A Bolton-headquartered business consultancy has doubled its workforce and seen its client base grow after embracing new technologies and innovation strategies.
Thornton & Lowe has been helping businesses with their contract and tender writing processes since 2009 and has seen significant growth in both turnover and staff numbers in recent years. The company has taken on 15 new members of staff in the last two years alone, doubling its workforce.
Working across the public and private sectors, Thornton & Lowe helps companies to win high value formal contracts and tenders. As technology has evolved, its product offering has grown beyond just consultancy and bid writing and now encompasses software designed to take a lot of leg work out of the process.
Company director, David Thornton, says: “It’s good to help companies to secure some major contracts. The businesses we work with have experienced real growth and opportunities because of our advice and it’s fair to say that our growth is nothing compared to that of our clients.
“The industry is growing and there’s more tenders out there than ever before. More private companies are using these processes as well. We have developed tender library software that has been well received by a number of large organisations like the NHS Trusts, SSE and national charities.”
The firm’s software allows the organisations that make regular bids to keep track of the information and resources they might require with minimal disruption.
By the end of next year, Thornton is anticipating the workforce growing to 40 people and establishing new opportunities. The business has also signed up to the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, enacting working practices to help keep staff feel valued and happy.
For several years now, the business has benefitted from the lessons and support provided by GC Business Growth Hub, which is part of The Growth Company and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Thornton adds: “As far back as I can remember, since establishing the business we’ve worked with the Business Growth Hub on several projects. Whether it has been to develop our innovation strategy, find apprentices or to better understand and maintain income, they’ve been a great help.
“We’ve also used the Hub’s expertise to help us train up our staff and make sure that they’re equipped with the right skills. A lot of the successes we’ve seen over the last five years have come off the back of innovation sessions with the hub that have helped us to see the light.”
The firm has also taken on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) associate with The University of Manchester to help research and establish a ‘tender pipeline’, that can allow users to freely monitor tender, receive email alerts and understand which sectors competitors are operating in. The KTP was made possible with BGH support.
Thornton adds: “Our KTP associate is totally focused on this project and they’re really pushing the research and development phase. We anticipate that we’ll be able to inform people of their likely win rates for contracts, so you won’t have to go in for contracts you’re unlikely to secure.
“We’ve already got 1,000 users through recommendations and we’ve had the North West Aerospace Alliance promote it to their members and the National Federation of Builders. It’s a great tool, and as we build that side of the business, people can get to know us as a market intelligence company and then learn about the ways we can support them to win new business.”
Hub Account Manager, Jonathan Crabtree, oversees relationship between Thornton & Lowe and the Business Growth Hub.
He says: “David certainly has a plan and a vision for Thornton & Lowe and the company’s move to develop more software that can be used by the industry will open opportunities for the company as a whole. He clearly has the customer and their journey at the centre of his thinking.
“It’s something that David has always shown and as we’ve worked on various projects over the years, he’s been able to make the most of the opportunities available. Being able to work positively and grow consistently through the pandemic is testament to his ambition and drive.”
