The Procurement Myth Countdown - Christmas Special

Episode notes

Welcome to a festive edition of Powering Procurement. To close out 2025, Sian and Gareth unwrap the top 12 myths that continue to shape perceptions of procurement across both public and private sectors. Drawing on insights from this year’s standout guests, including leaders from the FCA and the Cabinet Office, they explore why procurement is far more than cost cutting, why strong supplier relationships matter, why sustainability is now a strategic must, and how modern procurement teams influence business direction at the highest level. From the pitfalls of relying on spreadsheets to the growing role of software, from misconceptions about public vs private sector procurement to the all-too-common belief that procurement “slows things down,” this episode tackles the assumptions that hold the profession back. And of course, they finish with the biggest myth of all: that procurement is boring . With stories of risk, innovation, sustainability, competitive negotiation and even sourcing thousands of bottles of sparkling wine from Welsh vineyards, Gareth proves otherwise.