Why I Started Procure-IQ

When people ask me why I started Procure-IQ, the honest answer is this: I started it because watching good businesses leak money, time and sanity through messy procurement finally drove me up the wall – and I realised I could actually do something to help.

The Moment It Clicked

After more than 20 years in procurement and commercial roles, a pattern became impossible to ignore.

Smart businesses were juggling dozens of suppliers and contracts, but no one could clearly answer, “Where is the money actually going?”

Processes that once worked were now slowing people down, creating bottlenecks, and turning simple decisions into mini soap operas.

Leaders knew they needed senior procurement capability, but could not justify another full-time headcount.

At some point, “someone should fix this” turned into “alright, I’ll fix this – but I’ll do it my way.”

Why I Chose This Path

Procure-IQ exists because procurement can and should be both strategic and human.

Businesses deserve clear, practical advice – not 80-page slide decks that impress everyone or put them to sleep (in equal measure) and change nothing.

Teams deserve a partner who can roll up their sleeves, translate complexity into plain English, and make procurement feel less like red tape and more like a lever for growth.

Starting Procure-IQ meant stepping away from corporate job titles and building a practice focused on results, honesty, and long-term relationships, rather than buzzwords and theatre.

What I Wanted Procure-IQ to Be

From day one, the vision was simple: “procurement with personality.”

A place where businesses get measurable outcomes: real savings, stronger contracts, better supplier performance – not just “insights”.

A way to bring structure and scalability to processes without drowning everyone in bureaucracy or yet another over-engineered system.

Underneath the humour and straight-talking style is a serious commitment to integrity, commercial rigour, and making sure procurement actually supports how the business runs day to day.

The People Side | The Part That Really Matters

One of the biggest reasons Procure-IQ exists is people – the ones coming up behind me in the profession, as much as the clients in front of me.

Mentors changed the trajectory of my own career, so building “Step Up Sessions” into Procure-IQ was non-negotiable – a free mentoring program to help the next generation find their feet in procurement.

Testimonials from colleagues and stakeholders over the years consistently pointed to the same things: commercial acumen, energy, and an ability to bring very different personalities together to get difficult things done.

In other words, this business isn’t just a vehicle for client work; it is a way to give back to a profession that has given me a lot.

Why It Still Excites Me

Today, Procure-IQ lets me do the work I care about, challenging the outdated perception of procurement as price-driven and rigid, and repositioning it as a trusted partner within a business.

Helping a business get visibility over spend, fix clunky processes, or turn a strained supplier relationship into a genuine partnership is endlessly satisfying.

Being “on-demand” means clients get senior capability when it counts, without the overhead, and I get to stay close to the action instead of buried in internal politics.

So if we were sitting across from each other with a coffee and you asked, “Why did you start Procure-IQ?”, the answer is: to cut the faff, fix the leaks, champion good people, and prove that procurement can be sharp, human and a whole lot of fun. All at the same time.