Proxima

Last week, our UK teams hosted a fun and competitive quiz to fundraise for our UK charity partner Together for Short Lives! It was a fantastic night filled with plenty of friendly rivalry, with highlights including a "Proxima baby photo round", all while raising money for an important cause. A big thank you to everyone who took part and helped make it a enjoyable evening! To learn more about Together for Short Lives and the amazing work they do you can find out more here: https://bit.ly/4fVLaVF

With the UK’s hospitality and retail sectors bracing for a significant financial hit from the Autumn Budget—largely due to rising National Insurance Contributions and wage increases—many businesses might consider short-term cost-cutting measures to mitigate the impact. However, our expert Gemma Thompson MCIPS recently shared insights with Hotel Management Network cautioning against such hasty decisions. Instead of cutting costs, she recommends that businesses focus on enhancing collaboration with their supply chains. This approach can help reset commercial relationships and unlock new value, fostering long-term growth. Read more on Gemma’s insights here: https://bit.ly/3Oa3gaz #Hospitality #Retail #Proxima

We’re excited to announce a new office opening in Düsseldorf! Leading this expansion is Rene Petri, who has returned to Proxima to drive our growth efforts in Europe. The Düsseldorf office will serve as a hub for supporting our clients across the DACH region. Read more about our European expansion here: https://bit.ly/4eFSZxR #Proxima #DACHExpansion #Procurement #Supplychain

Our recent Digital Skills paper, in partnership with Edbury Daley, explores the evolving landscape of digital transformation in procurement. To dive deeper, we spoke to some of the leading voices in the field about the opportunities and challenges ahead. In this interview, Simon Geale spoke with James B., Procurement Performance Lead at Primark, to discuss how data is becoming the foundation for success in #procurement. James highlights how data readiness and emerging technologies are driving a shift towards more predictive and customer-centric procurement processes, while also addressing the importance of adaptability and change management within teams. Read the full interview here: https://bit.ly/3Zc4cla

The UK Government’s Autumn Budget places labour-related cost increases on businesses that will be felt especially hard across sectors like retail, hospitality and social care which combined employ millions. Being able to maintain profitability and protect margins at the same time as taking these increases on board will be a primary focus for leaders in these sectors. Our EVP Edward Winterschladen shares his thoughts on how businesses can protect themselves from cost pressures and find the balance between surviving the short-term and ensuring long-term productivity and growth in our latest article: https://bit.ly/3Oc8O4q

November’s Procurement Perspectives Newsletter is live! ? This month, our experts dive into the following topics shaping our business landscape: ?? An analysis of how Trump’s recent win could impact trade tariffs and reshape international supply chains ?? Highlights from our recent Digital Skills paper with @Edbury Daley, featuring insights from some of the brightest minds in digital procurement ?? Best practices in Product Lifecycle Management to enhance efficiency and sustainability, shared by @Gemma Thompson ?? Expert insights from @Al Maranon on how Cloud Service Providers help businesses reduce costs and eliminate the need for costly hardware investments. ? Read our November newsletter below:

Join our HR Manager Jennifer Winchester and a panel of experts at the Appreciation@work event, focused on equipping HR leaders and executives with data-driven strategies to build meaningful employee recognition programs. The panel will discuss how to build effective and sustainable skills for creating a workplace where every team member feels genuinely valued. Jen is passionate about finding ways to cultivate a positive and rewarding culture for our employees at Proxima. Find out more and register here to join the event: https://bit.ly/3O6nzG3

Our Senior Consultant, Justin Hyrb, CPSM, CPSD, will be speaking as a part of Institute for Supply Management's Emerging Professionals Committee today at 11 am CST! At Proxima, we’re proud of the talented people who bring enthusiasm, knowledge, and insight to everything we do. Justin is an integral part of our team and is passionate about building relationships and driving sustainable improvements in procurement. The webinar will focus on key career decisions for early professionals in the supply chain industry, including consulting and graduate programs. Listen in for Justin's insights during this important conversation: https://bit.ly/48PPHXa

With #COP29 kicking off this week, delegates from around the world are convening to assess global progress on climate change and negotiate actionable solutions. Our Scope 3 Maturity Benchmark supports organizations on their path to Net Zero and helps them play their part in corporate decarbonization. According to the latest findings from our Benchmark, although 14% of organizations have yet to set emissions targets, 86% of those that have set targets still lack sufficient visibility into their emissions. Learn more about our Scope 3 Maturity Benchmark here: https://bit.ly/3WQbN6q #Sustainability #NetZero

The recent U.S. election result will undoubtedly impact global markets and businesses will be faced with navigating a shifting political and economic landscape. Our EVP, Simon Geale, shared insights with TechRound on what a Trump administration could mean for trade relationships and international supply chains in the coming years. Simon points out that tariffs, particularly on Chinese imports, could impact global markets and push companies to rethink their supply chains in the face of an expected rise in tariffs. Read on for Simon’s full insights on what global businesses can expect and how they might adapt: https://bit.ly/3AAZZOl