Regional business sees costs fall by up to 30% after expert-led procurement overhaul
When rapid growth creates complexity, costs can quickly spiral and that’s exactly what happened to one industrial testing company based in the North of England.
With operations spread across multiple sites and more than 7 million tests delivered every year to over 5,000 clients, this high-volume business faced a familiar challenge: procurement had become fragmented, inefficient and expensive.
Enter Neil Grime, accredited UK Business Advisor and Chair of UKBA’s Northern Group. With years of hands-on business experience and a sharp eye for commercial improvement, Neil helped the company streamline its procurement process, reduce risk and unlock major cost savings.
From Fragmented Buying to Focused Strategy
Neil’s brief was clear:
- Cut unnecessary costs
- Create a standardised procurement approach
- Reduce supplier risk and improve service
His first step? A deep dive into the business’s spend data across key categories: lab consumables, industrial gases, freight, packaging, recruitment and more.
He visited every site to understand their specific needs, service expectations and current supply challenges. This ground-level view, backed by robust data, gave him a clear path forward.
The Results: 15%–30% Cost Savings and Smarter Supplier Choices
Neil’s practical approach paid off. His procurement recommendations:
- Cut spending by up to 30% in key categories
- Reduced the number of suppliers used, improving efficiency and buying power
- Built a broader, more resilient recruitment supply chain for long-term growth
The client summed it up:
“The consultant’s reports were detailed and clearly based on a robust process. Neil was professional, flexible and focused on delivering what we needed.”
Regional Strength, National Expertise
This success story is just one of many from the UKBA Northern Group. Covering Cumbria, Northumberland, Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Yorkshire, Humberside, Durham and North Wales, our advisors bring real-world experience and results-driven advice.
Whether you’re struggling with costs, supply chain risk, slow growth or digital transformation, we’ve got the expertise and the local insight to help.
Let’s Talk About Your Business
At UK Business Advisors, we match you with independent experts who understand your sector, your region, and your ambition. If your procurement process is out of control—or if you simply want to know whether it could be better—let’s talk.
Contact us today for a confidential, no-obligation conversation.