Social Value in Procurement Conference

As a Professor of Procurement, I am incredibly passionate about socially responsible procurement. My research is all applied, and these days it is mainly with the public sector but I am always open to new research opportunities with other sectors. Focus areas include, public procurement, embedding innovation, social value, and structured collaborative working. I have delivered multiple keynotes nationally and globally on these topics.

In 2022, I launched the Centre of Public Value Procurement which aims to grow and support the future talent pool of procurement professionals in public, private and third sectors. The Centre facilitates difficult conversations with key stakeholders and supports skills development through workshops.

In the UK, I am experienced in providing a range of procurement and collaboration support to governments and the private sector from research and engagement activities to executive teaching. I was delighted to receive a prestigious, Individual of the Year (2023) Government Opportunities Award for my contributions to public procurement in Wales.

Globally, I co-lead IRSPP (International Research Study on Public Procurement). We conduct new research approximately every two years with procurement leaders in government and policy from across the world. More information can be found on the IRSPP website.

Following a degree in Law and Japanese, Emma joined international accounting firm Arthur Andersen, where she worked in London, Leeds and Manchester offices and set up the firm’s Inward Investment practice that attracted overseas companies to locate in the UK.

In 2000, bitten by the dot.com bug, Emma left the firm to start her first business, Techlocate. After 15 months, the company was successfully sold to Tenon plc when Emma was 27. The experience of starting, growing and selling a business from a home base gave Emma the idea for Enterprise Nation which was launched in 2005 to support the flourishing number of start-ups and SMEs.

Enterprise Nation expanded to become an active small business membership community, reaching more than 800,000 businesses each year with its powerful digital business support platform. Whilst leading Enterprise Nation, Emma presented a positive campaigning voice to government and the media on behalf of partners and members.

In 2011, Emma co-founded enterprise campaign, StartUp Britain, that she ran until 2014.

Emma served as SME Representative for Crown Commercial Service from July 2016, working to encourage more small businesses to sell to the public sector and its major suppliers.

In June 2012 Emma was awarded an MBE for Services to Enterprise. Emma was awarded the rank Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2021.

Emma started as the Small Business Commissioner in June 2025.

As a Professor of Procurement, I am incredibly passionate about socially responsible procurement. My research is all applied, and these days it is mainly with the public sector but I am always open to new research opportunities with other sectors. Focus areas include, public procurement, embedding innovation, social value, and structured collaborative working. I have delivered multiple keynotes nationally and globally on these topics.

In 2022, I launched the Centre of Public Value Procurement which aims to grow and support the future talent pool of procurement professionals in public, private and third sectors. The Centre facilitates difficult conversations with key stakeholders and supports skills development through workshops.

In the UK, I am experienced in providing a range of procurement and collaboration support to governments and the private sector from research and engagement activities to executive teaching. I was delighted to receive a prestigious, Individual of the Year (2023) Government Opportunities Award for my contributions to public procurement in Wales.

Globally, I co-lead IRSPP (International Research Study on Public Procurement). We conduct new research approximately every two years with procurement leaders in government and policy from across the world. More information can be found on the IRSPP website.