Purchasing, agility and sustainable partnerships: the view of Laurence Noël, buyer at ENGIE
To mark the 20th anniversary of agap2, we wanted to give the floor to one of our long-standing partners: Storengy, a subsidiary of ENGIE, specialises in the underground storage of natural gas and is committed to the energy transition. We spoke to Laurence Noël, a buyer at Storengy, to find out more about her career, her vision of how purchasing is evolving and her views on working with us.
Can you tell us about your current role?
L.N.: “I recently joined the Storengy subsidiary and I support the well intervention teams in their needs for materials, equipment and services specific to the oil and gas market. These teams carry out maintenance operations and interventions on gas wells in France. Purchases are technical and industrial. In addition to the technical specifications, the suppliers selected must meet the stringent health and safety requirements. Added to this are the challenges of CSR and the energy transition in an international market.”
20 years ago, where were you in your career? What were your first challenges and objectives?
L.N.: “20 years ago, as a young graduate, I started my career in a subsidiary of the ENGIE group specialising in industrial waste treatment. At the time, there was no Purchasing Department and the added value of this sector had yet to be developed. We had to demonstrate its effectiveness and prove its usefulness. In fact, I came into purchasing by chance, having studied marketing, but I’ve always had an interest in this field. Even as a child, I was already doing comparative tables... You could say that, like Obelix, I fell into the pot!”
What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in purchasing and in the energy sector?
L.N.: “In 20 years, the purchasing sector has come a long way. Purchasing first became structured, then professionalised and digitalised. Finally, responsible, sustainable and agile purchasing have come to occupy a strategic place in organisations today. We’ve learnt to work in different ways, adapting to customers, business lines, BUs and portfolios, because we don’t all approach them in the same way. As far as I’m concerned, I’m not at all averse to change; on the contrary, I see it as an opportunity because it allows us to move things forward in the right direction."
Let’s go back 20 years: how would you describe ENGIE at that time, compared with today’s company?
L.N.: “20 years ago, Gaz de France focused on gas and merged with SUEZ in 2008 before becoming ENGIE in 2015. The Group has undergone a profound transformation, diversifying its activities, going international, going digital and making a strong commitment to the climate. As someone who has worked there for over 20 years, this was a fabulous opportunity for me. I’ve been involved in several of the Group’s business lines. This internal mobility has enabled me to broaden my outlook, adapt my purchasing practices and discover a wide variety of portfolios, and it’s this richness that makes ENGIE so special.”
Is there an outstanding moment in ENGIE’s history that you would like to share?
L.N.: “Formerly a national gas company, ENGIE is now a world leader in energy transition. But if I had to share one outstanding memory, it would be a tender conducted for the biggest international law firms. The HR and legal departments were among the least mature in terms of purchasing. With my colleague, we managed to bring together prescribers, firms and buyers around the table. It was a real challenge and a source of pride.”
You’ve been working with agap2 for a number of years. What do you think is the hallmark of our collaboration?
L.N.: “I’d say the proximity and responsiveness of the teams, compliance with the skills requested, managers who are always there for their customers and their teams, wide geographical coverage and many areas of expertise.”
How have agap2 consultants contributed to the success of your projects?
L.N.: “The agap2 consultants have provided in-depth expertise in a number of areas, enabling us to respond effectively to our complex technical requirements. Their ability to adapt quickly to new environments and different customer contexts is a real asset to the success of our projects.”
If you had to sum up agap2 in one word or phrase, which would you choose?
L.N.: “agap2 is a great, competent and committed company that I appreciate.”
At agap2, we are committed to undertaking ambitious projects alongside leaders in their field, such as ENGIE and its subsidiary Storengy. These lasting partnerships are based on trust, proximity and shared expertise.
Do you want to get involved in exciting technical projects that are shaping the future? Join the agap2 adventure!
