Not scaled-down corporate
Sizing real expertise to the business buying it, rather than shrinking a corporate process.
About
Good buying should not depend on the size of your company.
In a large organisation, a significant purchase goes through people who do this for a living. In a growing business, it lands on someone already doing another job.
The Procurement Lab
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Founder-led
15+ years in procurement, leading every engagement. A medium-sized team, averaging eight years each.
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Women-owned
Confirmation provided for supplier diversity reporting.
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Hampshire & London
Working with clients globally, wherever their suppliers are.
Who we work with
Start-ups and SMEs only. That is a choice.
Large corporates have their own teams, systems and scale of problem. Staying focused means a small number of clients at a time, so you get senior attention rather than a project team.
Direct and indirect spend
Tenders, supplier costs, governance, contracts, packaging compliance and AI.
An honest answer
Including when the answer is that you do not need consultancy at all.
Our specialism
Direct and indirect spend. We cover both.
Most consultancies pick one. Every pound you spend sits in one of these two, so we work across both.
What you buy to make or deliver what you sell.
Get this wrong and it shows up in your margin and your delivery dates.
Raw materialsIngredients
Components and partsContract manufacturing
Co-packingProduct packaging
LabellingTooling and moulds
Goods for resalePrivate label
Product testing and certification
Everything that keeps the business running.
Spread across every department, owned by nobody in particular, and rarely reviewed. Which is exactly why the waste hides here — including logistics and freight, which most businesses assume sits on the other side.
IT, software and SaaSTelecoms
Marketing and agenciesProfessional services
RecruitmentTemporary labour
HR and payrollTraining
Logistics and freightWarehousing
Fleet and vehiclesFacilities and property
Utilities and energyCleaning
Waste and recyclingMaintenance
InsuranceBanking and payments
Travel and accommodationOffice supplies
Not sure which side your problem sits on? That is completely fine. Tell us what is bothering you and we will work it out on the call.
Worth knowing
Three things most growing businesses find out late.
None of this needs a consultant. It is just useful to know sooner rather than later.
Notice periods matter more than prices
Most contracts renew automatically unless you give notice, often 90 days ahead. Miss the window and the price is set for another year, whatever you negotiate afterwards. A renewal calendar is the single cheapest thing you can build.
Indirect spend is where the money hides
Software, facilities, insurance and professional services rarely get reviewed, because no single person owns them. Added up, they are often a bigger number than the supplier everyone worries about.
Compliance arrives without warning
Packaging rules, data obligations and supplier due diligence tend to land on whoever is nearest. Knowing which thresholds apply to your turnover and tonnage before a deadline is far cheaper than reacting after one.
Sectors
Some of the sectors we work in.
Not an exhaustive list. The commercial questions are similar across sectors and borders.
Hospitality and leisure
Health and wellness
Pharmaceuticals
Luxury retail
Energy
Transport
Banking and financial services
FMCG
Facilities management
Veterinary
Public sector
Manufacturing
Technology
What we are not
Worth being clear about.
Not a large agency
A medium-sized team taking a small number of clients at a time, so nothing gets handed down.
Not a law firm
We work commercially. Legal review stays with your solicitor.
Not tied to any vendor
We advise on procurement platforms and technology, but we do not resell them and take no commission. The recommendation is whatever fits your organisation.
Contact
Let's get to what matters.
A free 30-minute call, with no obligation.