International Day of Bids and Proposals Q&A

Can you tell us a bit about your journey in bid and proposal management and what led you to your current role?

I’ve been in sales for over 20-years and bids and proposals has always been part of everyday life and fundamental to being successful

What motivates you most about leading North’s public services bid team?

I love a challenge to try and keep ahead of the competition, whether that is protecting existing business or trying to secure new business, its always changing and you need to keep learning and improving all the time. No time for complacency.

What key skills and knowledge areas does your team bring to the bids process that consistently make a difference?

Its the diversity of the team that we get involved, you need a strong and experienced team from across the business to be successful, everyone has a part to play however small it can make a big difference.

How does the team continue to develop its skills and knowledge in bid management?

As a team we are always learning from each other, keeping up to date with industry events and update session on latest bid development and techniques whilst aligning APMP processes makes sure we are focused and streamlined to be successful.

What trends or changes in the public services bidding landscape are most exciting or important right now?

The new Procurement Act has started to create changes in the market, creating a lot more opportunity (and work for the bid teams!), exciting it would have to be AI, if used correctly it will be an important part of our team,  however for me it will not replace human instinct, experience and knowledge so bringing that all together successfully is the challenge.

Can you share a story where your team’s work had a significant positive outcome?

Every project we win provides that next step of the journey for North, and we are only going to succeed if we can support the business bid the right opportunities and create inspiring content that our existing and new customers find value in.

What makes your team enjoyable or inspiring to work with?

We all want to be successful and know why this is important to the business, everyone is passionate about making a difference in how they contribute, which is key to the success we have had so far.

What lessons have you learned that you would share with other bid professionals or emerging leaders?

Teamwork is important, from sales engagement through to the delivery you need a strong team to be successful as nobody can do this on their own – and make sure you bid the right opportunities for the right reasons!

What has been your most rewarding experience leading bids and proposals in the public services sector?

There is nothing more rewarding than that feeling when you get notification of a win and get great feedback from a client, knowing the hard work paid off