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Ever wonder how much personal data passes through your contracts, emails, and supplier handshakes? We sat down with Sara, a compliance lead who lives at the intersection of data protection, information security, and business continuity, to translate privacy law into buyer-friendly moves you can deploy today. No jargon. No scare tactics. Just clear guidance on where risk hides and how procurement can control it.

We break down what “personal data” really means, why work email addresses qualify, and how to choose and document the correct lawful basis without painting yourself into a corner later. Sara clarifies controllers vs processors, when you need a data sharing agreement versus a data processing agreement, and why robust clauses on purpose, retention, breach reporting, and international transfers are non-negotiable. You’ll learn how to handle supplier due diligence, flow down obligations to subcontractors, and raise the bar when special category or children’s data is involved.

We also tackle AI head-on: automated decision-making rights, the need for human review, and how to think about model training data, ethics, and transparency without freezing innovation. Plus, we unpack real-world fines and breaches from British Airways to healthcare ransomware to show what goes wrong when integrity and confidentiality are an afterthought. You’ll leave with practical steps for DSAR readiness, building a living ROPA, and SME-friendly resources that cut through noise.

If you touch contracts, vendors, or data, this conversation will sharpen your instincts and your documents. Subscribe, share with a colleague who owns vendor onboarding, and leave a review to tell us your biggest data protection challenge so we can answer it next time.

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Please get in touch as we love to hear from you listeners! You can use the "text" function above or drop us on email: 2lukes1cip@gmail.com or visit our website www.letstalkprocurement.co.uk

It would also mean the world if you can drop us a cheeky 5* rating on your platform of choice,

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Ever failed an exam and felt like it defined you? We’ve been there, and today we unpack a practical, no-fluff plan to turn repeated CIPS Level 4 setbacks into momentum. Starting from Kareem’s email, we map the exact steps to recover confidence and results: how to structure essay answers under pressure, how to read examiner reports for recurring patterns, and how to practise in a way that actually sticks on test day.

We dig into timing discipline for constructive responses, including a repeatable cadence of planning, structured points, and concise conclusions that keep you on the mark scheme. You’ll hear how to convert a handful of core procurement models—STEEPLE, Porter’s Five Forces, Kraljic, and basic financial ratios—into adaptable tools, supported by short real-world examples that prove application rather than theory-dumping. For multiple choice exams, we share our favourite tactics: eliminating noise, spotting negative stems, handling compound answers, and using large question banks that mirror CIPS style to build pattern recognition and confidence.

Support matters as much as study. We talk about building a calm pre-exam routine, choosing the right environment for focus, and tapping into communities and resources that make the journey less lonely. From YouTube explainers to robust mock exams, we outline a lean toolkit and a weekly cadence to track progress. Most of all, we keep it honest and human: past attempts are data, not destiny. Ready to try again with a better plan?

If this helped, follow the show, share it with a colleague who needs a boost, and leave a quick review so more procurement pros can find us. Got a question or want feedback on your report? Email 2lukes1cip@gmail.com and we might feature it in a future episode.

Support the show

Please get in touch as we love to hear from you listeners! You can use the "text" function above or drop us on email: 2lukes1cip@gmail.com or visit our website www.letstalkprocurement.co.uk

It would also mean the world if you can drop us a cheeky 5* rating on your platform of choice,

Cya Later

Send us a text

Ever wish stakeholders called procurement first, not last? We dig into a live MCIPS Corporate Award project aimed at fixing exactly that, using three levers—procurement efficiency, process automation and behavioural insights—to make early engagement the easiest path for the business. Along the way, we tackle the hot take that the Corporate Award is the “easy route,” share what CIPS accreditation actually says, and explain why assignments still demand rigour, evidence and real organisational impact.

We start with the accreditation noise and move quickly into the practicalities of a 10,000‑word project: defining a clear problem statement, proving viability, and getting manager sign-off. Then we break down the plan to reduce late involvement by cleaning up intake, standardising templates, and using guided workflows that route requests to the right people at the right time. For legal and finance, we discuss legal-ready packs, clause playbooks, and approval timing that avoids month end. For stakeholders, we use behavioural nudges, better framing, and small design choices—defaults, reminders, progress bars—that shift habits without heavy-handed change management.

Expect grounded tactics you can copy: choose one high-friction journey, map it, set success metrics like lead time and satisfaction, pilot the new flow, and publish before-and-after results. We also share how tutor checkpoints keep momentum, why scope discipline matters, and how a crisp data story builds credibility for the next wave of change. If you’re wrestling with late buy-in, slow legal queues, or unclear approvals, this is a playbook to speed decisions and earn trust through design, automation and human psychology.

If this helped, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a teammate who’s stuck chasing sign-offs—then tell us what you’d try first.

Support the show

Please get in touch as we love to hear from you listeners! You can use the "text" function above or drop us on email: 2lukes1cip@gmail.com or visit our website www.letstalkprocurement.co.uk

It would also mean the world if you can drop us a cheeky 5* rating on your platform of choice,

Cya Later