Truth about Public Sector podcast

Truth About Public Sector & NHPA Podcast The Procurement Act 2023 has officially moved beyond implementation mode and so has the conversation. In this special forward‑looking episode, From Burden to Brilliance: Making PA23 Work , the Truth About Public Sector welcomes two of the sector’s most influential procurement leaders to explore what comes next for social housing. Joining host Hannah Qui...

In this episode, Matt sits down with Parul Singh , Founder of Parallel Minds , a neurodiversity consultancy shaping a more inclusive future for people working in tech and digital roles. Parul brings a rare combination of professional expertise, lived experience, and deep sector insight, challenging organisations to rethink how they support neurodivergent talent and to build environments where ever...

Is PA23 the housing sector’s biggest headache or was it long‑overdue catalyst for change? In this fast‑paced episode, Hannah Quinn‑Hill sits down with sector leaders Alan Heron (Places for People), John Wallace (Clarion), and Emma Briggs (MTVH) to unpick the reality of Public Procurement Notice 23. Together they explore the full journey: First reactions to PA23’s arrival, What PA23 actually means...

Universities sit at the frontline of shaping the next generation of public sector officers and leaders, but what does that responsibility look like in a world defined by digital transformation, shifting values, and rising complexity? In this episode, Matt Masters sits down with Claire Taylor, Vice‑Chancellor and Chief Executive at Plymouth Marjon University , to explore how higher education can bu...

In this powerful episode of The Truth About Public Sector , Hannah Quinn-Hill sits down with Simon Clarke, Managing Director of Procurement for NHS Birmingham, the Black Country & Solihull — a leader who is proving that procurement isn’t paperwork. It’s power. What unfolds is an inspiring and deeply human conversation about how one NHS system is redefining what public money can achieve. From t...

“Risk, Creativity and Collaboration: Rethinking Urban Infrastructure with CIVIC” dives into how engineering can become a catalyst for better, more human‑centred places. Matt Masters sits down with Stephen O’Malley, Chief Executive of CIVIC, to explore how their philosophy of “civility from civil engineering” challenges long‑held conventions in the built environment. In just 20 minutes, Stephen unp...

In this episode, Matt Masters sits down with Andrew van Doorn, Chief Executive of HACT , to explore what social value really means in practice, beyond procurement scoring, compliance frameworks, and glossy reporting. Together, they unpack why the sector still struggles with the concept, how organisations can shift from transactional activity to meaningful community impact, and what it takes to emb...

For years, the national housing debate has been dominated by one metric: quantity. How many homes can we build, how quickly, and at what scale. But that fixation on numbers has pushed a more fundamental question into the background, are the homes we build, manage, and retrofit actually good for people’s health? In this episode, Matt Masters is joined by Faye Sanders, Doctoral Researcher in Housing...

In this episode of The Truth About Public Sector , Matt sits down with Andrew, Chief Executive of HACT, the charity at the heart of social housing innovation for over 60 years. Together, they explore how housing can act as the backbone of cross‑sector collaboration, from health and financial inclusion to data standards and community investment. The conversation digs into the societal problems no s...

In this episode, Matt Masters sits down with Tony Mallaghan MSc CIHCM , Chief Executive of Yorkhill Housing Association and former strategic lead for Scotland’s largest council housebuilding programme. Together they explore why collaboration across public bodies, housing associations, utilities, and the private sector is no longer optional, it’s the only way to deliver homes, tackle homelessness,...

In this episode of The Truth About Public Sector , host Matt Masters sits down with James Walder , Chief Executive of North Star Housing Group , to explore what it really takes to build and sustain resilient communities in the modern public sector landscape. Drawing on North Star’s long-standing commitment to social purpose, community investment, and trauma-informed practice, Matt and James unpack...

In this episode, Matt Masters speaks with Craig Browne , Chief Executive of Citizens Advice North Staffordshire, and Amy Thomas , Head of Debt, about the escalating debt crisis gripping the region and the country at large. Over the past three years, debt cases have surged by 600% , with the organisation’s collective personal debt caseload rising from £30 million when Craig joined in March 2024 to...

In this episode of Truth About Public Sector , host Hannah Quinn-Hill speaks with Anne Costain , Chief Financial Officer at Stonewater , one of the UK’s largest social housing providers. Managing 40,000 homes for over 93,000 people, Stonewater delivers affordable rentals, shared ownership, supported living, and specialist housing for vulnerable groups—all with a mission to create thriving communit...

In this episode of The Truth About Public Sector Podcast , host Hannah Quinn-Hill sits down with Stephen Fitzgerald , Strategic Director for Finance (Section 151) at Woking Borough Council. With a career spanning decades across local government finance, Stephen has advised councils throughout England and worked closely with the Local Government Association, bringing unparalleled insight into the c...

What does it take to transform procurement from a compliance checkpoint into a strategic powerhouse? In this episode of The Truth About Public Sector , host Hannah Quinn-Hill sits down with John Wallace, Director of Procurement at Clarion Housing Group, to uncover the secrets behind building credibility, influencing stakeholders, and aligning procurement with organisational goals. From implementin...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Fiona, a seasoned procurement and transformation specialist, to explore the real-world challenges and triumphs of driving change in the public sector. Fiona shares her journey through high-impact interim roles, including her pivotal work in local authorities following their intervention period. With a focus on strategic leadership, stakeholder engagemen...

The Truth About Public Sector Host: Hannah Quinn-Hill Episode: Strategic Procurement with Nichola Cooke MCIPS In this insightful episode, Hannah Quinn-Hill sits down with Nichola Cooke MCIPS, Acting Director at STAR Procurement, to explore the evolving landscape of public sector procurement. From her early career across councils and agencies to leading one of the UK’s most innovative shared servic...

In this inspiring episode of The Truth About Public Sector , we’re joined by Andrew Russell, Assistant Director - Procurement at Stonewater Housing. Andrew opens up about his career journey, the pivotal moments that shaped his path, and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of procurement professionals. We dive into the power of self-initiated learning, the value of returning to procurem...

In this insightful episode, Hannah Quinn-Hill sits down with Sally Hopkin, Head of Procurement at Community Health Partnerships to explore the realities of leading procurement in the public sector. From her journey into procurement and her passion for public service, to the strategic priorities shaping Community Health Partnerships, Sally shares candid reflections on the challenges, opportunities,...

In this fast-paced and practical episode, host Hannah Quinn-Hill explores one of the most pressing challenges in public sector procurement today: the widening skills gap. Despite more than half of employed adults in England and Wales holding qualifications that align with their roles, a staggering 79% of organizations are still facing procurement skill shortages. Hannah examines why this gap exist...

In this episode of The Truth About Public Sector , host Hannah Quinn-Hill pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood corners of government: procurement . Joining us is Mark Pearson , Learning and Development Lead at the Crescent Purchasing Consortium , a Chartered procurement pro who's on a mission to help public institutions buy smarter and lead better. We explore the skills crisis i...

In this episode of The Truth About Public Sector , host Hannah Quinn-Hill engages in a compelling conversation with Graham Collins, Director of Proquest Consulting and Orbita Collaborative Analytics. Graham shares his transformative journey from leadership roles at multinational corporations like Diageo, Unilever, JP Morgan, and the National Australia Bank to founding his own ventures focused on e...

In this episode of The Truth About Public Sector , host Hannah Quinn-Hill sits down with Natalia Silver, Director at Local Partnerships, to explore the evolving world of local government procurement. From navigating the biggest challenges facing councils today to the opportunities presented by the new Procurement Act, Natalia shares deep insight from years of experience across transformation and c...

Discover the transformative power of social value in public sector procurement in our latest episode of "The Truth about Public Sector" podcast. We sit down with Michael McLaughlin, Group Social Value Manager at LHC Procurement Group, who brings over two decades of experience in social housing and community development. Michael has been instrumental in embedding social value into procurement pract...

Welcome back to The Truth About Public Sector with me, Hannah Quinn-Hill ! This week, I’m joined by Darren Lowe, MCIPS , Managing Director of Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) , for an eye-opening conversation on public sector frameworks, procurement changes, and the impact of the Procurement Act 2023 . What’s inside this episode? The role of CPC in supporting education & beyond . How frame...