Speaker Profiles

Lucy Jeynes MA Cantab MBIFM MioD FRSA
Larch Consulting

Lucy is a Founding Director of Larch Consulting Limited. Her experience of public sector procurement and EU legislation began some 15 years ago when she worked at Crown Agents, where she was co-author of “Understanding The EU Procurement Directives” and delivered training to public sector procurement staff around the UK in the implementation of the new legislation.

Lucy has been Project Director of all Larch’s public sector procurement projects, including the recent emda Supplier Development Service feasibility study; two Fit To Supply programmes (one focused on BAME businesses and one focused on women-owned SMEs,) carrying out detailed diagnostics and mentoring of 100 businesses; and the SEEDA Go-Public Programme for Social Enterprise. She has recently been delivering workshops for a number of local authorities as part of their Supporting People programmes; assisting providers of housing-related care services develop an understanding of the public procurement processes and competitive tendering procedures. Lucy is currently working on a new project with Nottinghamshire County Council to help the organisation understand how it can improve its engagement with local suppliers.

Caroline Plane BA (Hons)
Larch Consulting

Caroline has been a Consultant with Larch Consulting Limited for five years, during which time she has worked on a number of supply chain consultancy projects including Advising the Refugee Housing Association on EU Procurement Directives and Development of Tender Documents; completing an OJEU Tender for FM Services for the University of London; and the Development of an On-line Procurement Library for Groundworks.

Caroline was Lead Consultant for the emda Supplier Development Service feasibility study and the SEEDA Go-Public Programme for Social Enterprise, and has delivered a series of training events and individual diagnostic sessions for Social Enterprises across South-East England. She has also delivered workshops and presentations to SMEs on behalf of emda, Alliance for Enterprise, Food & Drink Forum, Business Link West Midlands, Built to Compete, Lambeth Council, Croydon Enterprise and Supply London.

Ian Heptonstall
Managing Director - Business to Business

Ian is the owner and Managing Director of Business to Business Exhibitions Ltd. He has over 18 years of experience supplying into all areas of the public sector, including local authorities, central government departments, regional development agencies and UK Trade & Investment. He is also a framework consultant to the London Development Agency and UK Trade & Investment on SME access to new markets.

Ian was a member of the Small Business Services SME best practice working group and has presented to the Parliamentary Trade & Industry Committee and European Parliament all party SME group on barriers that SMEs face in accessing supply chains.

Ian has delivered over 50 public sector opportunity awareness events.