BEN SAWYER
King’s Lynn,Norfolk
Summary
Seasoned procurement professional specialising in strategic sourcing and category management within public sector frameworks. Expertise in NEC3/NEC4 and JCT contracts, focusing on IT and digital procurement, including software, SaaS, and cybersecurity. Demonstrated success in supplier relationship management and contract negotiation, driving cost efficiency and value optimisation while ensuring compliance with FCA standards.
Overview
1
1
Certification
30
30
years of professional experience
Work history
Senior Procurement Manager (Contractor)
UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)
Oxford, Oxfordshire
2025.04 - 2025.11
- Protected intellectual property through comprehensive management of NEC4 contract terms and obligations.
- Sourced pre-market and emerging technologies, enhancing supplier engagement through approved routes.
- Developed R&D procurement pathway facilitating £10m awards to UK organisations.
Senior Procurement Manager (Contractor)
National Grid – NESO
Warwick, Warwickshire
2024.04 - 2025.03
- Led procurement of £385m 5-lot framework for AI security resourcing.
- Completed commercial scoring for over 100 onshore and offshore capability models to inform strategic procurement decisions.
- Shortlisted 300 suppliers to 32, facilitating presentations and legal workshops to ensure alignment with organisational needs.
- Managed cross-functional teams to enhance collaboration and streamline procurement processes.
- Led contract renewal discussions securing advantageous terms for the organisation.
Senior Procurement Manager (Contractor)
Bracknell Forest Council
Bracknell, Bracknell Forest
2023.08 - 2024.01
- Collaborated with department heads to identify and clarify procurement requirements, streamlining the procurement process.
- Established performance benchmarks for suppliers leading to consistent delivery timelines.
- Commissioned sexual health services, ensuring alignment with procurement strategies and service readiness.
- Managed construction consultancy (£200m) delivery through day-to-day programme coordination.
- Advised directorates on supported living delivery, enhancing service coordination and efficiency (£20m).
Commercial Business Partner (Contractor)
London Borough of Merton
London
2023.01 - 2023.05
- Handled complex negotiations with suppliers resulting in significant cost savings without sacrificing service level agreements.
- Managed procurement projects to optimise sourcing strategies and ensured effective procurement support activities.
- Backfilled senior roles to maintain commercial governance standards and ensure operational continuity.
Procurement & Supplier Manager (Contractor)
Intelligent Processing Solutions Ltd (iPSL)
Northampton, Northamptonshire
2022.11 - 2023.01
- Negotiated IT contracts and aligned terms with FCA compliance requirements.
- Managed outsourced IT arrangements while monitoring supplier performance to ensure service delivery standards were met.
- Facilitated communication between suppliers and internal teams to enhance collaboration and streamline workflows.
- Resolved contract disputes, minimising disruptions to operations and preserving vital supplier relationships.
- Conducted financial due diligence and performed targeted fraud checks.
Commercial Business Partner (Contractor)
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
London
2020.12 - 2022.10
- Delivered 1m annual supplier savings across procurement and vendor agreements.
- Cultivated stakeholder relationships, providing updates and negotiating solutions to meet shared goals.
- Worked with department heads to determine requirements for procurement activities.
- Managed DCMS and BDUK IT category activities, including project Gigabit, to align procurement with strategic objectives.
- Controlled spend through Cabinet Office approvals and contract tiering to optimise resource allocation.
Category Manager – Corporate Services & HR (Contractor)
University College London (UCL)
London
2020.08 - 2020.12
- Secured £1.4m savings during Christmas closure by efficiently furloughing contractors.
- Established master vendor model for temporary labour, streamlining procurement process and minimising friction.
- Realised £250k savings through strategic office supplies purchasing and systematic review cycles.
- Fostered strong relationships with suppliers, enhancing negotiation capabilities.
Category Manager (Contractor)
Southampton City Council
Southampton
2019.11 - 2020.05
- Delivered £325k savings in Mobile & Communications (50%).
- Negotiated contracts that achieved cost reductions while enhancing operational efficiency.
- Collaborated with key stakeholders to align business objectives and category strategies.
- Managed tenders for multiple categories, ensuring compliance with OJEU regulations and optimising procurement processes.
- Executed tenders using Curtis Fitch and Proactis, streamlining procurement workflow.
Senior Contract & Category Manager – IT (Contractor)
Tullow Oil
London
2019.04 - 2019.11
- Directed implementation of Coupa workflows and SAP R4/Fieldglass rollout, streamlining procurement processes and improving operational effectiveness.
- Implemented Coupa workflows and supported SAP R4/Fieldglass rollout to enhance procurement efficiency.
- Procured specialist IT hardware and software across UK, India, and Europe to meet organisational needs.
- Recovered £300k in unclaimed rebates through targeted account reviews and follow-up.
IT Procurement & Contract Manager (Contractor)
DEFRA
Reading
2018.05 - 2019.04
- Delivered £1.378m savings in 6 months.
- Eliminated £520k annual legacy support costs through strategic vendor management and process improvements.
- Negotiated £498k savings on GIS software by collaborating with key stakeholders to optimise spend.
- Re-procured ServiceNow, transitioning support from outsourced to in-house, enhancing service delivery.
Senior Procurement Manager – Global IT (Contractor)
Specsavers
Botley, Hampshire
2017.06 - 2018.05
- Secured 56% saving on mobile contract, achieving £750k in reduced expenditures.
- Delivered £900k savings in digital signage pilot projects.
- Negotiated 30% saving on global Concur rollout, realising £210k in budget efficiency.
- Implemented RPA solutions, saving £70k through automation efficiencies.
- Delivered GDPR case management platform, ensuring compliance with regulatory workflows.
- Managed IT support for 750 stores; supported Australia expansion.
Senior Category Manager – IT (Contractor)
University of Southampton
Southampton
2017.03 - 2017.06
- Procured £4.5m High-Performance Computing solution.
- Renegotiated Managed Print from £1.4m to £950k (30%).
- Identified potential areas of cost-saving within the procurement process without compromising quality.
Interim Category Specialist (Contractor)
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames
Richmond, Richmond upon Thames
2015.10 - 2017.03
- Achieved £5m savings by insourcing and operating shared services alongside Wandsworth.
- Delivered £5m savings by insourcing work and running shared services with Wandsworth.
- Achieved £1m savings through procurement consolidation across buying categories.
- Achieved £260k savings through SAP support enhancements and stringent cost control.
- Led IT hardware and software tenders, overseeing planning and selection processes.
- Implemented best practices in category management, resulting in streamlined processes.
Senior Category Manager – Corporate Services & Fleet
Serco Plc
Hook, Hampshire
2014.10 - 2015.10
- Oversaw fleet operations for 3000 vehicles, ensuring optimal availability and service continuity.
- Established partnerships with suppliers, improving trade terms and reducing costs.
- Delivered £4m savings within 9 months against £1.5m target.
- Delivered £830k savings by running e-auction processes effectively.
- Recovered £1m from supplier overcharging through corrective checks.
- Analysed market trends to enhance product procurement decisions.
Category Manager – Office Services
Capita Procurement Services
Oxford, Oxfordshire
2012.05 - 2014.10
- Achieved £7.5m savings in postage, office supplies, and couriers through strategic procurement initiatives.
- Recovered £500k in supplier overcharges by negotiating contract terms and conducting audits.
- Oversaw outsourcing of IT software and hardware to enhance resource allocation and service delivery.
Category Manager – Contact Centre Solutions
Cable & Wireless (Vodafone)
Bracknell, Bracknell Forest
2010.06 - 2012.05
- Owned Contact Centre sales pipeline, sourcing and developing new business opportunities, resulting in increased sales.
- Analysed sales reports to identify trends, informing strategy adjustments for improved performance.
- Negotiated £50m telecoms platform, sustaining 99.999% uptime through day-to-day monitoring.
- Delivered £10m savings against a £5m target through cost control.
- Managed PCI compliance rollout through defined plans and staged checks, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.
Corporate Services Category Manager / P2P Specialist
Serco Plc
Hook, Hampshire
2006.01 - 2010.01
- Redesigned P2P process, mitigating fraud risk and enhancing compliance controls.
- Implemented Ariba, serving as super-user to support user adoption and troubleshooting.
- Developed global travel strategy, achieving 26% savings on office supplies through improved vendor negotiations.
Early Career – IT Sales & Distribution
Various IT Distributors and Resellers
Basingstoke, Hampshire
1996.01 - 2006.01
- Progressed to account director, leading client relationships and revenue growth before transitioning into procurement.
Education
MBA - Business Administration
Master's - Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Skills
- Public Sector Procurement (PCR 2015 and PA 2023)
- Strategic Sourcing & Category Management
- IT & Digital Procurement (Software, SaaS, Infrastructure, Cyber, AI)
- Framework Procurement (G-Cloud, CCS, DOS)
- Contract Negotiation & Commercial Governance
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
- Cost Reduction & Value Optimisation
- E-Procurement Tools: Coupa, SAP, Ariba, Proactis, Bravo, Curtis Fitch
- Risk, Compliance & Due Diligence (FCA, BPSS, DBS, SC Clearance)
- Onshore/Offshore Sourcing & BPO Management
- Stakeholder Engagement & Executive Reporting
- NEC3/NEC4 & JCT Contracting
Certification
- MCIPS – Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply
- GCC Procurement Act Certified
- GCC Contract Management Certified
- Clearances: DBS, BPSS, previously SC
TOOLS & SYSTEMS
SAP, Ariba, Coupa, Jagger, Proactis, Bravo, Curtis Fitch, Fieldglass and Concur
Timeline
Senior Procurement Manager (Contractor)
UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)
2025.04 - 2025.11
Senior Procurement Manager (Contractor)
National Grid – NESO
2024.04 - 2025.03
Senior Procurement Manager (Contractor)
Bracknell Forest Council
2023.08 - 2024.01
Commercial Business Partner (Contractor)
London Borough of Merton
2023.01 - 2023.05
Procurement & Supplier Manager (Contractor)
Intelligent Processing Solutions Ltd (iPSL)
2022.11 - 2023.01
Commercial Business Partner (Contractor)
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
2020.12 - 2022.10
Category Manager – Corporate Services & HR (Contractor)
University College London (UCL)
2020.08 - 2020.12
Category Manager (Contractor)
Southampton City Council
2019.11 - 2020.05
Senior Contract & Category Manager – IT (Contractor)
Tullow Oil
2019.04 - 2019.11
IT Procurement & Contract Manager (Contractor)
DEFRA
2018.05 - 2019.04
Senior Procurement Manager – Global IT (Contractor)
Specsavers
2017.06 - 2018.05
Senior Category Manager – IT (Contractor)
University of Southampton
2017.03 - 2017.06
Interim Category Specialist (Contractor)
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames
2015.10 - 2017.03
Senior Category Manager – Corporate Services & Fleet
Serco Plc
2014.10 - 2015.10
Category Manager – Office Services
Capita Procurement Services
2012.05 - 2014.10
Category Manager – Contact Centre Solutions
Cable & Wireless (Vodafone)
2010.06 - 2012.05
Corporate Services Category Manager / P2P Specialist
Serco Plc
2006.01 - 2010.01
Early Career – IT Sales & Distribution
Various IT Distributors and Resellers
1996.01 - 2006.01