Gemma Waring is a qualified bid writer, trainer, and coach. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Gemma has worked in the sector for 20 years and her career has been marked by exceptional achievements due to her determination to succeed and her passion for empowering others.

A beacon of diligence and reliability, Gemma is recognised for setting and upholding high standards. Her enthusiasm for the procurement sector is infectious, propelling her to stay abreast of industry developments and generously share her knowledge, including being a key played in the roll out of the Procurement Act 2023. Gemma's dedication recently earned her the prestigious title of Runner Up in the APMP UK's annual awards in the Supplier of the Year category and seen her continuously develop her own skills as an advocate of life-long learning.

At the helm of G Waring Consulting Ltd since 2019, Gemma orchestrates success in public sector tendering and procurement projects – securing new business and successful outcomes across the board. Notable accomplishments include bid writing endeavours for blue-chip companies, securing multimillion pound contracts, working with Scottish Government on a national training campaign, and securing successful outcomes in complex multi supplier / multi lot frameworks and DPSs.

In her role as Lead Trainer and Skills Coach for the Bid Coordinator Apprenticeship, Gemma also runs multiple cohorts, shaping training content, and assessing learners for long term development and supporting new entrants to the sector to grow and flourish.

Gemma Waring is not just a consultant and trainer; she is a driving force behind transformative change, infusing every project with unmatched enthusiasm and expertise.

Paul is Regional Procurement Manager for CPC (Consortium Procurement Construction), the Northern regional hub of the London Housing Consortium Procurement Group (LHC PG). A seasoned procurement professional, Paul is experienced in strategic procurement and shaping innovative solutions for public sector clients. Having worked across the LHC PG regional businesses, he possesses a wealth of knowledge and a clear understanding of the needs, demands and challenges of the modern procurement environment.

Paul is a firm believer in embedding social value at every stage of the procurement process. He is particularly passionate about ensuring even the lowest-value contracts contribute to tangible, deliverable outcomes for communities. By working in partnership with our Northern clients, Paul aims to support them in maximising the impact of their procurement strategies while delivering robust, compliant, and value-driven solutions.

CPC serves the North East, North West, and Yorkshire & Humberside, and provides access to LHC PG’s extensive range of innovative procurement frameworks. CPC delivers a simple core service. We bring buyers and suppliers together to build, refurbish and maintain social housing and public property more efficiently and cost effectively, and to benefit the local communities we work in. Our frameworks are procured in accordance with The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and are free to use.

Rikesh Shah is a Head of Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre – IPEC at Connected Places Catapult since October 2023. Previously, Rikesh was an Open Innovation and Open Data expert at PA Consulting, and prior to that he was the Head of Open Innovation at Transport for London where he created the organisation’s first Innovation Hub, recognised as one of the best in the public sector in Europe, and he also oversaw the organisation’s world-renowned open data initiative bringing £130m worth of value per annum.

Rikesh is a guest lecturer at the Royal College of Arts and a Mobility Tech Innovator at Harvard University. He is a non-executive advisor at Cities Today, London Transport Museum and See.Sense. He also previously served on the Mayor of London’s Smart London Board, co-chaired the Data and Digital Board at the Institute of Civil Engineering.

Alison, a Partner and the head of Procurement at Muckle LLP, is a seasoned expert in public procurement. With a distinguished track record, she has actively participated in numerous high-profile procurement exercises, representing both the public sector and bidders alike. Alison's extensive experience encompasses advising on procurement for significant outsourcing initiatives, urban regeneration projects, and public/private partnering arrangements. Additionally, she provides valuable counsel on procurement challenges, contributing to a team that has effectively pursued and defended major procurement claims.

Paul Bullard, Product Director SFG20. A subject matter expert on Facilities Management and CAFM, Paul brings 25 years of experience working within the Computer Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) Industry where he has been personally responsible for some of the world’s largest and most prestigious software implementations.

Paul has held various technical, operational and strategic positions and has for the past 9 Years been in a Product leadership role, bringing market leading software to the Facilities Management Industry. He achieved the Certificate of Facilities Management with the FMA, holds an Associate Qualification with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and has a long-standing membership with the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA)