Case Study - Corporate Procurement Unit (CPU)

Julie Matthews is a Senior Buyer in the Corporate Procurement Unit. Her particular responsibility is food and she works with an annual budget in the region of £43million.

Previously, Julie worked in sales, so as a buyer she is something of poacher turned gamekeeper but is relishing the role. She holds a degree in business administration which she says is valuable in giving her a good general understanding of business.

She was attracted to work in the public sector by what she sees as a more strategic approach to procurement.

“You are spending public money and therefore are very accountable. It means that you have to have transparent processes in place and issues such as sustainability and diversity are high on the agenda.”

Getting out to prison establishments has challenged Julie's perception of what the Service would be like.

“I was expecting it to be like TV's Bad Girls, but actually what you realise working here is what a strong focus there is on resettlement, helping prisoners to go on to lead meaningful lives.”

Because of the unique nature of the organisation, there are special considerations when buying. For example, cutting down on the number of deliveries to prisons because of the implications for security.

There is no ‘typical' day, but Julie meets monthly with major suppliers giving an opportunity to share issues on both sides and maintain a strong working relationship or she may be involved in price reviews or dealing with queries from prison catering managers. She also has to consider the special dietary needs of a diverse prison population.

It all makes for a job packed with variety and unusual challenges.