Robin Higgins

Canterbury Christ Church University has been an integral part of Robin’s life for over 25 years. Between 1994 and 1997 he studied for a joint honours degree in History and Radio, Film & Television. He also worked with the Students’ Union and was elected to the student council for three years.

In 1997, after graduating he was offered a short-term temporary role in the purchasing department of a local manufacturing company where he ended up staying for three years and re-training for a career in procurement – purchasing goods and services, managing supply chains and delivering cost savings. Between 2000 and 2005 he worked for Brake Bros, the internation foodservice company, where he managed multi-million pound contracts for spend categories such as marketing services, delivery vehicles, diesel supplies, workwear and facilities services.

In 2005 the University created a new role for a Purchasing & Contracts Officer to improve the professionalism of their current procurement arrangements. Robin was offered the job and has worked at the University ever since, developing the procurement policy framework and developing transactional purchasing processes. Since 2005 he has been involved in a number of strategic projects including:

• the MOSI programme
• the fit out of the Verena Holmes building
• the relocation of the Students’ Union to the St George’s Student Centre
• the introduction of digital lecture capture
• the fit out of Augustine House
• the set-up of the University’s sustainability committees

The role of Procurement has expanded since 2005 and Robin’s team now supports many academic and professional services departments negotiate and manage their supply contracts as well as managing the transactional processes required for everyday purchases. In his role of Head of Procurement Robin has a particular interest in risk management, delivery of corporate objectives, process efficiency and sustainability. He chairs the Sustainable Procurement Working Group and is a member of the Climate Emergency Strategy Group and the Sustainability Strategic Management Group.

In 2021 Robin was accepted as a Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, the professional qualification for those working in Procurement.

Outside work Robin lives with his partner and their four children. He is enthused by food and drink in all forms and has an interest in cinema, literature and endurance sports including running and triathlon.