Amy Smith
- Job Title: Bid Centre Manager
- Business Area: Living Space
Introducing Amy
Amy is one of the bid centre managers for our affordable housing business, Living Space. She oversees the bidding process in London and the South East.
Personal Statement
From my early teens I knew I wanted to work in construction, I’ve always been interested in buildings. Having completed a degree in Building and Construction Management I joined Wates as a trainee site manager. I then moved into planning and then into bid management. The on-the-job training is excellent here and the people are always ready to help. I also like the way that I’ve been presented with my next challenge before I’ve probably realised that I’m ready for it. It’s kept me stretched and I wouldn’t come to work every day unless I enjoyed it.
My Week
I’m accountable for the bidding process in my region which means I oversee the bid teams, adding value where I can. We manage around 70 bids a year which can be very quick turnarounds i.e. from a week to more detailed 6 to 8 week tenders. Deadlines are always tight and it’s a high pressure job. We are always working to achieve a “fully considered bid” and ultimately of course, win the work.
Another area I’m involved in is training. There is a shortage of skilled estimators in the industry so we are currently working with 2 trainees to help bridge this gap. We also ensure commercial trainees spend some time with the bid team to ensure they have an understating of how we win the work.