Last year (and the year before) Rich and Ed made a whole load of procurement predictions - and a few others.    Now it's crunch time as we find out how many came true.   

Virtually all of them it turns out.   What a pair of prediction-genius-types!   

• ESG - correct
• Tariffs - correct
• Befriending IT - correct
• Obvious stuff from CAPS and Deloitte is true - correct
• Recession in the West - well, close
• COP30 - correct
• Amazon - correct
• A mysterious leader will emerge from the sea and form an aquatic emprie - correct (sort of)
• Kearney talking nonsense - correct
• CIPs resurgence (helped by us of course) - correct

And now we have a whole load of more predictions - so get ready to place your bets - possibly everything on black  Or was it red?   

So, just by listening to Procurement Says No you can potentially make millions of dollars in bet winnings by gambling your house on our predictions (which we don't recommend by the way).

P.s. We're not sure if "bug people from the moon will eat all the cheese on Earth" will be accurate but it still stands in our list.

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...no it's just the way I walk.

We get lots of questions from our listener on Procurement Says No...now you can listen to them all again in our series of mini bite-sized podcast chunks. Like dog food.  Except in headphone cans, not actual cans.  Sort of.

In episode 16 we are still banging on about consultants, and you ask - is it better to use a big global consultancy (discuss); how to deal with a stakeholder who used to work for a consultancy they now want to use; why IT enterprise software vendors don't do their own implementations; would we recommend a career in interim management; and how best to use interims in your procurement function.

All of the procurement questions, all of the time.

www.procurementsaysno.com

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Another video which we said we'd never do.   Except this is audio only.

They're on TikTok in full glorious video.

How will I know if my supplier is lying to you?

Watch out for them "letting the lie go"!


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Rich and Ed welcome back Dr John Glen from Cranfield and CIPS to discuss more economic things such as: the Japanese economy; chips in the UK and Europe; austerity's role in the UK's lack of growth; the decline of political debate (and rise of Celebrity Traitors); whether the WEF is the beginning of Spectre; when AI will begin to make all the decisions; and, who is John's favourite economist?

All this plus some more entirely predictable news about public sector tenders being required over the holiday period (how many due on New year's Eve???); Rich's identity fraud; and some made up procurement lists (we thought the days of lists were numbered, but no).

It's also lightly sprinkled with Christmas glad tidings so listen now - or indeed over the Christmas hols! 

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Rich and Ed welcome super duper guest Dr John Glen to answer the question "how's the big global economy doing at the moment?".   

John is visiting professor at Cranfield University and Chief Economist at CIPS so he answers a load of other questions too, such as: is economic reconfiguration inevitable; what's the longer term economic view; is this the end of liberal democracy; how to sum up the UK budget; is it the end for the UN, COP30, G20 (delete where applicable); how do we grow the UK economy; and can global protectionism ever be successful?

It all sounds very serious.   But fear not, because we've kept it lighthearted and tried to ignore that we're all doomed.

We've also got news from McKinsey and Magenta Associates on the use of AI tools - and it's all a bit obvious really!    And news about the German defence industry circumventing EU procurement rules; plus exciting threshold changes in the UK's public procurement and, shock - possible corruption in the Chinese defence industry.

Can you afford NOT to listen?   We don't think so.

And hope you like the blue logo!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

We get lots of questions from our listener on Procurement Says No...now you can listen to them all again in our series of mini bite-sized podcast chunks. Like dog food.  Except in headphone cans, not actual cans.  Sort of.

In episode 15 we continue a theme all about consultants and you ask - what's the wort part of being a consultant; how to tender a consulting engagement (with thanks to Liam Neilson); and how to measure the value add of a change management programme.

All of the procurement questions, all of the time.

www.procurementsaysno.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Another video which we said we'd never do.   Except this is audio only.

They're on TikTok in full glorious video.

How will I know if my supplier is lying to me - ha, no elaboration and plenty repetition.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Well, if there are themes in procurement at the moment then they are AI, cyber and something else - possibly monkeys. Rich and Ed discuss two of these in depth - including whether we'll ever have an AI procurement companion-bot.

We have news on what CAPS data is telling us now about how procurement people spend their time (same old); how Peter Smith is finding sex-bots; less chocolate on your Club (and Penguin); and THREE insightful surveys brought to you courtesy of 100 CIPS procurement people in a room in Birmingham.

We also find out that we reached "peak procurement" in 1985. Apparently.

We have more questions from listeners - this time on cyber insurance, outsourcing cyber defence and what exactly is a SOW? (Spoiler - not a pig).

Plus some incredible thought leadership to help you create a procurement vision and develop your organisation using the "Procurement Sophistication Nexus".

Plus double plus Diella, the AI procurement bot from Albania, makes an appearance (sort of).  

All this plus plus plus more crap procurement jokes.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Another video which we said we'd never do.   Except this is audio only.

They're on TikTok in full glorious video.

How will I know if my supplier is lying to me - ha, the autonomic response!



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Lots more questions from Procurement Says No - the world's best procurement podcast.

Now in a series of mini bite-sized podcast chunks.  Like dog food.

In episode 14 you ask what's the best part of being a consultant; and whether you can bluff your way in consulting (er, yes).

With thanks to Nigel Viney

All of the procurement questions, all of the time.

www.procurementsaysno.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

It's all gone a bit psychic energy crazy, as Rich and Ed invite spritual mentor and intuitive business coach Aude Firmin to talk to the dead (and accounts), do some live reiki healing and generally improve our shakras.

Channel your business strategy with Aude, improve your intuition and discover that rejection is redirection.   

Enter the land of fluffy bunnies with us - you don't need psychedelic drugs, or even a valid PO, to get some spiritual healing with Aude.

We also have some news from Starbucks and their use of AI to count stuff in warehouses; shock news as it turns out post award contract management in the UK public sector isn't brilliant; cyber attacks happening all over the place; and some waffle about the UK Government's AI IT services tender.

There'll be interruptions, mysterious phone calls, black cats and more - so tune in and have your astral projection realligned! 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Another video which we said we'd never do.   Except this is the audio-only version.

They're on TikTok in full glorious video.

Diella is the new Albanian Minister for Public Procurement and an AI bot.   She's here to take your job.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Rich and Ed are back with more news, advice and answers to the crazy goings-on in the world of procurement.

Including very exciting news from Renault - their new CEO is an ex-procurement person.  Woohoo.   News that some people will never learn - as the UK Government gives Fujitsu more contracts, worth £281m.   And some reaction to US tariffs - or it was already planned, honest -  as Mars invests $2bn in US manufacturing across its pet care and snacking division by the end of 2026.

Some legal stuff where suppliers to the public sector "win" after seeking commercially sensitive information; and "win" by being reinstated after being blacklisted.    

And lots more questions from our listener around the world - including advice on buying a trench; which is best: desk research or going out to tender when looking to optimise costs; what to do when you receive reports of modern slavery in your supply chain; and some possibly dodgy behaviour from a boss who seems to be a little too close to a supplier.


Plus a new feature "The Secret Buyer" where anonymous listeners tell us their stories of best and worst practice.  One involves a confused MD who is trying but failing to help; and one a confused business owner who thinks he's an expert negotiator but unfortunately isn't.  So mostly worst practice then.

This all works in practice but will it work in theory?





Now with incidental royalty-free background music!



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Lots more questions from Procurement Says No - the world's best procurement podcast.

Now in a series of mini bite-sized podcast chunks.  Like dog food.

In episode 13 you ask for our thoughts on Amazon Business; how many suppliers is optimum; should you use an interim or a Big4 consultant and which consultancy is best - and should you work for one???

All of the procurement questions, all of the time.

www.procurementsaysno.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Rich and Ed star on episode 56 of internationally renowned podcast "The Way We Source" - hosted by Sam Jenks and sponsored (them, not us) by Kodiac Hub - your end-to-end Supplier Relationship Management platform for strategic, sustainable and smart procurement blah, blah.

We answer the important questions:  Why does procurement say no?  Why do procurement people sometimes take themselves tooooo seriously?  Are we aligning or hindering? 

And some stuff about AI.   

And we talk about agile for procurement (or lean or continuous improvement); how easy it is to repatriate off-shore manufacturing (including some non-fact-checked spurious data); our 5 point plan for dealing with tariffs; the call to action for procurement folk ("go out and do something") and whether indeed, history will teach us anything at all.

It's also got the fabulous "TWWS" theme tune as an added bonus.   

It's lovely and someone else did all the work.  So that's super.



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We've launched into the world of short videos on TikTok.   It's another thing we said we wouldn't do.

Anyway, here's the audio-only version, for those of you who really, really don't want to look at us.

We promise this is the last of our run of terrible procurement jokes

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Procurement Says No - the world's best procurement podcast - gets lots of questions from our listeners all around the world.  

So we thought, let's put all of those questions into a series of mini bite-sized podcast chunks.  Like dog food.

In episode 12 you ask for help on creating a procurement 90 day plan (which you definately will stick to); how to save money on fuel buying; and whether using e-auctions is still a thing.

All of the procurement questions, all of the time.

www.procurementsaysno.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

Rich and Ed welcome CIPS supremo Ben Farrell and find out how the Blackthorn Rally is saving Paddington bear, giraffes and elephants; Ben's globe trotting including nearly meeting the Nigerian president, seeing just how big a typical Government Dept of Bribery & Corruption should be; and his passion for procurement - shared with CIPS volunteers around the world.

He also talks to us about the new CIPS strategy and HQ and invites us along for the ride; what's in it for mid-career procurement people; how to get from CPO to CEO; and how the public sector can surely do procurement better (spoilers - he wants to help!); whether we should ditch democracy for something that might actually work; plus global trade, tariffs and energy.

All this and re-imagining the procurement role for the future.

Fasten your seatbelt and let's "head to the storm".

www.procurementsaysno.com


https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ben-farrell-5?utm_medium=CR&utm_source=CL



https://youtu.be/zoFAeg7Aawk?si=wojYWF1MSwIvtS0u

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Rich and Ed meet Alex Jennings from Alchemie Network to discuss whether AI can save us from Trump's tariffs and global meltdown.

This is the edited audio of Alchemie's live stream from July 2025, where we discuss the latest developments in the global tariff drama - agreements which have been made, deals which are close, which countries are on the naughty step, what it all means in economic terms and what you can do about it!

We also find out whether penguins exported to the US are subject to some of the highest tariffs; which country is exporting women's garments and diamonds to the land of the orange man; and we have (almost) conclusive proof of the existence of higher intelligence from space.

Plus - can students get away with using AI in their essays and dissertations (yep, at least 88% of them anyway); news on Ferrero/Kelloggs new innovation (chocolate coated corn flakes without corn syrup possibly); how much is an American F35 bomber; Deloitte's welfare scheme to prevent stress in the workplace, and changes to non disclosure agreements which we can't talk about here.



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

We've launched into the world of short videos on TikTok.   It's another thing we said we wouldn't do.

Anyway, here's the audio-only version, for those of you who really, really don't want to look at us.

We've nearly run out of procurement jokes thankfully - here they are...

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.