Trunk Logistics Case Study

About Trunk Logistics

Trunk Logistics has been a registered company since 2019, evolving from a removals business into a broader logistics provider as its strategic direction developed. Based in Thurrock, Trunk is a growing SME with ambitions to secure public sector contracts and expand its footprint within large infrastructure and government-led projects.

What made you opt to use a bid writing consultancy?

As a growing SME, Trunk Logistics recognised that bidding for public sector contracts required a level of structure, compliance and strategic positioning that can be difficult to achieve without specialist expertise.

For Jo, the decision to work with a bid writing consultancy was about improving quality and ensuring their submissions were competitive in what is often a complex and resource-intensive process.

Had you bid for public sector work in the past, prior to working with Thornton & Lowe?

Like many SMEs, Trunk had engaged with public sector opportunities before but found the process demanding and repetitive, particularly at the pre-qualification stage.

Jo highlighted the administrative burden of repeatedly submitting similar PQQ-style information across multiple portals and organisations. The duplication of effort, especially when dealing with separate companies operating under a wider framework, created frustration and consumed valuable time.

This experience reinforced the importance of having a more structured and efficient approach to bidding, hence the search for a bid consultancy such as Thornton & Lowe.

What would you say to another business thinking about bidding for public sector opportunities?

Jo is clear that public sector bidding can feel overwhelming — particularly for smaller businesses juggling day-to-day operations. Taking the daily impact of running a bid often does not have a fixed cost, but is incredibly important to consider, and one that Jo took into account when researching a solution.

However, she also recognises the significant opportunity public sector contracts present — and that with the right professional support in Thornton & Lowe, the process becomes far more manageable.

How has working with Thornton & Lowe improved your approach to bidding, and how do you feel about your submissions compared to before?

Working with Thornton & Lowe has helped Trunk Logistics become more structured, strategic and confident in their approach to competitive bidding.

Rather than treating each opportunity as a standalone exercise, Jo and the team at Thornton & Lowe developed a robust framework for organising information, managing pre-qualification requirements and strengthening quality responses.

She has become more proactive in procurement discussions and more confident in understanding what contracting authorities are looking for — particularly around quality, compliance and how SMEs can add value.

Overall, Trunk’s most recent submission felt more aligned to buyer expectations as well as being more comprehensive and complete. The process feels less reactive and more controlled, giving Trunk greater confidence when entering new opportunities.