Conversations that matter for procurement and supply chain professionals. CIPS Futures, the official podcast from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, explores the forces that are shaping the future of the profession with global experts who will make you think differently.
Whether you're a chief procurement officer, category buyer or supply chain manager, the profession is stepping into the spotlight at a time of profound change. Join us every month to access fresh perspectives, step inside strategic minds and hear from global leaders you won't hear anywhere else. Expect actionable advise as we cover the big topics - from managing supply chain risk and the impact of AI, to sustainable sourcing and the future skillsets you'll need to succeed - all with a practical lens.
If you're passionate about the future of procurement and supply, CIPS Futures is here to keep you inspired and informed.
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Episodes
Mar 31, 2026
Mar 31, 2026
32 min
A critical supplier goes into administration. There are only eight weeks of stock left, yet it will take nine months to switch to a new supplier. What would you do? In this episode, we hear how the NHS Supply Chain's head of supply chain resilience, Tom Brailsford, and his team responded to ensure hospitals and healthcare providers never ran out of the stock they needed after an essential hand hygiene supplier went bust.
Brailsford also explains how the NHS Supply Chain have transitioned to a sophisticated resilience model to ensure that 600,000 healthcare products and services a year make it to the frontline of patient care. Plus, we uncover the "cliff-edge" risks keeping healthcare procurement professionals up at night and how a UK cross-government initiative is helping to map multi-tier supplier risk.
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