Will Phillips

Reporter at CIPS

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Articles

Greater collaboration needed to overcome issues with freight decarbonisation

Oct 17, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

Greater collaboration between different stakeholders is needed to make progress on decaronisation efforts across road, rail and maritime freight transport. Electrification is now a “common need” across all freight modes, making it a “no-regrets low-risk investment” for both public and private entities, according to a report by research group, Decarbonising UK Freight Transport.
US hospitals forced to hunt for alternative medicines as shortages hit

Oct 17, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

Shortages of medicines and medical equipment in America is forcing medical professionals to seek alternative healthcare solutions – posing possible risk to patients – a survey has found.
First supply chain resilience agreement under IPEF released

Oct 16, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

The first agreement negotiated by the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) has been released. The agreement – ‘Relating to Supply Chain Resilience’ – comes after a year of negotiations, and is focused on increasing transparency, facilitating investment and encouraging digital standards. The IPEF was established more than a year ago as part of efforts to combat disruption, boost trade, and improve cooperation and collaboration among members.
Homes for Ukraine scheme 'contrary' to competitive procurement process

Oct 16, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

The IT system used to track Ukrainian refugees rehoused within the UK was selected “contrary” to competitive procurement, a report has found. A report by the National Audit Office (NOA), has concluded that the direct award of a contract for the scheme’s main data system may have run contrary to the principles of public procurement. Normally, open competition is demanded.
Nickel buyers urged to demand greater traceability to prevent deforestation

Oct 15, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

Deforestation by Indonesian nickel mining companies has reached levels that are seriously damaging biodiversity, with experts calling for more “lesson learning” and better buying to improve sustainability. Indonesia currently supplies around half of the world’s nickel, and an estimated 153,364 hectares of deforestation has occurred within the boundaries of the 330 mining concessions the government has given out since 2000.
Understanding procurement’s changing priorities helps mitigate disruption

Oct 15, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

Keeping track of changing procurement priorities is vital to ensure firms are up-to-date on where to upskill, future-proof, and digitalise in the face of disruption. Understanding the impact of past uncertainty, and the organisation’s response to it, is essential to building “truly robust” supply chains, said contributors on the “Thinking forward - contingency planning for future disruption” discussion.
Solving the ‘Rubik’s cube’ of electronics sourcing

Oct 15, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

Electronics procurement professionals have never had it so good in terms of their negotiating power, according to commodity data analyst Supplyframe.
UK appoints first independent anti-slavery commissioner for 18 months

Oct 15, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

The Home Office has finally appointed a new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. The appointment, of Eleanor Lyons, the current deputy Children’s Commissioner, follows 18 months where the post had been vacant – a period during which the UK government was severely criticised for “stalling” in its pledges to improve modern slavery in the supply chain.
Weather will have ‘second order’ impact on short and long-term food supplies

Oct 10, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

Extreme weather events will have increasing impacts on global food supplies in both the short and long-term, according to research. Despite UK food prices seeing a month-on-month fall for the first time in two years in September, disruption to food supplies from climate change is “far from over,” market intelligence provider The Smart Cube warned.
How Premier Inn ‘cobbled together’ resilience in the face of disruption

Oct 10, 2023 | cips.org | Will Phillips

When the UK faced bird flu-induced egg shortages last year, many businesses were unable to offer them completely. But by remaining agile, hotel chain, Premier Inn, said it managed to maintain continuity. Speaking at yesterday’s CIPS Risk and Resilience conference, Whitbread’s CPO, Ben Fricke, said the business stayed on the front foot because it resolved issues “practically not theoretically,” and to get around the fact there is often no single solution to disruption.