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Our bespoke procurement services provide you with access to experienced practitioners, promptly and efficiently meeting your needs when required.
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Create nurturing and inspiring spaces with our SEND range of products, handpicked to support key development.
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Community Playthings collection at YPO
Our Community Playthings range is 100% designed and manufactured in the UK. Each purchase includes tool-free assembly, a 15-year warranty, and a two-week delivery lead time.
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Millhouse at YPO
Browse a huge range of high-quality, handcrafted indoor and outdoor furniture and resources from Millhouse. Get a lifetime guarantee on hundreds of early years furniture items!
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Shop the cosy collection at YPO
We're excited to be working in partnership with Cosy, a renowned supplier of high quality and imaginative products. Shop the full collection!
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TTS most loved at YPO
You can now shop your favourite TTS products YPO! Discover a full range of high-quality products that help you to create inclusive learning environments that motivate and inspire young minds.
Shop now
Winter essentials products
Shop winter maintenance essentials, stocking everything you need to keep your premises safe and secure from winter weather.
Shop now
Seasonal crafts banner
Explore our selection of seasonal craft products and resources, perfect for a range of festivities and celebrations. Discover card making supplies, glitter, sequins, tissue paper, ribbons and more.
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Kit out your classroom and shop 100s of new products at great value prices.
Shop now
It's now even easier to choose your exercise books
Find your exercise books in no time with our new exercise book selector. Pick your size, ruling, colour, and number of pages, then simply add to basket!
YPO food waste
YPO's food waste management frameworks have been created to support local authorities on their journey of food waste separation to reduce landfill emissions. Find out more here.
Find out more
YPO exercise book price drop
We've dropped our prices across a wide selection of exercise books. Durable quality and UK made, we stock the largest range of papers, colours and sizes.
Shop now
Bulk discounts, stock up and save
Stock up and save with our selection of bulk discount options on a range of popular products and brands.
Shop now
YPO refillable markers
Be one of the very first schools to experience our remarkable refillable whiteboard marker - sustainable stationery that keeps all your lessons flowing.
Shop now
YPO classpacks, buy more for less
Make your budget go further with our collection of classpacks, and save on a range of classroom essentials.
Shop now
Shop the YPO range and find what you need for less
Switch and save with our YPO range, with hundreds of products to choose from.
Shop now
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bespoke procurement services
Our bespoke procurement services provide you with access to experienced practitioners, promptly and efficiently meeting your needs when required.
Explore now
Explore our latest energy updates
We know that securing energy contracts can be a complex and difficult process, but we are here to help you. Explore our Energy Hub to find help and guidance, latest updates and more.
Explore now

Name: Joe Holland

Position: Category Buyer

How long have you been working at YPO: Just over eight years.

What do you like most about working at YPO?

YPO gives back to the public sector and operates as a not-for-profit organisation, in recent times of austerity YPO has been a real helping hand to customers across the public sector, helping them achieve best value. YPO provides staff excellent opportunities to progress and flexibility to push ourselves, as well as having a nice, friendly atmosphere to work in.

What are your main responsibilities?

I manage several frameworks within the ICT category, such as Technology Hardware and Software, Network Connectivity and Telecommunications and ICT Managed Service. Managing these frameworks means that my main responsibilities are to review supplier performance through quarterly meetings, market research, marketing the frameworks and ensuring they remain fit for purpose.

Other responsibilities also include customer support, by providing advice on using the frameworks and which procurement route will be beneficial to them whilst also providing up-to-date market insight to aid their procurement journey. Other duties include providing support to the wider ICT team and planning for future frameworks, to ensure that we have relevant frameworks that support customers and their ICT procurement needs.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part is to keep up with the high pace of innovation and change within the industry. The biggest challenge facing the ICT team now are issues throughout the supply chain, which is why it is important that I have regular contact with suppliers to get the latest information.

Describe your role in three words: Challenging, fun, exciting.

How did you get involved in procurement?

I started my career at YPO as an apprentice working within the educational product section of the business and quickly learned all about procurement from my time as an apprentice. From that, I was able to progress within YPO, specifically in the energy team and now in the next chapter as a category buyer within ICT.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I am a season ticket holder at Leeds United, who will win the Premier League in the next year or two! Before the world of COVID, I liked to go on city breaks across Europe to experience different cultures and try new food!

 

If you enjoyed this read, you can find out more about our employee’s and how they found themselves at YPO, as well as their job responsibilities and progress throughout the business. Meet the YPO team now!

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Joe Holland

Category Buyer for ICT
YPO