Public sector procurement expert Ruth Long, has been newly appointed as Procurement Manager NEPO, and will drive forward plans to enhance their offer through their procurement solutions.

This senior role is pivotal to NEPO’s strategic delivery of collaborative procurement work programme of £1.3bn, with the aim of strengthening their offer to the UK public sector, delivering solutions that meet complex requirements and create lasting value.

Ruth Long previously worked within both the private sector and Central Government roles. She made a deliberate move into procurement to build a career in the profession and quickly became an integral part of the team, becoming NEPO’s resident AI expert and leading proactive efforts to manage this technology responsibly.

Most recently, Ruth has led the development of NEPO’s largest and most complex solution in its history – NEPRO Innovation. Centred on supporting public sector buyers and suppliers across the UK, this £20bn outcomes-focused solution is designed to transform how the public sector procures and to address complex challenges.

Ruth commented: "Public procurement, done well, has the power to transform public services and deliver real value for communities and that has always been what drives me. I am incredibly proud to be taking on this role at such an exciting time for the organisation."

Nicola Shelley, managing director at NEPO said: "Ruth’s contribution over the past three years has been instrumental in shaping who we are today, and her leadership will be central to how we grow in the future. We need people who combine deep public sector expertise with the ability to think boldly and Ruth does both exceptionally well."