Johnson Procurement Solutions (JPS) is focused on developing more young talent after watching an award-winning member of staff successfully save huge organisations millions of pounds.
Procurement officer Niall Douglas was rewarded for an incredible six-year journey with the Newton Aycliffe business when he was named one of the Young Achiever Award winners at March’s NEPIC Industry Awards.
The celebration of achievements of companies and individuals from processing industries across the North-East of England at Hardwick Hall recognised how Niall has become an invaluable member of the JPS team.
That was achieved without the keen non-league footballer being enrolled on an corporate apprenticeship programme since leaving 5am shifts at a supermarket behind – and now he is responsible for huge projects on behalf of multi-billion-pound clients.
Steven Johnson, his mentor and JPS’ managing director, said: “I am very proud of Niall. It has been incredible to see him on his career path.
“There is a level in the beginning where you have to hold a young member of the team’s hand to guide them through, so it’s fantastic to now have real confidence in him, he knows what he is doing, and he is a safe pair of hands in the organisation.
“Niall deserves the recognition because he hasn’t come through on the normal journey. He’s already at the cutting edge of the business and operating with huge competence.”
Niall, from Shildon, pictured above (centre) with Steve Johnson and associate director Maurice Johnson, joined JPS 12 months after it was founded seven years ago.
He has seen the business grow from working with small to medium businesses into procurement specialists providing flexible interim procurement and commercial support for blue chip organisations such as Worley, Centrica, Johnson Matthey and px Group.
With realistic seven-figure targets set for 2025, JPS – based at the Flexspace Incubation Centre on Durham Way South – says it’s looking to hire post-graduate quantity surveyors within weeks and then a project procurement manager within the next four to six months.