About Us
Our Background
The business was formed in 2009 to support organisations to bid and tender for contracts.
We have since grown in numbers and now have a directly employed core team of professionals split across our 3 key bid divisions; Bid Writing, Bid Resource and Bid Training.
We have experience in both public sector procurement and commercial bidding, which gives us a unique perspective and allows us to maximise our clients success.
Our team provide consistency, reliability and allow us to build longstanding partnerships with our clients. We are able to work with our clients, understand their goals and become a key part of their business winning function.
Our Team
Helen Garry, Group Corporate Manager
Helen has over 15 years’ experience in bid writing, fundraising, EU procurement, business development and project management. She is a senior business professional previously working within the third sector, housing, training and healthcare. In her career she has held positions including Business Development Manager, Social Value Manager, Procurement Project Manager, Bid Writer, Director of Fundraising, Head of Statutory Fundraising and European Fundraising Manager.
Helen started with Thornton & Lowe in 2017 and manages the Bid Writing, Bid Resource and Bid Training divisions. She provides a variety of management and professional support across the organisation with an emphasis on quality assurance, performance management, operational effectiveness and development.
Charles Grosstephan, Head of Training
LLB Law, Member of APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals)
Charles heads and leads all the training at Thornton & Lowe. Charles has a background in commercial, manufacturing, professional services, aerospace and construction, as well as considerable public sector experience. He has been at Thornton & Lowe since 2012 and has been involved in well over 1000 of our bids across a huge range of sectors, from healthcare to rail, asbestos to childcare and facilities management to construction.
Charles was central to the development of our CPD accreditation and ILM approval. Charles works closely with our team of trainers in the development and delivery of our training workshops and master classes. As well as being part of a very small team influencing the largest public sector buying organisation, Charles deliberately takes time to speak with buyers to gain insights and suggestions to help those bidding for contracts.
Charles delivers talks to large groups, as well as running training workshops and 1-2-1 sessions throughout the UK, whilst also providing support to the bids our team are working on.
Reflective of his drive, focus and tenacity to every project he is involved in, when he's not working, if not playing 5-aside or at the gym, Charles is often cycling for miles on end, rain or shine, around the hills and roads of Lancashire.
Mark Mayall, Resource Manager, Cert RP
Mark has over 20 years’ experience in recruitment largely supplying the construction and engineering sector.
He is Level 3 certified in Recruitment Practice and leads our Bid Resource division at Thornton & Lowe supplying our clients with temporary and permanent bid professionals.
This ranges from the supply of Bid Writers and Bid Managers through to Technical Writers, Graphic Designers and Bid Directors.
Christopher Turner, Bid Resource Consultant
Chris joined our Bid Resource team from a background of educational recruitment, and has brought with him a range of knowledge from working in large recruitment companies in Manchester. Previous to his four years in recruitment, Chris co-owned and ran a successful print and design agency and was responsible for design, print, social media and marketing.
Chris works alongside Mark and primarily sources freelance, fixed-term contract and permanent bid professionals in both private and public sectors.
Adam Shafar, Bid Manager
BA Joint Honours History and Ancient History, Graduate Diploma in Law, Legal Practice Course, Member of APMP
With Adam's background in legal services, he focuses on our professional services tenders, bids and proposals. As Senior Bid Writer, Adam has significant experience of leading and writing high value tenders across a wide range of industries such as:
- Healthcare including NHS clients
- Broadband/telecommunications
- Construction including civil engineering and domestic maintenance
- Construction supplies and materials
- Electrical maintenance
- Security
- Environmental programmes such as tree felling/vegetation removal and deer culling
- Food supply and distribution
He has both an excellent eye for finer detail and the ability to develop a client’s unique selling points.
As a our healthcare bid lead Adam’s notable healthcare tender experience, to date, includes working/leading on the following:
For NHS Foundation Trust clients:
- 3x GP Services
- 2x Sexual Health Services
- 2x Urgent Care Services
- 1x Pathology Services
For other healthcare clients:
- 23x Complex and domiciliary care PQQs/ITTs
- 1x Scotland NHS Oxygen Supply Service
Maria Edwards, Senior Bid Writer
BA Modern Languages and Linguistics, Member of APMP
Based in our new North East office, Maria has significant experience of successfully leading, coordinating and writing multiple high value tenders across a wide range of industries such as:
- Asbestos removal
- Community transport
- Construction
- Electrical maintenance
- Facilities management
- Fleet management
- Food supply and distribution
- Mechanical and engineering
- NHS clients
- Security
- Vegetation management
As a Senior Bid Writer, Maria provides valuable experience and flexibility when supporting clients and successfully completes ‘last minute’ projects with short deadlines to a high quality.
Maria has recently lead the following successful bids:
- Scottish framework for asbestos removal
- Multiple community transport frameworks
- Reactive repair and annual servicing/maintenance of electrical, gas and combination catering equipment framework
- Rail vegetation clearance
Outside of work, Maria enjoys baking, cooking and holidaying with friends.
Vivien Buchanan, Bid Writer
Vivien's background is in customer service, retail and sales. Her experience gave her a solid understanding of client requirements and written communication.
After a career for a major UK company in customer service, Vivien moved to a Bid Co-ordinator and marketing role within the construction and interiors industry where she has researched and managed hundreds of client requests for information, PQQs and tenders, with a 99% success rate.
Enjoying any challenge, Vivien is used to working on high volume and value tenders within the retail, healthcare, corporate and public sector industries. Her sector range means she has a working knowledge of different writing methods depending on the client's field.
Vivien joined Thornton & Lowe in April 2017 as a Bid Writer and is looking forward to working with the team and helping Thornton & Lowe’s clients achieve their goals.
Kirstie McMahon, Bid Writer
BA (Hons) Social Policy and Sociology
Kirstie has a joint honours degree in Sociology and Social Policy from The University of Edinburgh. Joining Thornton & Lowe as a graduate trainee, Kirstie has already undertaken successful submissions for our clients in the Security, Construction and Health and Social Care sectors.
A volunteer in the youth and community sectors, Kirstie has gained valuable communication and client relationship skills through her work at The Scottish Parliament. With a keen interest in social media Kirstie applies her analytical and creative skills to her work and our own online marketing.
Michael McDougall, Quality Assurance
Michael started bid and grant writing after drafting local policy in the social care sector. With a PhD in Performance Psychology and publications in leading journals for Leadership & Change he was able to use his research and analytical skills combined with his understanding of behaviour and eye for detail to produce winning bids.
As part of our management review, to ensure we maximise our clients success, he is responsible for providing quality assurance on all our bids.
Emily Mamana Saiwala, Finance Manager
CAT, BSc (Hons), ACCA Part-Qualified
Emily Mamana Saiwala, a seasoned finance professional, obtained her accountancy degree at the University of Salford.
Emily joined Thornton & Lowe in February 2016. She is responsible for the management of the organisation's support functions, specifically compliance and regulatory reporting which includes preparation of financial reports. She also advises the board in designing and implementing controls within the finance function, along with efficient systems and processes for facilities management, IT and HR.
She has over 10 years’ experience working in logistics and consultancy sectors. She strives for exceptional quality, growth and performance.
Roxanne Bates, Operations Assistant
Roxanne joined our team from a background of recruitment and training, she has experience with local training providers and recruitment agencies covering both commercial and industrial sectors.
Roxanne works alongside Emily and looks after the HR function at Thornton & Lowe..
Lyndsey Anderson, Marketing Coordinator
BA (Hons) International Fashion Branding with Journalism
Lyndsey has recently graduated with a First Class degree from Glasgow Caledonian University.
She joined Thornton & Lowe to assist with marketing and brand development, applying her creative skills to formulate engaging content.
With a background in luxury retail, specialised customer service and brand development, Lyndsey applies her knowledge to enhance the Thornton & Lowe brand.
Focusing on exploring new avenues and drawing in different types of clients in her previous roles, Lyndsey helped develop high end supplier and client relations. She used these relationships to adapt business branding and marketing to reflect new business goals, driving sales and brand image forward.
Emma McCarroll, Marketing Assistant
MA (Hons) Medieval History
Emma achieved a Master of Arts degree in Medieval History from the University of St Andrews. Subsequently, she embarked on a career in customer service, working Front of House in luxury hotels across Scotland.
Following a career break to raise a family and fulfilling voluntary roles in her local community, Emma joined Thornton and Lowe in February 2017 as a Marketing Assistant.
Her role is to assist with the daily administration of the marketing strategy, including managing social media, preparing content for blogs, building and maintaining relationships with Chambers of Commerce and issuing press releases to relevant publications.
Rachel Nolan, Bid Writer
Rachel has an English Language and Literature degree from the University of Sunderland. As an experienced sales professional she demonstrates her understanding of language to create persuasive and effective sales pitches by listening to customers’ needs and tailoring solutions to them.
As a product of both her degree and experience as a sales person, Rachel can effectively distinguish a target audience and mould language accordingly. Additionally, her persuasive approach to language enables her to strategically highlight and promote a client’s capabilities when writing a bid. Rachel uses analytical skills and her creative flair to adapt a client’s needs into written format.
Since joining Thornton & Lowe in 2016, Rachel has worked on projects in industries such as construction, asbestos removal, healthcare and transport.
Emma Cowgil, Bid Resource Consultant
Emma is our most recent recruit to the Bid Resource team. After completing her degree at the University of Bolton, she started a career in recruitment in 2012 within the professional services market. Emma is working with our consultancy team to support our clients to recruit temporary and permanent Bid Writers and Bid Managers.
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© Thornton & Lowe Ltd 2017.