Meet a CCS Procurement Team Lead
We continue our journey through CCS by introducing Louise Cartwright, our Procurement Team Lead at HQ in Andover. In this segment, we not only get to know Louise but also delve into the world of procurement and its future direction.
Louise, who is happy to be known as Lou, joined CCS 2 months ago and we thought it would be good to hear from someone new to the business. Lou made a memorable entrance by sending a “Hello, I’m here!” email along with a photo of herself, encouraging colleagues to connect. “When I move around our various offices, I make it a point to say hello to people,” Lou said. “The introductory email with my picture was to show who I am. Please come and talk to me, and I will do the same. I believe more people in the business should be familiar with each other.”
We couldn’t agree more, which is why we started this series to introduce the people of CCS.
Procurement is a crucial part of CCS. Lou explained, “Some people think procurement is just about buying things. How hard can that be? There’s much more to it though. Procurement, as a discipline, is relatively new. I have a professional qualification from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. It’s about teaching a standard approach to procurement, so everyone in the field speaks the same language. This consistency is making a huge difference.”
Louise emphasized that procurement is more complex than it seems. “Anyone can find the cheapest item, but it’s not just about that. Sometimes buying cheap means buying twice! It’s about buying well and efficiently, getting the right item at the right price, and ensuring the supplier can deliver as needed. This applies to everything we use, from heat pumps to small packs of screws.”
Lou is enjoying the fast pace at CCS. With five years of procurement experience at her previous company, she’s no stranger to the role. “I’ve noticed a few issues with continuity in some of our processes. CCS has grown so quickly that it hasn’t quite caught up with itself yet, leading to inconsistencies between teams. A clearly defined process will improve this,” she said.
Louise has been brought into the company for this very reason. CCS realised a specialist was needed and took action to ensure that things are done properly and efficiently.
Q&A – Getting to Know Louise
What are the most rewarding parts of your role at CCS?
“I enjoy everything so far. I like the pace and the freedom to make changes. Leading from the front and taking people along on the journey with me requires a certain amount of freedom and autonomy. The trust from senior management is significant. They picked me for my skill set and now let me get on with it.”
How do you see or hope to see things develop with procurement at CCS?
“I think we need more expansion and are actively recruiting for a third member of our admin team. This will help us offer better internal service. Once this role is filled, we’ll reassess the business needs and see if additional resources are required.”
How could CCS improve to make your role easier?
“With the rapid growth, everyone has been focused on daily tasks. We need to raise our heads and think about long-term goals and how to make things easier. This shift is starting to happen and will make everyone’s life easier.”
About Louise Outside of CCS
What music genre do you like to listen to?
“I enjoy various music genres, but currently, I’m into the music of my teenage years and I was a noughties grunge kid —Nirvana, System of a Down, Sum 41, Blink 182, and Linkin Park. I’ve also gotten into country music recently.”
What do you do outside of work? Any interests or hobbies?
“I have a second job at a pub, which I love for the social aspect. I enjoy walking my two dogs and have recently gotten into Lego. I’m currently building Stitch.”
What’s your favourite type of food?
“Grated cheese, grated apple, and crisps. If I don’t know what to eat, that’s my go-to. Not in a sandwich, though—half the plate is grated cheese, the other half is grated apple, with a packet of crisps.”
What’s your favourite country to visit?
“I’ve travelled quite a bit. Australia was amazing, especially spending New Year’s Eve on a boat in Sydney Harbour watching the fireworks. I also loved South Africa for its wildlife and scenery. I’d like to explore Eastern Europe, where my family is from, and tour Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.”
Thanks to Louise for taking the time to chat with us. If you’re interested in joining the Procurement team or exploring other job vacancies, visit correctcs.co.uk/join.
If you would like to introduce yourself in a "Meet CCS" article and help people to better understand your role within the business, please email ian.pearson@correctcs.co.uk
