35 Send us Fan MailEver wonder how much personal data passes through your contracts, emails, and supplier handshakes? We sat down with Sara, a compliance lead who lives at the intersection of data protection, information security, and business continuity, to translate privacy law into buyer-friendly moves you can deploy today. No jargon. No scare tactics. Just clear guidance on where risk hides and h
S3.E4. From Setbacks To Passes: Practical CIPS Procurement Exam Retake Strategies
S3.E4. From Setbacks To Passes: Practical CIPS Procurement Exam Retake Strategies Dec 2, 2025 25:23 Send us Fan MailEver failed an exam and felt like it defined you? We’ve been there, and today we unpack a practical, no-fluff plan to turn repeated CIPS Level 4 setbacks into momentum. Starting from Kareem’s email, we map the exact steps to recover confidence and results: how to structure essay answers under pressure, how to read examiner reports for recurring patterns, and how to practise in a wa
S3.E3. How Procurement Automation Wins Trust, Time and Stakeholder Buy-in
S3.E3. How Procurement Automation Wins Trust, Time and Stakeholder Buy-in Nov 17, 2025 33:29 Send us Fan MailEver wish stakeholders called procurement first, not last? We dig into a live MCIPS Corporate Award project aimed at fixing exactly that, using three levers—procurement efficiency, process automation and behavioural insights—to make early engagement the easiest path for the business. Along the way, we tackle the hot take that the Corporate Award is the “easy route,” share what CIPS
S3.E2. Porter's Five Forces Explains Sportswear Buying Industry
S3.E2. Porter's Five Forces Explains Sportswear Buying Industry Nov 4, 2025 34:01 Send us Fan MailA chance encounter at a wedding with a sportswear buyer kicks off a fast, funny, and deeply practical tour of the football kit business. We break down the hidden economics behind those £70 shirts using Porter’s Five Forces, showing where brand power wins, where it leaks, and how clubs and manufacturers really negotiate.We start with the state of play: intense rivalry among Adidas,
S3. E1 Why tariffs raise prices—and what smart buyers can do about it
S3. E1 Why tariffs raise prices—and what smart buyers can do about it Oct 21, 2025 32:57 Send us Fan MailTariffs can feel like a policy headline—until they hit your PO, your budget, and your delivery dates. We unpack what a tariff really is, why governments reach for it, and how those choices cascade through price, lead time, and supplier behaviour. From sudden trade-war spikes to quietly expanding duty lists, we map the real routes by which costs climb and explain why “someone else w

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