Stephen Ashcroft

The International Festival for Business 2014, the global gathering of the world’s most inspiring businesses, will take place in Liverpool in June and July next year. The festival, a global showcase of business, where the city region will play host to hundreds of world-class events. It will attract more than 250,000 visitors from across the globe to take part in 61 days of events, exhibitions and celebrations, in order to realise the potential of global economic recovery. The UK is the world’s leading international financial and professional services centre with an unrivalled concentration of capital and capabilities. This IFB thematic group aims to position the UK as the world’s partner and location of choice for financial and professional services. Come join us, our programme of events covers 4 ways to approach profit, innovation and risk: >>> http://www.brianfarrington.co.uk/2014/05/4-ways-approach-profit-innovation-risk/ <<<

This strategic and operational risk positioning solution has been designed for use in private and public sector organisations. Procurement and Supply Chain risk must be visible and risk mitigation strategies devised and implemented. The positive outcomes of our risk positioning solution include: o Preservation of organisational reputation o Robust contractual obligations placed on suppliers o Absence of challenges from intellectual property rights holders o Business continuity safeguards in place o Control of long-term cost in purchased goods and services o Knowledge of likely threats to long-term supply The scope of PROCURISK® PROCURISK™ has twelve carefully designed and structured areas (datasets) of Procurement & Supply Chain risk, including financial risks. These are: o Contract Risks o Financial Risks o Supply Market Risks o Supplier Relationship Management Risks o IT Systems Support Risks o Procurement Dependency Risks o Intellectual Property Risks o Pricing Decision Risks o Vendor Risks o Procurement Performance Visibility Risks o Intellectual Capital Risks o Contract Management Risks To arrange a free use of a PROCURISK dataset please call me on 01744 20698 or [email protected] Key Category Skills: FM (Security, Cleaning, Catering, M&E, Property Repairs, Maintenance, Voids, Energy Technology), Oil & Gas, Construction, HR Services (Occupational Health, Fleet Management, Travel Management), Marketing Services (Public Relations, Advertising, Interpretation and Translation Services, Print & Publications, Exhibitions), Defence (DEFCONs), Financial Services (Investment Banking, Payment Solutions, Insurance) Business Services (Outsourcing, Consultancy, Legal Services, Architects, Health Services). IT/ICT (CRM systems,Generic Software, IT Hardware, Electronic Trading Risk Management Systems, websites) & Telecoms.

Growth in business has led to leading operations growing their reliance on external parties- their supply chain and outsourced partners. Risk is inherent in the engagement and management of these critical relationships. Whether you're looking for advice or willing to give advice, this is the forum for doing so in exploring key facets of risk in procurement. My ideal is that experienced risk/ procurement/ operations/ finance professionals will explore and develop 'best practice' by listening and sharing - and helping - the growing number of members who are signing up to this Group.

Topical postings on purchasing and supply chain issues, book reviewer and regular editorial contributor including: What buyers want: 10 tips for suppliers bidding for contracts Eight tips for negotiation planning The three key stages to managing risk How to identify procurement risk How to make a ‘high risk’ purchase 10 questions to ask non-procurement colleagues about contracts What’s the use of open book accounting in supplier negotiation? Finding the price index that is right for you How robust is your financial due diligence of suppliers? How to align buyer/supplier goals when tendering

1) Engineering Doctorate programme and 2) 'Elite' PhD programme addressing commercial awareness, commercial negotiation skills and managing and influencing in business: circa 12 days per annum input.

The International Festival for Business 2014, the global gathering of the world’s most inspiring businesses, will take place in Liverpool in June and July next year. The festival, a global showcase of business, where the city region will play host to hundreds of world-class events. It will attract more than 250,000 visitors from across the globe to take part in 61 days of events, exhibitions and celebrations, in order to realise the potential of global economic recovery. The UK is the world’s leading international financial and professional services centre with an unrivalled concentration of capital and capabilities. This IFB thematic group aims to position the UK as the world’s partner and location of choice for financial and professional services. Come join us, our programme of events covers 4 ways to approach profit, innovation and risk: >>> http://www.brianfarrington.co.uk/2014/05/4-ways-approach-profit-innovation-risk/ <<<

Since July 2015, I have been Associate Director and the Lead for Procurement and Commercial Advisory practice for AECOM, a Fortune 500 global firm and a Forbes World's Most Admired Company. I am responsible for leading, growing and developing the Practice on a global basis throughout all our business and market sectors. Our multi-disciplinary team is fully resourced and supported with proven systems and IP to deliver some of the World's most critical and complex infrastructure programmes. Our aim is to “do procurement differently”. AECOM Procurement and Commercial Advisory delivers as a: - CONDUIT to engage supply markets, innovatively, to find solutions to business challenges; - SERVICE to reduce the cost and risk of procurement to maximise commercial benefits; and - PLATFORM to create, enhance and sustain the world’s built, natural, and social environments. We've been helping some of the world’s leading organisations with their procurement and commercial challenges – London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games is a good example. More importantly, we’ve “walked the talk” with experienced people from industry, government, and consulting who know the risk and opportunities to address. Our particular focus is on working with Directors and leaders. We help our clients focus on improving resilience, simplifying complexity and ultimately, delivering impact. We’ve made it our mission to help procurement escape from being the “best kept secret” in programme and project delivery and to get our clients the recognition and rewards they deserve. If you like what you’ve heard so far, and you think I may be able to help you with some of the challenges you’re facing, then please contact me - we’ll just discuss your situation to see if working together might be a good fit.

Topical postings on purchasing and supply chain issues, book reviewer and regular editorial contributor including: What buyers want: 10 tips for suppliers bidding for contracts Eight tips for negotiation planning The three key stages to managing risk How to identify procurement risk How to make a ‘high risk’ purchase 10 questions to ask non-procurement colleagues about contracts What’s the use of open book accounting in supplier negotiation? Finding the price index that is right for you How robust is your financial due diligence of suppliers? How to align buyer/supplier goals when tendering