News & Events

NEPO has bolstered its team with a set of new appointments and promotions as part of its NEPO 2025 strategy to help deliver the region’s ambitious growth plans.

The NEPO 2025 strategy is focused on delivering a step change in public procurement across the North East. It is focused on four key strategic themes: providing leadership, pioneering commercial and procurement, harnessing technology and innovation, and tremendous social value.

Public procurement will play a fundamental role in unlocking economic growth and driving social value outcomes, whilst assisting regional suppliers achieve their ambitions. The proposed reforms in the Procurement Bill will help the North East and Tees Valley continue to build their reputations as national leaders in public procurement.

Jenny Robins has been promoted to the senior management team as operations specialist, focusing on NEPO’s internal communications, performance management, governance, finance and HR. Vicky Owen has been appointed executive assistant to support managing director, Nicola Shelley and commercial and procurement director, Steven Sinclair.

The procurement team has two new specialists to drive two key categories of spend. Nick McDonald has been promoted to procurement specialist and will head up the ICT and financial services category. Michelle Armstrong has been promoted to procurement specialist leading the fleet category.

There are two additions to the team managing the NEPRO Framework, a managed service approach developed by NEPO that delivers a faster and compliant alternative to traditional public sector frameworks for specialist professional services and consultancy. It is used by the public sector across the UK.

Phil Hancock has been appointed as the NEPRO relationships and partnerships specialist and will manage the engagement and outward facing aspects of delivery. Joy Stafford has been appointed as NEPRO solutions performance coordinator.

Nicola Shelley, NEPO Managing Director, said:

“NEPO has an ambitious strategy which will help us deliver the region’s ambitions. We have bolstered the NEPO team to ensure that we can do this. The new roles will help the North East public sector seize these opportunities whilst delivering tangible impacts in our local communities.

“We are committed to attracting and developing talented people from within the region. I’m delighted we have strengthened the team through promotions and new additions. Jenny, Nick and Michelle, bring a wealth of experience in their new roles and will help us deliver our ambitions. Phil and Joy are great additions to the NEPRO team helping us build on our successful work across the public sector.”