How Procurement Can Save a Bankrupt City with John Coyne
February 4, 2025
In this episode of Powering Procurement, hosts Sian Lloyd and Gareth Burch are joined by John Coyne, Director of Commercial and Procurement at Birmingham City Council. Together, they dive into John's decades-long career, the power of procurement in driving social and economic impact, his vision for Birmingham’s future, and why AI and data are the next frontiers for public sector procurement.
In this episode of Powering Procurement, hosts Sian Lloyd and Gareth Burch are joined by John Coyne, Director of Commercial and Procurement at Birmingham City Council. Together, they dive into John's decades-long career, the power of procurement in driving social and economic impact, his vision for Birmingham’s future, and why AI and data are the next frontiers for public sector procurement.
John's career in commercial and procurement spans over three decades across diverse sectors. He began his career in the UK working in Irish tourism for 12 years before becoming the first Commercial Director at Liverpool Football Club. For the past 15-18 years, he has focused on public sector procurement, most recently serving in a senior procurement role with the Welsh government before taking his current position at Birmingham City Council in late 2023, John is responsible for transforming Birmingham Council's procurement function following the authority's bankruptcy declaration.
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Episode Highlights:
- [11:37] - Future-Proofing Procurement: Procurement in Birmingham is undergoing a major shift, moving beyond just finding the cheapest option to focusing on long-term value-creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and ensuring sustainability. Inspired by successful strategies in Wales, the new approach prioritizes collaboration with suppliers, engaging small and medium enterprises, and aligning procurement with broader social and economic goals. The challenge ahead is modernizing the procurement function, ensuring strong contract management, and unifying Birmingham’s many arms-length organizations under a shared strategy.
- [18:16] - AI and Data in Public Procurement: AI and data analytics are game-changers in procurement, especially in the public sector, where digital adoption has lagged. AI can handle routine tasks, freeing up skilled professionals for strategic decision-making. However, it lacks creativity and the ability to drive well-being impacts in procurement. The key is to embrace AI for what it does best while focusing human expertise where it truly matters. Additionally, leveraging data more effectively is crucial, as better tracking and reporting on procurement impact will drive smarter decisions, improve transparency, and ensure long-term value creation.
- [22:15] - The Power of Procurement in Social Impact: Public procurement is evolving, and collaboration is the key to maximizing impact. Birmingham City Council is focused on embedding sustainability, social value, and smarter spending by working closely with schools, healthcare providers, and neighboring authorities. By leveraging data, AI, and digital platforms, they aim to eliminate inefficiencies, drive transparency, and ensure funds are used effectively.
Episode Resources:
- Powering Procurement is brought to you by https://atamis.co.uk/
- How Atamis is supporting public bodies through to TPP go live https://atamis.co.uk/public-procurement-reform/
- John Coyne on LinkedIn
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