Bid Writing
Services Team

With a background in EU procurement, Dave founded the business in 2009.

He is now responsible for the strategic direction and sustainable growth of Thornton & Lowe ensuring the business achieves its mission and objectives.

Working closely with the team Dave drives innovation and new bid support services to ensure the company is providing the best support possible to our clients, specifically our large base of SME customers.

Joining Thornton & Lowe as an experienced Bid Writer in 2017, Tom had previously worked in the IT sector. Tom proved himself as both an excellent Bid Writer and Project Manager across a wide range of sectors before progressing to Senior Bid Writer, then Head of Bids and he became Operations Director in 2023.

Having worked at T&L for over 10 years, Maria contributes valuable experience and flexibility when supporting clients and our Bid Team. As Head of Bids, her leadership and management on projects ensure that our work is maintained to a consistently high quality standard. Based on her experience of contributing to over 100 bids per year, Maria also contributes to bid strategy, helping to ensure that win themes run through every document across the submission as “golden threads".

Charles heads up our Training division 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 1500 of our bids. Charles runs training workshops and 1-2-1 sessions throughout the UK, whilst also providing support to the bids our team are working on.

Charles has delivered over 350 bid training courses to over 4000 people, with every course receiving positive feedback. As a result of Covid, Charles successfully has created online versions of our training courses.

Chris joined our team in 2017 with a background in recruitment and design. He has brought a range of knowledge from working in large recruitment companies in Manchester. Previous to his years in recruitment, Chris co-owned and ran a successful print and design agency and was responsible for print, design, social media and marketing.

Chris manages Thornton & Lowe’s design, branding, social media, sales, website and marketing activity as well as initial client contact and consultations with our Business Development division and Directors.

Adam graduated from Lancaster University in 2014 with a First-Class Honours in History. Starting with us as a Graduate Trainee, Adam joined the team in 2018. He has since developed his skills, being promoted to Bid Writer, then Team Manager and his current role of Procurement Solutions Manager working with a mix of smaller public sector bodies who do not have any dedicated procurement or contract management resource. Adam has 5 years’ experience working exclusively within public sector procurement, bidding and supply chain, with a focus on facilities management and infrastructure.

Steve has 25 years of experience as a leader in housing association grounds maintenance services. As a consultant to the sector, he focuses on improving the service and demonstrating value for money. This includes service audits and benchmarking, contract management, service design and specification development, customer satisfaction reviews, procurement guidance and supporting housing associations to bring the service in-house. Having successfully mobilised and managed over 50 multi-million pound grounds maintenance contracts in the sector, he fully understands the challenges, frustrations and opportunities to develop, improve and create accountability and transparency throughout the service while maximising value for money. His approach is driven by an absolute belief in customer service, which underpins his model.

Graham’s background is in operations management and delivery, having delivered the rollout of the Vaccination Support Programme to the NHS for St John Ambulance, delivering over 25% of all Covid Vaccinations in England from 2020 through to 2023.

In his previous role, Graham was Head of Client Delivery, supporting SME’s and large businesses to access public sector funding. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his Godchildren, looking after family and is a keen film & TV buff!

Tom Joined Thornton & Lowe in late 2019, previously working in Customer Services in Manchester. He graduated from King’s College London in 2018 with a BA Honours Degree in English Literature; completing his dissertation on Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre. Tom has supported the Bid Team on various tender projects in different industries and is currently working towards achieving APMP Foundation level certification. Outside of work, Tom enjoys supporting Liverpool FC, watching Netflix and listening to a wide range of music.

Laurel joined Thornton and Lowe as a Bid Writer in 2021. She graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2014 with a 2:1 in English Language, before starting her career in writing as a document writer in business acquisition.

Laurel has experience in bidding, working both in-house and in business consultancies, covering a wide range of industries.

Katie joined us in 2021 as a Trainee Bid Writer, previously working in Finance as a Purchase Ledger Clerk. She graduated from Bolton University in 2017 with a First-Class Honours degree in English. Katie has a passion for writing and aspires to become an experienced bid writer, building knowledge across a wide range of industries. In her spare time, Katie enjoys reading, long walks with her dog and competing in CrossFit.

Sam joined Thornton and Lowe as a Bid Writer in 2022. He graduated from Loughborough University in 2018 with a degree in History, before starting his career in the innovation grant funding space. Sam has worked on a wide variety of bids, securing funding for both UK and European clients across a diverse range of technology sectors. He is looking forward to further developing his existing bid writing knowledge and skills as part of the Thornton and Lowe team.

Outside of work, Sam enjoys going to watch Derby County and long-distance running.

Cat has been Working in bids since 2016, starting as a Public Sector Contract Co-ordinator and working my way up to Bid Writer. She has worked across multiple industries including Tech, Asbestos and Logistics and has achieved both APMP Foundation and Practitioner Certification. In her spare time, she enjoys going on dog walks, keeping fit and crocheting. (she makes a good bobble hat!)

Claire joined us in May 2022 as a Bid Writer with 5 years experience in bidding on public sector contracts. Previously working at a bicycle manufacturing company for 8 years as a Tender and Bid Specialist, Claire is looking forward to building knowledge and skills across multiple industries. Prior to this Claire has also worked within account management and enjoys interaction with clients. In 2021, Claire gained both the Foundation and Practitioner APMP qualification.

With a background in sales, account management and bid writing Donna joined us in 2020 with experience in Lighting and Waste Management. Donna splits her time at Thornton and Lowe between business development of our existing and new clients, as well as overseeing Bid Resource, Thornton & Lowe’s specialist recruitment division.

Since graduating in 2015 from the University of Portsmouth, Kat has worked in bids supporting clients across a range of industries including Engineering, Technology, Professional Staffing, Contract Cleaning and Recruitment. She has achieved her APMP Foundation and is always looking to develop herself professionally. In her spare time, she enjoys dog walks on the beach, paddleboarding and spending time with her family.

Emonie joined us in September 2022 following the completion of Literature MA. She has experience in a range of sectors, including culture and heritage, fine art, international art law, and European politics.

Outside of bid writing, Emonie enjoys contributing to Semiotic studies, cooking, and hiking.

Angela joined Thornton and Lowe as a Bid Writer in 2022. She comes from a social housing and construction background where she has held several roles including housing management, business development and bid writing. Angela has experience bidding for various public and private contracts across the rail, ministry of defence, care and facilities management sectors.

Before beginning her career as a Bid Writer in 2022, Molly graduated from The University of Nottingham in 2021 with a degree in Geography. Molly has over two years experience working as a Bid Writer in the consultancy space before joining Thornton and Lowe in September 2024. She has written bids for various industries across both public and private sectors with a strong background in the healthcare sector. Outside of work, Molly enjoys going out for food, indoor climbing and spending time with her friends and family.

Katherine joined Thornton and Lowe as a Bid Writer in 2024. She graduated from Glasgow University in 2018 with a First-Class Master of Arts degree in English Language and Linguistics. Katherine has experience bidding for private and public sector contracts across a range of industries, including healthcare and construction. Outside of work, Katherine enjoys swimming and exploring historic sites around the North East.

Najeeb is an experienced Bid Writer with a strong background in the fire and security industry. With over 3 years of bid expertise, Najeeb brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team. Prior to entering the world of bid management, Najeeb worked as a journalist in the fashion industry and taught English as a foreign language. Najeeb’s interests include cooking, watching horror films, and spending time with his family.

Originally from Chester, Joe graduated from The Open University in 2021 with a First Class Honours degree in English Literature and Language. He decided to apply himself to a career in Bid Writing and joined Thornton & Lowe as a Trainee Bid Writer shortly after graduating.

Joe’s interests include walks in nature, watching films, reading and listening to music. He is a fan of Liverpool FC, and also enjoys watching Formula 1 and Baseball.

Luke joined Thornton & Lowe in October 2024, having gained two years' experience writing bids for a national public services provider. Luke holds an MA in Ancient History and is excited to continue his development and prove his abilities at Thornton & Lowe. Outside of work, Luke enjoys travelling, reading, keeping fit and supporting Spurs.

Ava joined Thornton & Lowe as a Graduate Bid Writer in 2023, after completing a master's desgree in Global Diplomacy and Development at SOAS University of London. She previously graduated from the University of Leeds in 2020 with a degree in International Relations. Before Thornton & Lowe and alongside her studies, Ava has worked in recruitment, administration and customer service. Her interests include travelling, politics and current affairs, podcasts, reading and going to the gym.

Ronan joined Thornton and Lowe as a Graduate Bid Writer in 2023, after graduating from Lancaster University in 2018 with a First Class Honours degree in History, and went on to train as a secondary school History teacher. Having already acquired bid writing work experience in construction, Ronan is keen to develop his proven written skills to produce quality work for Thornton and Lowe. His interests include History, nature walks, and touring Europe.

Taylor is a native of Louisiana, USA who graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a degree in English Writing and French. She furthered her passion for writing by obtaining a Master's in Creative Writing from the University of Sheffield. She has since worked as a freelance writer and a secondary English teacher. Outside of work, Taylor can be found hiking with her two dogs, playing tennis or spending time with family.

Holland recently joined the team after making a transition from a design background. Graduating with First Class Joint Honours degree in English and Drama with Art History and a Masters degree in Shakespeare and Creativity, Holland is excited to be working in a field that utilises her academic background in writing and research, as well as her experience with and small project and contract management.
In her spare time, Holland likes to spend time with her family, write poetry and fiction, watch movies, and dance.

Dain recently joined Thornton & Lowe as a Graduate Bid Writer, after graduating from Durham University with a BA Honours in English Literature and Philosophy. She has previous experience of working as an academic consultant in South Korea, advising students on academic essay writing, and is keen to bring her writing skills to compose quality bids at Thornton & Lowe. Outside of work, Dain's interests include going to see musical theatre, binge-watching sitcoms, and trips to museums.

Sarah brings the benefit of 13 years' experience in bid management to Thornton and Lowe. Working for Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors, predominantly in public sector procurement, Sarah has helped grow businesses by managing and writing successful tenders - from £50,000 contracts to £200,000,000 frameworks. Sarah ensures that our client's tenders clearly communicates their service offering and aligns with the procuring organisation’s objectives.

Tori holds a First Class Honours degree in English With Overseas Study. Her education at Manchester Metropolitan University and Charles University focused on contemporary, postcolonial and theoretical literature, and her key skills include research and written analysis. She joined Thornton & Lowe as a Graduate Bid Writer, excited to start a career that aligns with her passions. Besides the more usual interests in reading, writing and travelling, Tori also enjoys learning about the culture and theory of astrology.

Emily graduated from the University of Leeds in 2021 with a degree in English Literature. She has since taught English across all Key Stages of education, before deciding to pursue writing as a full-time career. To further deepen her knowledge and skills within the Arts, she also currently trains at the Manchester School of Acting. In her downtime, Emily practices yoga and is thought of as quite the globetrotter amongst her friends.

George graduated from Bangor University with a BA and MA in History, gaining First-Class Honours and a Distinction, as well as prizes for top performance and best dissertation. Before joining the Thornton & Lowe team as a Graduate Trainee Bid Writer, he was pursuing a PhD in History and teaching at Bangor University as a Graduate Associate, delivering seminars and guest lectures. George hopes to utilise his experience and keen eye for detail in research and writing to become a successful member of the Bid team. In his spare time, George is adding the finishing touches to his PhD thesis. He also enjoys mountaineering, reading and taking his dogs for long walks.

Amy graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2023 with a First Class Honours degree in Arabic and French. Since then, she has worked as a researcher and Arabic translator for a TV production company, and a middle school English teacher in Jordan. She has recently joined Thornton & Lowe as a Graduate Bid Writer, and is excited to bring her research, analysis and writing skills to this role. In her spare time, Amy enjoys reading, writing, and playing the piano.

Alex obtained a first-class honours degree in Independent Filmmaking then went on to earn a master’s degree in English literature from The University of Sheffield. During his undergraduate studies Alex worked as a videographer and photographer and developed a passion for scriptwriting and script editing. In 2023 he completed an editorial placement at The University of Sheffield’s Creative Writing Journal which encouraged him to pursue a career in writing. In his spare time, Alex enjoys listening to music, painting, watching films, and has recently started learning Spanish.

Rachel joined Thornton & Lowe in 2017 after graduating from The University of Salford with a First Class Honours in Journalism and English. She is currently studying for her MA in Early Years and Childhood studies at Leeds Beckett University, with a focus on gender and LGBTQ+ in childhood.

Rachel looks after the HR function at T&L, overseeing the entire employee life cycle, as well as making sure the day-to-day finance operations run smoothly. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her family.

Gavin joined Thornton & Lowe as an experienced Recruitment Manager in 2024. Gavin has 20+ Years in the industry and has worked in different sectors including Infrastructure, Engineering, Industrial and Clinical. Gavin is a motivated professional, skilled in all areas of recruitment.

In his spare time, he enjoys walks with the family and their little dog (YorkiePoo) Minnie and days out or a run to the beach.

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.

She has since developed her bid writing skillset and works with the bid team to support a variety of submissions to ensure consistency for our contracted clients.

Based in our Scotland office, Lyndsey works with the Support Services team, providing a diverse range of business support solutions to our clients, including our new Search & Select offering. With a background in marketing, customer service and event management, she has worked across various areas of the business since joining in 2016, helping her to grow her knowledge of procurement.

Joined Thornton & Lowe in 2023 and I am part of the support services team, providing tender searches and pipeline research to our clients. In 2017 I gained my HND in Communication Design at Robert Gordon University and in 2022 I gained my HNC in Web Development at City of Glasgow College. Before Thornton & Lowe I worked in customer service and IT support roles. In my spare time I enjoy walking my family's dogs, watching movies and spending time with my husband.

Gillian has over 30 years of experience in research. Following a BSc and a PhD (both in microbiology), initially her career was in medical research. She then moved to working in the UK and Scottish Governments commissioning research on food safety and quality.

Later, Gillian worked in Scotland's Children's Hearings System carrying out research on child protection and youth justice; and managing data protection, freedom of information and complaints functions. Outside of work Gillian enjoys walking, reading, and spending time with her dog, friends and family.'

Samantha has recently joined Thornton & Lowe recently as an Operations Support Assistant following her previous experience across recruitment and knowledge management mostly in Australia. Day to day Samantha provides support to various departments on BAU and project activities from an Operations Support perspective. In her free time, you'll find Samantha hiking with her partner and dogs or planning her next European trip.

Finlay joined the team in September 2024 as a Graduate Bid Coordinator. The previous summer he graduated from the University of Leeds with First Class Honours in Journalism. While there he honed his writing, content production and research skills. Since graduating, he has written for sports publications such as World In Sport and GiveMeSport. He is ecstatic to begin his bid writing career and expand on his current writing and researching skillset. In his spare time, Finlay loves all things sports, particularly football and pro wrestling, as well as video games.

Based in the Bolton Office. Tolu is currently a digital marketing apprentice, as she has keen interest in Marketing from her A-Levels at College and particularly enjoyed Business Studies.

She enjoys the creative aspects such as designing and has taken up work experience to broaden her knowledge and skills, using design tools to make presentations and email newsletters. Starting her journey at Thornton & Lowe she hopes to gain new skills and kickstart her career.

Based in our Bolton office, Abdullah is currently completing his Data Technician Apprenticeship, providing a unique service to our team, blending data from multiple sources to support business outcomes. Abdullah is keen to accelerate his data analytics journey with Thornton & Lowe eager to prove his effectiveness in the company as well as increase his skillset since joining in 2024.