Tender Narrative Team

Sarah Higginson

Job Title: Bid Proposal Executive

Time with company: Over 5 years

Location: Andover

I have worked at Office Depot for over 5 years. Originally employed as a Commercial Administrator, I quickly progressed into a Bid Project Executive role. This involves writing and submitting proposals for customers in order to secure new business or to retain existing business.

Career development is very important to me and Office Depot has provided me with the opportunity to really excel in my work over the previous 2 years. In 2008, our in-house Learning and Development Department granted me financial assistance (through the Office Depot Educational Assistance Policy) to take an Adobe InDesign training course in London. This has helped me to improve the presentation of my business proposals. Being creative has always been in my nature. I am proud to work for an organisation that has enhanced this by giving me the chance to build upon this strength through personal development.

In 2009, my efforts have been upon writing the perfect business proposal. Although the look and feel of a proposal plays an important part, more importantly, it is the content and the way we respond to a customer’s needs and expectations that account towards our success. In May 2009, I became APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals) accredited. This was an intensive course that covered everything from project management and reviewing, to writing in a business-orientated manner without the need for technical jargon. Since achieving this accreditation, I am now able to write proposals with ease and confidence. I am a firm believer that you only get out what you put in. By pushing my own personal boundaries over the last 2 years and of course with the support of my manager through regular performance appraisals, I have accomplished so much more than I have ever expected.