Getting to Know eXceeding: The People, the Purpose and the Partnership

When people ask me what eXceeding does, I usually start by saying we’re a procurement consultancy. However, that only tells part of the story.

For me, eXceeding is about helping organisations move forward. It is about making difficult decisions clearer, taking pressure off busy teams and helping clients get more from their suppliers, contracts and budgets.

Procurement is how we do that. The relationships we build, and the difference we make through them, are what give the work its purpose.

Starting with understanding

Clients come to us with different challenges. Some need to reduce costs, some lack the subject matter expertise to run complex tenders. Others have concerns about supplier performance, contracts approaching renewal, unmanaged contracts or whether their procurement arrangements are fit for the future. Sometimes several issues are competing for attention, and knowing where to start is the biggest challenge.

That is why our work often begins with a review.

A procurement health check helps establish the current position, highlighting immediate risks, gaps and practical priorities. A more detailed maturity assessment looks deeper at procurement capability and how effectively it supports the organisation’s objectives.

These reviews give us an informed starting point. Just as importantly, they create space to listen: to understand what is working, where people feel stretched and what they want to achieve.

The outcome should be more than a report. It should give the client a clear sense of what needs to happen next.

Turning a review into ongoing support

Identifying an opportunity is one thing. Finding the time, resources and expertise to act on it is another.

This is where we can help over the longer term.

Through our managed service, we can build on the review and help turn agreed priorities into practical action. Rather than treating each challenge as an isolated project, we can work alongside a client on a continuing programme of procurement activity and continuous improvement.

Depending on what the organisation needs, this might include sourcing, tendering, creating frameworks, contract negotiation or supplier management. The review helps establish the priorities; the ongoing relationship allows us to work through them together and adapt as circumstances change.

For me, that continuity matters. There is real value in having someone to turn to who already understands your organisation, the pressures your team faces and what you are working towards.

Not every client needs a managed service. Sometimes a focused piece of work is exactly the right answer, like providing subject matter expertise or extra capacity. The important thing is matching our support to what will genuinely help.

The people make the difference

Having been at eXceeding for two years, one of the things I’ve most enjoyed is being part of a team where people are so willing to help each other.

I’ve seen colleagues share ideas, bring different perspectives and take time to work things through together. That willingness to chip in makes it a great place to work. It also means that, when we’re considering how best to support a client, we can draw on different people’s experience and give the approach real thought.

That starts before a project even begins. The conversations about what a client needs, and how we can help, are themselves a team effort. It is something I’ve really come to appreciate during my time here.

For me, that collaborative spirit is an important part of what we stand for. Alongside the expertise, there needs to be a willingness to listen, be honest about what is achievable and follow through on what we agree to do.

What eXceeding means to me

For me, it comes back to the combination of people, expertise and genuine care for the work we do.

Whether that help starts with a review, focuses on a particular project or develops into a longer-term relationship, there is a shared commitment to understanding what the client needs and finding a practical way forward.

That is the eXceeding I’ve come to know, and why I enjoy being part of the team.

Contact us to find out more.