For the last 8 months, iNetwork has been joined by Lucy Hamilton, National Management Trainee on the Local Government Associations Graduate Scheme: Impact (formerly NGDP), the very scheme our Director Shelley Heckman started her local government journey on!
Lucy joined the team as one of iNetwork’s Stakeholder Engagement Managers, co-ordinating the Connected Procurement and Commissioning Programme. Within Lucy’s role, she has planned and delivered numerous events, co-organised iNetwork’s 20th Annual Conference, managed Network Leadership Group (NLG) meetings and represented the partnership at external events.
Lucy has quoted the following about her experience with iNetwork:
“I have absolutely loved my time with iNetwork. This placement has given me a unique insight into the breadth of services the local public sector provides and the key challenges and opportunities the sector is faced with.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is supporting the CPC Programme during a time of significant change with the new procurement regulations. I’m particularly proud of helping grow the Procurement Act Peer Support Group into a safe and collaborative space for learning. It has been great to work with the CPC Network Leadership Group, especially our chairs Peter Schofield and Nichola Cooke, who provided guidance and direction to deliver a really successful programme of events.
Organising iNetwork’s 20th Annual Conference alongside Sarah Day was another highlight. Seeing all our planning come together was a fantastic way to round off my placement. I came away from the event feeling inspired by the dedication and creativity of people working across the local public sector.
Another stand out was co-designing and delivering a Networking Masterclass for North Yorkshire Council! This was a great chance to practice my public speaking and share the networking tips and tricks I had learnt over my placement.
Overall iNetwork has been a great place to develop my skill set and network of public sector professionals. I can’t thank the team and wider iNetwork family enough for being such a welcoming and supportive group of people. I’ll miss everyone and the role a lot, but look forward to staying involved with iNetwork throughout my career!”
Lucy’s introduction to me was at the annual iNetwork Innovation Awards dinner last February where she sat next to me and interrogated me throughout the meal with questions about the network, clearly really excited about joining us and I probably bored her with details of the new Procurement Act which was 3 days old at the time.
She soon became immersed in that Procurement Act, Social Value and the shared tribulations of procurement leaders across the North West and beyond. She’ll probably never forget seeing how AI both terrifies and enthuses the procurement community.
Lucy picked it all up very quickly and established an easy rapport with the CPC group so was very quickly able to contribute to discussions and even take over the chair when Nichola or I had to dip out unexpectedly.
We’ll certainly miss Lucy’s ability to organise us all, think on her feet when things had to me moved around and to keep us to time and on subject in the many meetings she arranged for us all.
Hopefully she enjoyed the ride and the experience with the network will help her navigate through the rest of what I hope will be a successful and rewarding career.
Lucy has been a great support for the Connected Procurement and Commissioning Group. She has really helped us to deliver against our objectives and established some great member sessions on subjects including Procurement Act 2025, local suppliers, AI, contract management. She picked up on the procurement lingo and world very quickly, and I’m hopeful she will be a future procurement professional.
Lucy has been an invaluable member of the team while she has been at iNetwork. The speed at which she adapted and took on the CPC programme was incredible. Shes approached the role with such enthusiasm, professionalism and passion, the CPC programme has really benefited. Its been a pleasure to work with her and the only downside is shes had to leave us!!!! Any team where Lucy works is going to be very lucky!