Go4Growth podcast. A discussion covering various topics/issues surrounding working within the Public Sector as a provider.
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June 15, 2026Episode 2112 min
Episode 21 - Social Value
Social Value has become a key consideration in public sector procurement, but what does it actually mean in practice?In this episode of the Go4Growth Podcast, Louise and Lauren explore the growing importance of Social Value and how organisations can use procurement to deliver wider economic, social, and environmental benefits.Joining the discussion is Lynsey from Nexus Multi-Academy Trust, who shares the story of an innovative Social Value project that transformed an unused space into a fully functioning café. Delivered through collaboration with suppliers and supported by Social Value commitments, the project has created meaningful work experience opportunities for students while strengthening community connections across the Trust.Through this real-life case study, the episode highlights how effective procurement can deliver far more than goods and services, creating lasting positive impact for individuals, organisations, and communities.
May 18, 2026Episode 2013 min
Episode 20 - People Behind the Process
In this episode of the Go4Growth Podcast, Lauren and Louise explore the human side of procurement and challenge some of the most common misconceptions surrounding the profession.From perceptions of procurement as “box-ticking” and bureaucratic, to the reality of balancing fairness, value, risk, relationships, and outcomes, this conversation takes listeners behind the scenes of public sector procurement and the people working within it.With a relaxed and honest conversation, Lauren and Louise discuss the pressures faced on all sides of the process and why understanding, transparency, and collaboration are essential to making procurement work well.This episode is a reminder that behind every process, bid, and procurement decision are people trying to achieve the best possible outcomes for the communities they serve.To find out more about Go4Growth and how we could support your organisation, visit Go4Growth or email us at support@go4growth.co.uk
March 6, 2026Episode 1920 min
Episode 19 - AI and the Bid Blunder Files.
Episode SummaryIn this episode of the Go4Growth Podcast, Lauren and Louise explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in bid writing and tender submissions.Using a series of light-hearted “Bid Blunder Files”, they highlight some of the most common mistake’s organisations make when relying too heavily on AI — from American spellings and invented achievements to generic responses and tone inconsistencies.While AI can be a powerful tool to support bid writing, the episode explains why it should never replace your organisation’s real knowledge, experience, and authenticity. Lauren and Louise share practical tips on how to use AI responsibly, safely, and effectively when preparing tender responses — helping you avoid common pitfalls and submit stronger, more credible bids.Top Tips from the Episode1. Always review AI content carefullyAI-generated responses should never be submitted without thorough review and editing. Treat AI as a starting point, not the finished answer.2. Check for American spelling and terminologyUK public sector buyers quickly notice American spellings like organization, center, or optimization. Always run a British English check before submitting.3. Never trust AI with facts about your organisationAI can confidently invent awards, statistics, services, or history. Always verify every claim and ensure you can evidence anything included in your bid.4. Replace generic wording with real examplesAI responses can sound professional but vague. Strengthen answers by including specific examples, local context, and real outcomes from your organisation.5. Be cautious of copyrighted or sourced materialAI can unintentionally reproduce or paraphrase copyrighted guidance, frameworks, or policy content. Always ensure you own or can reference the material used.6. Keep the tone clear and consistentAI can switch between corporate jargon and overly dramatic language. Aim for clear, professional, practical writing suitable for public sector evaluators.7. Give AI the right information to work fromThe best results come when you feed AI accurate facts, real examples, and key points first — then ask it to help structure or refine your content.8. Use AI as support, not a replacementAI works best for:Structuring responsesTurning bullet points into narrativeEditing for clarity or word limitsBut it should never replace your expertise, evidence, or organisational story.9. Always check tender rules on AI useSome contracting authorities restrict or prohibit AI use in bid submissions. Always read the tender instructions carefully before using AI tools.
February 5, 2026Episode 1820 min
Episode 18 - Behind the Bid
What really makes a bid stand out to an evaluator?In this episode, Lauren and Louise go behind the scenes of the bidding process to share what buyers actually look for when scoring submissions. Drawing on real evaluation experience, they unpack common mistakes, practical tips, and simple changes that can help suppliers write clearer, stronger, and more scorable bids.Ideal for SMEs, VCSEs, and anyone navigating public sector procurement.
October 23, 202448 min
Episode 17 - The Power of Procurement in Education
In this episode of the Go4Growth podcast our host Gill wears a different hat. One of the voluntary roles Gill has is as Trustee of a Multi Academy Trust and today she is joined by the Head of Business Transformation for the Trust (Nexus) and they talk through the role of procurement in Education through the lens of both practitioners and governance.They talk through the journey Nexus has been on from a procurement perspective, including how the Procurement Excellence Programme (PEP) has changed how Procurement thinks and acts and the impact it has had so far and will have in the future. They consider the role procurement plays in supporting teaching and learning, and share a specific project which is based around Biophilic Design. The impacts are pretty staggering! Gill & Lana also discuss how procurement can align with the employability agenda? Connecting suppliers and students can be really powerful and Lana shares some of the successes and future plans in this area. We hope you find it an empowering, inspiring and interesting conversation about the power good procurement can bring to education and we'd love to know what you think. Equally, if you're a supplier who would like to know more about supporting employability opportunities through the many ways this can be done, give us a shout at support@go4growth.co.uk and we'll get chatting!
September 2, 202432 min
Episode 16 - Marketplace Development for Procurement & Commissioners
In this episode, we listen to a podcast version of a recording we made for the CIPS West Yorkshire Branch event back in May 2024.You'll hear Go4Growth co-founder Gillian Askew talk through some facts and stats about the challenges and barriers to working with SMEs through the procurement lens and similarly how the marketplace themselves view the barriers and challenges to working with the public sector. There's a look at some research findings from research projects Go4Growth has done and some top tips for buyers and commissioners who want to support the SME marketplace. To finish off we explore the use of AI in bids (amongst other support) and the Procurement Act 2023 and how it could impact SMEs going forward. If anyone would like to have a look at the iGov survey we did with YPO and the broader results and insights it gave, you can find it here: https://www.ypo.co.uk/public-sector/go4growth - Public Sector Attitudes to Working With SME SuppliersWe hope you find it useful and as always if you'd like to chat more, get in touch at gill@go4growth.co.uk
August 1, 202436 min
Episode 15 - Procurement Act 2023
In this episode founder of Go4Growth Gillian Askew talks through some of the key areas of the Procurement Act 2023 which comes into force in October 2024. In the podcast you can hear about some of the key changes such as: The bidding processEnhanced transparencyMEAT vs MATSupplier performance and contract managementThe Central Digital PlatformDynamic markets and frameworksGillian discusses how the Act will change things for smaller businesses, looking at what the current challenges and barriers are and the impact that the Act will have. There are lots of reasons for real optimism that Gillian explores discussing the positives of change for smaller organisations. There is also information on how to get prepared for the changes in the regulations with some guidance for both procurement and the marketplace about how barriers to entry and growth can be removed.
July 9, 2024Episode 1447 min
Episode 14 - The route to Carbon Net Zero
In this episode co-founders of Go4Growth Gill and Jimmy discuss the Carbon Net Zero. They discuss how critical this agenda is and how the focus has really increased over recent years. Jimmy talks through what it's all about and gives an overview of Scopes 1, 2 and 3 Did you know that 80-90% of the total carbon of an organisation will be in one part of Scope 3 emissions? In the Purchased Goods and Services. It's no wonder that Go4Growth, like others, are focussing on building support for both clients and the marketplace in this area. They talk about the programme Go4Growth has developed and how it helps public sector organisations and both their supply base and the local business and voluntary sector communities calculate the carbon footprint baseline and create and deliver a government compliant carbon reduction plan. They talk about data, about how crucial it is and how they are working with primary data (actual data) as opposed to secondary data, which is made up of averages and how this de-coupling the data from spend is really transforming the actual view of the carbon reduction challenge ahead of us. It's also crucial in helping to report on accurate progress, and impact of the decisions and activities being undertaken. As is always the way with Go4Growth, the programme is fully funded and so therefore free at point of use for the marketplace. Not just free for the first plan, or for a finite period of time, free at point of use forever. We hope you find this podcast useful, give it a listen and tell us what you think. If we can help you with your carbon reduction priorities, get in touch at gill@go4growth.co.uk
February 14, 2024Episode 1334 min
Go4Growth podcast - Episode thirteen.
Episode 13 of the Go4Growth podcast is now live.Episode 13 see's your usual hosts, Gill and Lauren discuss Procurement Reform. The pair discuss the changes expected to come as the Procurement Act 2023 comes into play and how providers to the public sector can prepare for these changes and make the most of resources available.In addition to procurement reform, Gill and Lauren introduce Go4Growths latest social media venture, Tik Tok. Tune into the podcast to find out more about our plans for Tik Tok or simply find us on the platform @go4growth .To stay up to date with Go4Growth events visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/go4growth-34413476799
November 17, 2023Episode 1243 min
Go4Growth podcast - Episode twelve.
Episode 12 is the third instalment in our Procurement Heroes series and although we might be a bit biased, we think this is another really good one! This time, Gill chats to Mike Fairbotham and Paul Smith about their careers in procurement, how they got into it and the kinds of changes they’ve both seen in our profession over the years. The group also talked about what still needs to change to really elevate procurement and to make sure it is fit for the world we live in both now and in the future. Connect with Mike and Paul on Linked In:Paul Smith: linkedin.com/in/pdsmithMike Fairbotham: linkedin.com/in/mikefairbotham
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