Jon Acton

What do you do in the business?

As the Bid Manager for CT Skills, I oversee the full bid lifecycle from opportunity identification through to submission. A key part of my role is monitoring and managing procurement portals to ensure suitable opportunities are identified and shared with the relevant team members. This includes staying up to date with new listings and acting quickly to capitalise on potential leads.

A significant area of the role involves analysing tender documents to fully understand buyers’ requirements. This insight forms the basis for preparing and planning bid responses, ensuring internal deadlines are met and all specifications are addressed comprehensively. Collaboration is essential, as I work closely with managers and team members to align on content, gather key information, and develop case studies and reference materials that strengthen the bid.

Writing bids and proposals is central to the role, including editing or reworking previous submissions and integrating reusable content where appropriate. This requires careful collation of material from multiple departments, ensuring consistency in tone, messaging, and quality throughout. Presenting complex information clearly, concisely, and persuasively is vital, with the final submission needing to be accurate, compliant, and delivered on time.

After submission, I maintain communication with buyers to gather feedback that informs continuous improvement. I also manage a well-organised bid library containing previous bids, case studies, and supporting materials, helping to streamline future submissions and ensure consistency across the company.

What’s your background?

From 2004 to 2008, I studied at the University of Sheffield, graduating with a high 2:1 BA in Management, which provided a strong foundation in business and organisational principles. I later completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the University of Derby between 2011 and 2012, equipping me with the skills needed for a teaching career.

After teaching in primary schools for five years, I decided to pursue a new direction that made use of my transferable skills — particularly planning, writing, and communication — and moved into bid writing and management. With almost a decade of experience across multiple sectors, I now lead end-to-end bidding processes, coordinating resources, timelines, and teams to deliver high-quality proposals under tight deadlines.

Bid writing is a key strength; I craft clear, persuasive proposals tailored to client needs and effectively present complex solutions. My management background enables me to juggle multiple bids simultaneously, ensuring timely and well-organised delivery. I apply strong commercial acumen to strategically assess opportunities, balancing compliance with profitability. I am solution-focused, proactive, and committed to finding practical ways to meet client needs and overcome challenges. Attention to detail ensures all submissions are accurate, consistent, and aligned with expectations, while effective stakeholder management supports cohesive and compelling final bids.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received or given?

Two pieces of advice have stayed with me:

• Make a list — mental or written — of your daily tasks, and do everything you can to complete them each day.
• Keep going and don’t give up when things get tough. Perseverance and determination are essential for success.