The Team

Founder & Director of

Procurement Optimisation

Christopher Dean is a qualified procurement optimisation professional having gained his MCIPS from the Chartered Institute of Procurement(CIPS). He has supported Care Procurement for over 20 years, whilst remaining forward thinking to win a National CIPS Procurement Award for Risk Mitigation in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.

Previously Director of Procurement for Sunrise Senior Living, he has managed £60m+ of Direct and Indirect spend p.a. , maximising savings, whilst additionally yielding increasing volumes of rebates to benefit the P&L. Additionally his previous experience with a large procurement company, meant he has supported large groups and small sites alike.

Chris founded Procurement For Care having identified limited options for dedicated 'Care' specific procurement support, and a need to free up bandwidth whilst at Sunrise.

The mission of Procurement For Care is to support individual care homes, or groups who may already have procurement teams, by optimising procurement strategy, freeing up time by with relevant, sound support always provided with integrity.

Chris is also a qualified chef who successfully operated his own restaurant in Wimbledon(London) for 10 years. He led Sunrise to many awards, such as The Foodservice Catey's Healthcare Caterer of the Year(twice!), and the NACC Sustainability Award.  If you want award winning support or potentially to try and win an award for your care home/group, then Chris can personally support in this area too.

Client Procurement Director

Alex Downer is an experienced procurement professional with over 35 years in the catering / wholesale arena, of which the past 16 years have been specifically dedicated managing client procurement and purchasing strategies. Most recently has seen Alex, managing clients from a multitude of different areas such has 5*hotels, world renowned universities, national gym operators, contract caterers, independent schools and of course clients within the care sector.

His focus has predominantly been working within catering services, managing the procurement of food, disposables and all associated services. Having amassed years of experience and knowledge managing the supplier/ client relationships he has built a tremendous network of supplier contacts.

Alex’s background saw him qualify with a National Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management. He went on to work both in front and back of house operations, favouring his time spent as chef in pubs, restaurants, golf clubs and latterly as Head Chef of a care home group before hanging up his whites and entering the world of food wholesale.

Alex’s, career has positioned him ideally for the role he now holds, having experienced life in the care sector, being a supplier through to managing procurement. This has created his drive and determination to ensure Procurement For Care delivers the very best in managing individual client cost mitigation processes, evolving procurement strategies, supplier management and issue resolution whilst developing meaningful client / supplier relationships.

Procurement Manager

With a rich background spanning Retail, Wholesale, Consultancy, and recent roles at Sunrise Senior Living & Signature Senior Lifestyle, Shaun brings a wealth of experience as a Procurement Manager.

In his previous roles, Shaun oversaw purchasing processes, ensuring seamless acquisition of supplies while maintaining cost-effectiveness and quality standards for residents and staff. His strategic implementation of Procurement strategies resulted in cost optimisation and process improvements across the Care Home environment.

Shaun has even worked shifts on the floor to ensure product changes are right for front line care staff and residents alike.

Shaun is excited to take on this new role with Procurement for Care, focusing on building stronger relationships with Care Home clients and suppliers.

His expertise in navigating the Healthcare Supply Chain aligns perfectly with the organisation's mission. 

Procurement Optimisation Manager

 With over 35 years of dedicated experience in the care and hospitality industry, Iain is a seasoned manager with a passion for excellence. His journey includes a remarkable 15-year tenure in the Care sector, where he has made impactful contributions to organizations like Care UK, HC1, and Sunrise Senior Living. Additionally, Iain has served as a Business Development Manager for a prominent national consumables supplier to Care Homes.

Throughout his career, Iain has left his mark on both national

pub chains, restaurant and hotel groups, and smaller independent companies, predominantly within the hospitality sector. His diverse background showcases

his adaptability and proficiency in managing various facets of the industry.

In the realm of care homes, Iain has held operational roles,

collaborating closely with teams in catering, housekeeping, and facilities departments. His hands-on approach to the day-to-day operations has proven instrumental in supporting home management, front-line care teams, and ancillary departments. The result is a seamlessly run home that prioritizes a caring experience for its residents.

One of Iain's key strengths lies in his extensive knowledge of the unique needs and requirements of hospitality departments within care homes.

He has been pivotal in managing costs effectively by introducing suitable products, offering comprehensive training packages, providing equipment advice

and support, and diligently monitoring expenditures. Iain's commitment ensures that each care home not only receives the best service but also operates

efficiently, delivering a high standard of care.