Matthew Bates
Barlaston,Stoke on Trent
Summary
Accomplished professional with extensive expertise in strategic sourcing, category management, and supply management. Demonstrates exceptional work ethic and reliability, excelling in high-pressure situations with a calm and confident approach. Proficient in SAP software, vendor relationship management, and purchasing strategy development. Adept at problem-solving and cost-reduction strategies, ensuring legal compliance and effective supplier assessment. Strong communicator with excellent time management skills, committed to proactive and self-motivated work practices. Career goal: to leverage skills in procurement to drive organisational success through innovative sourcing solutions.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Category Buyer
Muller
06.2023 - 03.2025
- Engage and work closely with defined stakeholders to understand their needs/requirements and draft Category Strategies
- Advise the business on commercial issues/opportunities
- Supervising and offering procurement support and advice to the UK central procurement admin team (10) whilst mentoring a junior buyer in the global team
- As part of the Group Procurement team, we are assisted by our local Group Shared Service Procurement team
- It is part of my role to help, develop, and mentor the GSS individuals
- I assist them with tasks, tenders, and general knowledge to help them respond to queries from sites or stakeholders
- Assist the forecasting & budget process with comments and market rationale, identifying key drivers and potential measures to mitigate
- Create Customer engagement within BUs where Procurement is an integral contact for the defined stakeholders
- Support synergy across BUs to drive value
- Ensure continuous observation, analysis and evaluation of the procurement market (suppliers, prices, capacity, etc.)
- Develop category strategies, carry out tenders, analyse and create negotiation plans to ensure a competitive environment which challenges the supply base and ensures we achieve the best commercial position whilst maintaining the levels of quality and service required for the business
- Support new product launches within the BUs ensuring sourcing of new suppliers and contracts are placed for defined materials / new requirements in the responsible spend area
- Through innovative thinking, consistently improve our approach
- Work with shared services to create and maintain information records & material contracts, and purchase orders on the SAP system
- Engage with and understand the supply chain, become an expert - the go-to person for the business
- Proactively manage supplier performance
- Develop innovative ways in which to cooperate with suppliers to develop sustainable added value potential
- Support and deliver value-creation opportunities from market intelligence and the supply base managing performance against target and implementation timelines (through savings trackers reported to the business)
Lead / Operational Buyer
JCB Heavy Products
10.2023 - 06.2023
- Negotiating with suppliers globally and ensuring we are always their top priority
- Communicating with operational teams and managing escalations from Material, Quality, and New Product teams
- Wielding your influence to keep the purchasing department top-of-mind with key stakeholders
- Raising RFQs
- Working towards CIPS Level 4
- Working with NPI on new projects to ensure prototype parts are delivered on schedule
- Responsible for new parts first off availability and Initial Sample Inspection Report compliance within the NPI process requirement
- Driving forward quality PPM improvements and PPAP/APQP compliance, supporting supplier quality clinics where appropriate
- Ensure Warranty Agreements are in place where required before placing an order
- Work alongside Supplier Development Engineers dealing with APQP, Project Readiness and supplier exit strategies
- Cost reduction - achieving annual cost reduction targets
- Cost management - driving improved levels of transparency by focusing on Quotation Analysis Forms
- Working with the global teams to understand the Lowest Total Cost of Acquisition for specific categories of responsibility
- Implement Long Term Agreements with assigned suppliers where appropriate
Product Manager / Marketing
Lyreco
01.2022 - 10.2022
- Develop ‘’better buying’’ solutions without compromising our strict quality or service guidelines, continuously aiming to drive out cost
- Work with your supplier partners to ensure Lyreco gains ‘’first to market’’, and ‘’Exclusive’’ Product ranges that drive competitive advantage in your marketplace
- Work with manufacturers to ensure a first-to-market contractual and subscription business to gain exclusive market-leading propositions for Lyreco
- Continuously review, and simplify your range, delivering a market-leading breadth and depth, whilst driving out product duplication
- Continuously review your stock health, driving out slow and ‘non-moving lines’ to minimise any stock provision position
- Work closely with our sales forces and attend joint customer visits to support as a subject matter expert
Stock Controller and Procurement Manager
Fayrefield Foods Limited
12.2020 - 01.2022
- Wholly responsible for maintaining stock levels of all food service consumables in line with the company requirements whilst ensuring minimal wastage through the monitoring of product shelf-life
- A key aspect of the role is to oversee upcoming events throughout the year using forecasting and previous sales data to prepare for peaks and troughs in demand whilst ensuring that supply is always available
Group Buyer / Product Manager
RSBP LTD
08.2018 - 11.2020
- Responsible for maintaining stock levels of raw materials to meet the commercial business production schedule whilst providing clerical support to ensure that product standards were maintained, customer needs were met, and deliveries were timely
- Work within supply chain development, with a specific focus on technical, quality and commercial matters
- Heavy focus on cost reduction opportunities through the analysis of components and manufacturing processes
Purchasing and Stock Control Manager
Hales Sawmills
10.2017 - 08.2018
- Solely responsible for purchase and stock level management of all goods sold through the business either to the public or to trade
- Frequent negotiation with suppliers for the best prices and lead times
Administration Assistant Manager, Stock Controller and Purchasing
Ageas Retail Ltd
06.2007 - 10.2017
- Aiding the operations, account management and marketing teams to ensure they had full support in the delivery of operational changes, specific company projects and company initiatives
- Providing key contingency in the Print Distribution Manager's absence and departmental staff's absence
Education
Intermediate IT GNVQ - Distinction (Equivalent To 4 GCSE At B Grade)
City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College
Stoke On Trent 09.2001 - 06.2005
Advanced AVCE in ICT - Merit (Equivalent to 2 A Levels)
City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College
Stoke On Trent 09.2001 - 06.2005
GCSE - 8 GCSE grades A including Math, English Language, English Literature, Science and IT
Clayton High School
Newcastle Under Lyme 09.1997 - 06.2001
Skills
- Confident in high-pressure situations
- Vendor relationship management
- Strong communicator
- Pro-active
- Self-motivated
- Reliable
- Procure-To-Pay cycle
- Contract law understanding
- Supplier assessment
- Legal compliance awareness
- Purchasing strategy development
- SAP software expertise
- Strategic sourcing
- Cost-reduction strategies
- Supply Management
- Calm under pressure
- Category Management
Custom
2.2 million, I have just finished a full tender process on this category and delivered a strategy to the business. The Tender process has saved the company across both business units over £1.3 million., 34 million, Power, Gas, Water Billing, LGP, Carbon Credits, Smart Metering, During 2024 Q1 was securing all UKAs (carbon credits) under the set budget for 2024, saving the business around £500k., 1 million, Lab equipment, Lab consumables, 22.5 million, Transportation dry, chilled & frozen, Sea & air freight, Pallets, Forklift trucks, Warehousing, Milk trolley purchase and repairs, Renewed and renegotiated our warehousing supply chain providers saving the business around 4.5 Million., 2.5 million, MRO (Maintenance, repair and operations), Engineering spares, Capex involvement, As part of the Group Procurement team, we are assisted by our local Group Shared Service Procurement team. It is part of my role to help, develop, and mentor the GSS individuals. I assist them with tasks, tenders, and general knowledge to help them respond to queries from sites or stakeholders.
Timeline
Lead / Operational Buyer
JCB Heavy Products
10.2023 - 06.2023
Category Buyer
Muller
06.2023 - 03.2025
Product Manager / Marketing
Lyreco
01.2022 - 10.2022
Stock Controller and Procurement Manager
Fayrefield Foods Limited
12.2020 - 01.2022
Group Buyer / Product Manager
RSBP LTD
08.2018 - 11.2020
Purchasing and Stock Control Manager
Hales Sawmills
10.2017 - 08.2018
Administration Assistant Manager, Stock Controller and Purchasing
Ageas Retail Ltd
06.2007 - 10.2017
Intermediate IT GNVQ - Distinction (Equivalent To 4 GCSE At B Grade)
City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College
09.2001 - 06.2005
Advanced AVCE in ICT - Merit (Equivalent to 2 A Levels)
City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College
09.2001 - 06.2005
GCSE - 8 GCSE grades A including Math, English Language, English Literature, Science and IT
Clayton High School
09.1997 - 06.2001
Similar Profiles
Piotr ObroslakPiotr Obroslak
Warehouse Operator at MullerWarehouse Operator at Muller
Katie-Leigh McGarrigleKatie-Leigh McGarrigle
HR Manager at MullerHR Manager at Muller
MICHAEL URQUHARTMICHAEL URQUHART
Operator at MULLEROperator at MULLER
Georgia HardenGeorgia Harden
Stock Replenisher at BM Home StoresStock Replenisher at BM Home Stores
Maddie PassMaddie Pass
Chef/Waitering at FoxfieldChef/Waitering at Foxfield