How Procurement is Powering Deliveroo’s Flexible Workforce

Deliveroo is teaming up with YunoJuno and Zero9 to show how a flexible workforce model not only reshapes hiring strategies but also boosts return on investment (ROI).

At a recent session designed for Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs), the trio presented the case for procurement taking the lead in turning flexible workforces into a competitive asset.

The event, which drew from Deliveroo’s own experience, underlined how procurement is uniquely placed to guide organisations through the complexity of contingent staffing while delivering real business impact.

Hosted in partnership with freelance management platform YunoJuno and procurement consultancy Zero9, the session took aim at how companies can extract more value from non-permanent talent.

Procurement at the centre of agile talent strategy

YunoJuno’s Chief Operating Officer Joao Martires and Zero9’s Managing Partner Angharad Kenward led the discussion by outlining the current workforce landscape.

Their research explored how global trends show a rise in flexible employment structures, ranging from interim and fractional roles to management consultancy and full-time positions.

Runar Reistrup, Chief Executive of YunoJuno, sums it up plainly: "We are witnessing a revolution in how value is created and at the heart of this change is the flexible workforce."

He adds that companies now embed flexibility into core strategy: "Global workforce leaders are shifting towards flexible working models that are now integral to organisational success.

"The challenge lies in striking the right balance between permanent staff and contractors to stay competitive. This presents an opportunity for procurement leaders to drive agility, accelerate ROI and harness the power of platforms like YunoJuno."

The emphasis is on getting the mix right. Procurement leaders, the speakers argued, are ideally positioned to steer organisations through this workforce transformation by marrying the speed and adaptability of flexible teams with the governance and clarity procurement brings.

Deliveroo shows how procurement makes it work

Deliveroo provides the practical context, sharing its own experience of delivering transformation through agile staffing.

Amy Head, Head of Non-Tech Procurement Categories at Deliveroo, explains how the business has benefited from this approach.

She says: "We wouldn't have been able to deliver our cost-out programme and complete the level of transformation that we've experienced over the last two years without a flexible team."

Deliveroo’s approach applies a commercial mindset to flexible staffing, treating contingent labour not just as a resource but a route to measurable business outcomes. The company describes the return clearly: "Ultimately, far greater ROI was achieved from this flexible model."

That return comes not only from cost savings but from broader strategic outcomes—faster project delivery, skills transfer, and stronger alignment with changing business needs.

However, this success does not come easily. The group acknowledges common obstacles: slow onboarding, legacy systems, and uncertainty about how to manage non-permanent staff. Without a proper framework, organisations struggle to realise the full benefits of workforce flexibility.

A structure to support smart talent decisions

To address these barriers, YunoJuno and Zero9 introduce a three-pillar structure for procurement teams. Each pillar tackles a key area:

• Organisational: Creating a clear, agile talent strategy aligned with business goals

• Operational: Building infrastructure to support flexibility, including onboarding and compliance

• Individual: Positioning the company in a way that attracts high-value flexible talent

The research also calls on organisations to look beyond cost metrics alone. By measuring against delivery outcomes, knowledge sharing and speed to results, procurement can better reflect the full value of flexible staffing.

Another point raised is the timing of procurement’s involvement. When brought in early, procurement professionals can influence the design of commercial models and recruitment frameworks, leading to smarter outcomes.

Finally, the group discusses generational changes in work preferences. With Gen Z favouring portfolio careers - where people hold multiple roles across companies - and the rise of fractional work (short-term, part-time strategic roles), attracting the best talent requires built-in agility.