Bid Coordinator to Bidding Manager
Jo Brassington’s Journey
Jo joined Pipster in 2021 to assist and coordinate bids and provide business management, financial and administrative support. This quickly changed after successfully passing the APMP Foundation exam, with a growing client base and taking on projects independently leading to a new role as Bid Writer. Jo completed the APMP Mentoring programme to continue her career growth shortly after studying and passing the APMP Practitioner exam, whilst also contributing to business growth through her Data and Performance Champion role, website development, building a bespoke CRM system and taking on larger, more complex bids. This led to a role as a senior team member, becoming a line manager and joining the Pipster Business Management Team. Following continued success, Jo is now a Bidding Manager – looking after her own clients, with niche sector expertise, managing large complex tenders, whilst also retaining crucial business support responsibilities including the development of a documented Quality Management System and future ISO 9001 certification. Jo will continue to train and develop, focusing on system auditing and ILM leadership training, the Global Bid Masters Programme, APMP micro certifications and developing her recently appointed STEM Ambassador and Enterprise Advisor roles.
Human Resource Management to Bidding
Sajia Ahmed’s Journey
Sajia joined Pipster as a People & Socials Officer while completing her postgraduate studies in Human Resource Management and, by shadowing Pipster’s team, learned about this exciting field and accepted a bidding role. Sajia has since completed a Bid and Proposal Co-ordinator Apprenticeship with the RHG at Merit level, the Shipley Writing Winning Proposals course and specialist bid design courses, building technical bid development and writing skills. Sajia has now grown into a qualified Bid Writer and is winning multi-million-pound contracts for a range of clients across the public sector. As she advances her career with Pipster, she will embark on the APMP Certification Programme to achieve Foundation in 2025 and complete other specialist bid training to continue her professional development journey.
Bid Writer to Bid and Proposal Specialist
Katie Dongworth’s Journey
Katie joined Pipster as a Bid Writer in 2020. Within just 2-years, she completed the Bid and Proposal Coordinator Apprenticeship with the JGA Group at Distinction level, was shortlisted for the APMP Best Newcomer Award 2021, and won a place on the Strategic Proposals Rising Stars Programme 2022. During her time with Pipster, Katie played an integral role in building the company brand and the winning of multi-million-pound contracts for Pipster’s established client base. Now, as she advances her career, she has taken on a Senior Bid and Proposal Specialist role within the finance industry aligning perfectly with her office and city lifestyle.
Social Value: Cultivating the next generation of bid professionals
Industry-first Bid Writer Insight Programme
Pipster will be launching its industry-first Bid Writer Insight Programme in summer 2025. Led by Bid Writer and Career Development Champion Sajia, the five day programme offers a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical experience. Through engaging webinars, learners will delve into what competitive bidding is and how it fits into the wider sales lifecycle, the end-to-end bid lifecycle, and the diverse range of bidding roles the profession has to offer. Learners will step into the shoes of a Pipster Bid Writer and dive into a live bid simulation, and gain practical guidance and support in building their bidding career through career coaching 1-2-1s and skills development training.
The programme will be delivered annually with a goal of attracting young people to the growing profession and encouraging them to consciously select it as a career path.
Meet the team
Hannah Thorne
Pipster Associate
Jo Brassington
Bidding Manager
Sajia Ahmed
Bid Writer
Pippa Birch
Founder
Founder
Pippa Birch
Pippa has been a Bid Writer and Manager for over 20 years and founded Pipster Solutions in 2012. She worked in the highways industry for much of her employment, within the contracting divisions of RMC, Cemex and Aggregate Industries, gained industry-specific qualifications and was a key member of the Institute of Asphalt Technology, editing Asphalt Professional and sitting on the Council. While the majority of her career has been in Highways and civil engineering public procurement, Pippa has also worked on complicated bids in facilities management, custody, and energy. Holding APMP Professional certification, Pippa is a member of the APMP Intentional Career Path Committee, an APMP UK Rapport Mentor and is an Individual Career Path Lead volunteer for the APMP UK Chapter. Away from bidding, Pippa loves mud and taking part in OCR events across the UK. She dreams of escaping to Cornwall to live by the sea!
Pipster Associate
Hannah Thorne
Hannah is a proactive and conscientious Pipster Associate whose friendly, approachable, and professional nature has seen her build strong relationships with many clients. After joining Pipster Solutions in 2020, she quickly progressed from Bid Writer to Senior Bid Writer and is now an Associate managing and writing large-scale high profile bids for a diverse client base. With eight years’ experience in bidding, Hannah started in the utilities sector and has since worked on many successful highways and civil engineering bids, as well as for the nuclear sector . In addition to bid management and writing, she also has over twenty years’ graphic design experience and uses her excellent eye for detail to elevate bid responses. Since 2021, Hannah has achieved both APMP Foundation and Practitioner Level, as well as Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Levels 2 and 3.
Bidding Manager
Jo Brassington
Jo is a very organised, efficient and practical Bid Writer and Manager driven to build collaborative client relationships and achieve results. She currently manages a portfolio of clients, supports team member development and contributes to business growth as a member of the Pipster Business Management Team. Jo is passionate about managing data and working efficiently and is currently building business processes and systems to improve functionality including the creation of a bespoke CRM system and gaining certification as a ISO 9001 BSI Internal Auditor. With over 20 years in quarrying, construction and civil engineering sectors across bidding, marketing and sales roles, Jo brings not only bidding expertise but industry awareness and knowledge to each project providing confidence to her clients. Over the last three years she has completed the APMP Foundation and Practitioner courses, completed a bid mentoring programme and has recently become a STEM Ambassador with the Minerals Matters group and an Enterprise Advisor linked to a local school to promote the industry and sectors to younger people while also progressing her own career.
Bid Writer
Sajia Ahmed
Sajia is a motivated Bid Writer dedicated to winning client work, pursuing professional development, and making a tangible impact on career promotion within the Bidding Industry. She joined Pipster as a People & Socials Officer while completing her postgraduate studies and, by shadowing Pipster’s team, learned about this exciting field and accepted a bidding role. Sajia has since completed a Bid and Proposal Co-ordinator Apprenticeship, and specialist bid writing and design courses, building technical bid development and writing skills. As Sajia builds her Pipster clientele, she is recognised for her project management skills and collaborative, client-focused approach. As Career Development Champion, Sajia is leading the development of Pipster’s industry-first Bid Writer Insight Programme. Driven by her passion, she aims to make the bidding career better known and encourage young people to select it as a conscious career choice. Sajia will soon embark on the APMP Certification Programme and achieve Foundation.
