Blog

Women of menopausal age are the fastest-growing demographic in the workplace and according to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM), nearly eight out of 10 menopausal women are in work. In the past, both women experiencing menopause and their colleagues may have been embarrassed talking about it. But a study by the Fawcett Society and…

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The cost of living crisis in the UK is already having a significant impact on both UK citizens and the economy. Despite recent promises from the Chancellor that support will be made available, the most vulnerable people, as well as the businesses they buy from are likely to suffer in the long term.  The upcoming…

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As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to escalate, the supply chain sector is reeling from the shock of one of the most devastating and unpredictable global developments in living memory. It is also bracing itself for a long journey of disruption, rising costs, logistical challenges and product shortages.  The vast majority of markets are…

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I read an interesting article by Daniel Lane from Baringa  on his experiences with ADHD. Members of my family have been diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia (including myself) and I’m positive many others have Neurodiversity traits that have never been tested and fully diagnosed. All these diagnosed family members struggled at school before finding ways to…

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As we tentatively brush off the shackles of the pandemic it’s time for procurement and supply chain professionals to start preparing for in-person events again. Naturally, this won’t be possible for everyone but we are willing to bet that all the events listed below will be making sure those who prefer or need a virtual…

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Promoting the development of soft skills in the workplace has enjoyed more recognition in recent years, and rightly so. If you take a moment to imagine what your workplace would be like without colleagues that are effective communicators, good decision-makers and know how to solve problems before they escalate, you’ll see straight away why soft…

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Sustainability continues to be a hot topic in the world of procurement and supply chain. Forward-thinking companies are looking for ways to source low-impact, environmentally friendly and ethical produce, and identify methods for reducing waste throughout their operations.  This article takes a high-level look at the sustainability developments in the coming year. From shifts in…

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Are you a firm looking to recruit the ideal procurement and supply chain candidates for 2022? Or a hopeful candidate seeking your first, or next challenge? Alongside the usual job boards and established recruitment apps there are a number of up and coming platforms that can help you get where you need to go. In…

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Whether your business is new to the market or a well-established player, attracting the top procurement and supply chain talent is vital. The trouble is, recruitment is an increasingly competitive world and you need to be able to entice the best people before your competitors do.  This may all sound rather unfriendly on the budget,…

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The last year or so has made us nothing if not more resilient. This quality was always evident in ambitious procurement and supply chain professionals but we’ve definitely been tested since the pandemic took hold. Life goes on and we must all prepare for new ways of working, an acceleration towards digital transformation and perhaps…

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The journey towards digital interconnection has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend is reflected in Gartner’s report on the Top Supply Chain Technology Themes for 2021. Gartner’s analysis usually identifies individual technologies that are shaping the sector, but this year they have focused on overarching themes that incorporate several or more technologies.  Here…

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Looking forward to being back at work? Champing at the bit to get out in the world again? It has been an incredibly hard year or so, and while the relief of additional freedoms is palpable, there are also a number of concerns around approaching the so-called ‘new normal’. Particularly when it comes to heading…

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Being a good person to have around in a crisis is a highly sought after skill among procurement and supply chain professionals. Whether you think you work effectively under pressure or not, it is a good idea to see if you could hone these skills or find out ways you can help others to improve…

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Many of us have changed our priorities or had a career epiphany in the last year or so. There’s nothing like a crisis to make you reconsider where your life is headed or what you want to achieve. If you have started to reevaluate your career path or you’ve decided to pivot your career entirely…

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With the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel shining a little brighter week by week (fingers crossed) businesses are starting to look to the future and adapt to a rather different world. This blog will offer some suggestions on how procurement can help companies emerge stronger from the COVID pandemic. As always, we…

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While businesses need the top talent to succeed and thrive there are a number of other things that are required to build the ideal workforce. From understanding digital transformation to establishing a great team culture, read on to discover why talent isn’t all you need to build the perfect procurement and supply chain team.   …

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Procurement and supply chain is a dynamic sector to work in – even in so-called normal times. The impact of the pandemic, Brexit and a variety of other geo-political and socio-political situations have resulted in a number of challenges of late. As a sector, we have had to adapt and overcome the obstacles. We have…

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If the world around you seems to be changing at a breakneck speed, you’re not alone. The way we see it, the best approach right now is to stay positive, limit the time you spend on news websites and prepare for a better year ahead. As we know, the world of procurement and supply chain…

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Procurement and supply chain roles – how these might change in the future. Procurement and supply chain roles are constantly evolving and changing to meet the demands of a highly dynamic sector. The impact of the pandemic has added extra layers of complexity to the supply chain and forced our industry to review the way…

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As a business leader or manager, having a loyal team of employees is gold dust. Who doesn’t want happy workers who plan to invest their time and skills into the longterm good of the company, after all? But how do you make sure you have your strategy and approach right, especially when you have a…

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Achieving a great work/life balance is just a dream, right? Something that is only possible for self-employed people who post annoying photos on social media of them gazing out at a turquoise sea while working on their laptop? Not necessarily. Even during so-called ‘normal times’ many of us are desperate for more time in the…

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Finding the perfect hire for your business is complex. Some people perform better in interviews than they do in real life and vice versa. Plus, even some of the most experienced and personable business leaders aren’t great in an interview setting. It can be a real challenge to work out if a candidate will be…

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Like the majority of parents, I’ve always had to juggle childcare and work. Some days I’m hurling cereal at the kids before racing to make the train; others I’m blocking out time in my schedule so I can make the school play. This is a challenge I chose and actually enjoyed, even with a high-pressure…

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At the time of writing, the world is just starting to tentatively celebrate the various positive news stories around the coronavirus vaccine. It’s finally looking less like 2021 won’t be another year or disruption and dread. We’ve all learnt a lot in the last nine months or so about how to adapt and survive in…

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It seems like a lifetime ago that the business world was still reluctant to accept let alone encourage a culture of remote working. And now look where we are. The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down and with it, the way we work and recruit. Who knows what will happen in the next…

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The business world has learned a great deal about itself in 2020, I think we can all agree. We have adapted in ways that we would have thought impossible just one year ago. Many of us have found a new appreciation of our coworkers and certainly of our IT team as we struggle with seemingly…

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The last six months or so have presented us with a series of challenges – both personal and professional – that we could not have imagined a year ago. But while challenges can overwhelm us, they also present opportunities for adaptation, and for making improvements. I am by no means saying that the pandemic and…

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In my last blog I looked at why feminism is still a dirty word for some people, following a comment made to me by a friend at dinner. This week, I want to explore another comment from that same dinner: the notion that women are ‘too emotional’ for the boardroom. I thoroughly disagree with this old-fashioned…

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I went out to dinner with some good friends a few weeks ago. We were discussing the different challenges of work and childcare and one of them said: “But you’re a feminist, Saffa, so you’re less maternal.” Later the same evening, another friend said that women are “too emotional” for the boardroom. These two comments…

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Promoting sustainability in the supply chain is now more important than ever. Customers are actively seeking out companies that opt for ethical suppliers, and shareholders and investors are putting companies under increasing pressure to ensure their end-to-end supply chain is as environmentally and socially conscious as possible.  The benefits of adopting this approach are significant…

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I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a challenging year all round. For those of us working in procurement and supply chain, we have had to adapt to new ways of working, fluctuating costs and demand and all manner of other operational changes. While health experts warn of a second wave of…

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Whether the UK workforce continues to return to the office or settles in further to home working, the world of recruitment continues to adjust to the unprecedented upheavals of 2020. Many businesses have been forced to postpone or cancel hiring. And many candidates have found their offers rescinded. But before we switch to some seemingly…

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We are pleased to share this week’s top 10 Procurement and Supply Chain jobs. We are urgently looking for exceptional candidates for the below positions, please have a good read and e-mail the consultant on the advert for more information about this and other live jobs. To view all of Bramwith’s live procurement and supply…

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Building, and maintaining strong supplier relationships is vital in the procurement and supply chain sector. Most businesses rely on a variety of external suppliers; manufacturers and vendors, distributors and so on. Making sure you communicate well with each supplier and that you listen to their needs and goals will help forge good long-term relationships and…

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As we settle into an uncertain future, we’re all trying to work out what we need to do to adapt. To make sure we’re ready for the challenges we might face. If you’re looking for a new job or hoping to change roles in the near future, this adds an extra level of complexity –…

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We hardly need to mention the impact COVID-19 has had on the procurement and supply chain sector. In fact, Fortune reported in February that 94% of the Fortune 1000 companies had already experienced supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19. As the world adapted to the crisis – to restrictions in movement and global factory closures…

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Finding the perfect job can be a challenge, especially if you don’t know where to start. With this in mind, we’ve put together a handy guide to take you through every step of the way. And if you get stuck, need a bit of a pep talk or answers to your questions, get in touch….

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With our working days not exactly business as usual, it can be difficult to remain focused and motivated. But it’s vital for our own wellbeing that we do so. Whether your current situation finds you at a bit of a loss for things to do, or if you’re pushed to the limit, podcasts are a…

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When writing this article, we wondered if the title should be “How to Keep Sane from Monday to Friday”. We are living in genuinely unprecedented times and we are all coping with daily struggles and challenges. Whether this article finds you pacing the kitchen, wondering how to fill your day, or up to your eyes…

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Working from home can be a challenge, particularly when the situation is imposed on you at short notice. Perhaps over the years, you have longed for the opportunity to complete your daily tasks from your home-office setup, coffee in hand. Or maybe the thought of being isolated or managing your own time fills you with…

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At Bramwith, we are currently helping our clients and candidates navigate through this stressful and difficult time. We know that it sometimes isn’t easy to stay motivated, but keeping on track with goals and projects can be a really effective distraction and help us feel connected and productive whilst working remotely. In this article, we…

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The recruitment process can be challenging at the best of times. But when your job search is cut short due to unexpected events such as the current health crisis, it can be really hard to keep motivated and maintain momentum. This is a period of unprecedented uncertainty and while we cannot predict how events will…

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Procurement and supply chain events are a great opportunity for professionals of all levels to learn about sector developments, improve their knowledge and network with their peers. With an exciting calendar of conferences and gatherings ahead, we reveal some of the top Procurement and Supply Events for 2020 in the UK and Europe. World Procurement…

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Looking for a new job can be time-consuming, particularly if you’re balancing your search with a current role. Being headhunted, or executive searched, is certainly an attractive prospect but how do you put yourself in the best position to be discovered? From sharpening your social media presence to being interview-ready, we offer some top tips…

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Job interviews can make even the most experienced people nervous and unsure of themselves. You’re meeting a group of new people (or hoping to impress current colleagues) and you want to present your best self, after all. From advance preparation to projecting positive body language, we offer some top tips on preparing for interviews so…

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Progressing your career and getting your dream job isn’t always easy. Budgets are tight and there may be strong competition internally or externally. But these challenges needn’t get in the way of your ambition. From demonstrating your leadership skills to putting in the extra mile outside of work, we offer some top tips for getting…

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There are few situations that require a person to make a good impression in such a brief amount of time as a job interview. Your prospective employer has shown interest in your skills and experience, which is great. But you still need to create a positive impact face-to-face. This is how you’ll convince them that…

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All procurement activity presents risks and any procurement professional worth their salt knows that effectively managing risks in operations and supply chain is vital. In this article, we examine why procurement risk management is important and how the risks can be identified and controlled. What is risk management in procurement and why is it important?…

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Recruiting the right person for a procurement or supply chain role is a challenge. You might think you’ve found the perfect candidate based on their skills and experience, but they could turn out to be a disaster in terms of cultural fit. To mitigate this, many businesses are adopting tests and processes to assess a…

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Studies show that recruiters typically scan a CV for just six seconds before making a decision on the applicant. So if you’re searching for your dream job, making sure your CV is as impressive as possible should be the number one priority. Your resume is usually the first chance to get noticed by a potential…

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In a recent blog we looked at the impact of Brexit on the procurement and supply chain industry. This week we turn our attention to how Britain’s exit from the European Union could affect careers and job opportunities in our sector. In this unprecedented time of uncertainty, we want to present the facts and face the…

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When utilizing a recruiter, it’s important to remember what you’re actually doing: you’re hiring an expert at networking.  More often than not, our clients assume we’re just resume generators who don’t pay attention to what’s happening. A few basics to keep in mind when looking to make a star hire: Trust your recruiter when it…

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The impending EU exit has meant a challenging time for UK procurement and supply chain professionals as they struggle to control revenues and create trading strategies in what is an unchartered and unpredictable economic landscape. From fluctuating costs to the effect on recruitment, we assess the impact of Brexit on the procurement and supply chain…

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Effectively managing mental health in the workplace is one of the most important responsibilities for business leaders. With 61% of the UK workforce experiencing work-related mental health issues it’s vital that all employees can recognise warning signs in colleagues, as well as themselves, and understand what support is available. Read on for tips on how…

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Last month, Bramwith held our first sustainable procurement event. We invited procurement professionals from a variety of sectors to discuss the challenges they face and how new approaches and tools can benefit their business and customer, as well as society and the environment. A great deal of ground was covered, and some innovative suggestions shared….

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Find out what benefits, policies and support your organisation should offer to attract talented working mums and dads.   In the UK, 9 in 10 households with dependent children have working parents (ONS). For organisations it’s therefore important to have parent-friendly policies and benefits in place to retain existing employees and attract new talent. While…

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