Love don't cost a thing

Supply Management, Feb 14, 2008 by Ellinor, Rebecca

Have you ever found passion in the procurement workplace? Perhaps some of you discovered your darling over a Dutch auction, or developed devotion while doing a deal. On St Valentine's Day, Rebecca Ellinor meets four purchasing couples who tell us how they met, and why working together does - or does not - work

MUN-LI AND GAVIN BOSWELL

Mun-Li first met Gavin Boswell when she joined British Airways (BA) as a procurement graduate in 1999.

"We didn't take much notice of each other until we began working together as part of the procurement transformation team in October 2000. Romance blossomed a year later with the help of a work colleague acting as matchmaker," she says.

Mun-Li left BA in early 2002 to work at Barclays, and says the move was partly motivated by the their burgeoning relationship.

"I prefer not working with Gavin. It might not have been a success if we had spent all day together, seven days a week - and I didn't want office gossip."

Shortly after Mun-Li left BA, the couple moved in together.

"Gavin proposed at the top of the Prudential Tower in Boston, US, in March 2004. We married in August 2005 and enjoyed a prolonged honeymoon travelling around the world for six months."

Mun-Li says the couple don't take their work home with them and barely discuss procurement out of the office.

She is now a senior procurement manager in the strategic contracts department at the BBC, while Gavin is head of procurement solutions for local government services at Capita.

DAVID AND ELIZABETH LOVE

No Valentine's Day feature would be complete without talk of that crazy little thing called love. And Mr and Mrs Love pack a double punch. They demonstrate that opposites can attract.

David is depot sales manager for City Link (Logistics), and Elizabeth is a senior buyer at Mitsubishi Electric Air-Conditioning Systems Europe (Manufacturing).

His job involves selling the organisation's logistics service, while hers entails working with suppliers to ensure that quality, service and commercial aspects comply with the company's requirements. She also helps to introduce new products and searches for new suppliers acros-s the world.

"People always think it's strange we are together, what with David being a salesman and myself a buyer. It's often said both jobs are similar, although I disagree. I could never be a salesperson," says Elizabeth.

The couple met 13 years ago and this year will have been "blissfully married" for eight. Although they were neighbours, it was three years before they met because Elizabeth worked seven days a week. "We met when I was out painting the garden fence, and David was fixing his motorbike. He had been asking me out for three months before I eventually agreed."

ANDIE AND ROBIN BEAVEN

For Andie and Robin Beaven love blossomed at the OGC's Government Procurement Service annual conference.

They met at the event in December 2002 while Robin was working in the Prison Service. He had recently led a collaborative deal with OGC and NHS Pasa for temporary staff, and was invited by a colleague of Andie's to attend the conference. Andie had not planned to go but a twist of fate led them to being in the same place at the same time.

"At dinner we spent the time just laughing and talking," says Andie. "Afterwards we went to a naff club. At the end of the night, we swapped business cards (how romantic!) and I texted him the next day to say thanks for a lovely time."

They got together in January 2003 and maintained a long-distance relationship between London and Leeds. In December 2003 Robin was planning to propose. He'd seen a ring but before he got the chance, Andie discovered she was pregnant "He couldn't believe it, he kept saying, I'm going to be a dad.'"

The pair were married shortly afterwards and honeymooned in Hawaii.

Andie is now review co-ordinator in the OGC's procurement capability reviews division, and Robin works for OGCbuying.solutions. So what's it like to work in the same building? "It makes a sensible work-life balance possible and ft isn't at all weird to ask Robin for advice now and again."

DAVID AND CHRISTINE DUNFORD

"I met Christine at the Open University (OU) in 1986 when she was interviewed and appointed as a purchasing assistant," says David.

"We became a couple in December 1993 and married in March 1999. During this period we have worked in the same office, with Christine working for one of my line managers."

However, David says this has not caused any conflict either personally or professionally.

David, head of contract services at the OU in Milton Keynes, turned 60 last September, and will be retiring at the end of March after nearly 35 years' service.

Christine, who became the purchasing supervisor in 1989, has completed 21 years at the OU but has no plans to retire yet. So from April the pair will be spending their weekdays apart - something they've not done very often for more than 20 years.

"We are a good testament that a relationship started at the office does not have to be career-threatening, provided the couple can resolve their work-life balance and continue to act professionally at all times," adds David.