Exciting Opportunity for Trainee Bid Writers

Stepnell; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory Pension

Annual Leave increases with service

Health Coverage

Car Allowance or Company Car

Employee Referral Scheme

Flexible start/finish times

Job summary

Stepnell is recruiting a Trainee Bid Writer to join the pre-contract team. You will help win tenders by translating technical data into persuasive, compliant proposals and assist with PQQs, ITTs and bid submissions.

You will work with site managers, estimators and specialists to gather information and draft clear responses, while learning e-tendering and library management. Training is provided, with progression opportunities across Stepnell's regional offices.

Qualifications

• Exceptional written and verbal communication in English.
• Strong IT literacy with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Organise, prioritise and meet submission deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Assist in producing PQQs, ITTs and bid submissions.
• Gather project data from site managers, estimators and technical staff.
• Draft clear, plain-English tender content.
• Manage e-tendering portals and central bid library.
• Support pre-contract teams with data analysis and schedules.

Skills

Communication in English

IT literacy

Time management

Education

Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships in Bid and Proposal Co-ordination

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Email systems

Job description

Exciting opportunities for Trainee Bid Writers

Stepnell is a leading regional contractor, a complete construction partner with proven end-to-end project lifecycle expertise. We serve a broad spectrum of private and public sector clients, ensuring they realise their vision by providing a more holistic approach to project design, build, management and delivery. We are an established, mature business with the resources and infrastructure to deliver larger, more challenging projects generally up to £25 million.

We are ambitious and continue to grow our business; but despite our stature, we remain a family business at heart. We combine the focus and accessibility of a regional contractor, with a depth of technical competency, professional capability and national reach usually reserved only for larger organisations.

Stepnell has fantastic opportunities for Trainee Bid Writers to work within our pre-contract teams to help win tenders, frameworks and project contracts by translating technical construction data into clear, persuasive and compliant proposals.

You will be working as part of the regional team alongside trained professionals and managers to deliver work to the highest standards. Assisting in production of Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs), Invitations to Tender (ITTs) and quality-focused bid submissions for construction projects.

Stepnell operate across a number of offices, in Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Rugby, Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford, Exeter and Southampton. Successful applicants will be based in either Nottingham, Rugby or Southampton.

Key responsibilities

You will gain competencies in a wide range of activities, for example:

• Information Gathering: Working with site managers, estimators, surveyors, and technical specialists to extract project methodologies, risk mitigations, and value-for-money propositions.
• Drafting Content: Write, edit, and re-format clear, plain-English responses to tender questions, case studies, and CV profiles.
• Portal & Document Management: Set up, check, and maintain e-tendering portals, log submissions, and help manage the central bid library/content database.
• Supporting Pre-Contract Teams: Assist senior bid managers and estimators with data analysis, cost plans, schedules/programmes, and deadline tracking.
• Compliance Checks: Ensure all bid responses strictly adhere to client specifications, word counts, and statutory requirements.

To succeed y ou will need:

Exceptional written and verbal communication in English.

Meticulous attention to detail and proofreading abilities.

Strong IT literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email systems).

Ability to organise, prioritise, and meet strict submission deadlines under pressure.

Bid Manager / Head of Work-Winning

Training

Relevant Health & Safety Certificates

Structured training programmes

Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships in Bid and Proposal Co-ordination.

Rewards

Starting salary of £24K

Contributory Pension

You will receive continuous 'on the job' training and professional development.

Excellent career prospects are available for those with the drive and ability to achieve.

Opportunities to progress to senior management, earn more money and build a successful career.

Closing date for applications 31st January 2027

Telephone Interviews - January-February 2027

Face to face interviews - March-April 2027

Offers of employment no later than 31st May 2027

Start Date - 6th September 2027

Why Stepnell

At Stepnell, we’re passionate about empowering our people to thrive. We believe in building fulfilling and rewarding careers by investing in talent, nurturing growth, and inspiring innovation. With the prestigious Investors in People Gold accreditation, we’re proud to place our people at the heart of everything we do. Every team member is valued, and curiosity and collaboration are central to our team culture. We’re committed to enabling our people to make a real impact and drive meaningful change throughout our business.

To show our appreciation, we offer generous and competitive benefits including, an enhanced pension scheme with a Stepnell contribution of 7% to help secure your financial future, annual leave that increases with service and the flexibility to purchase more, a market leading employee referral scheme, and for eligible roles comprehensive health coverage, adjustable start and finish times and a car allowance or company car.

Join us in a collaborative and inclusive environment where your well-being is our priority, and your contributions are truly valued.

About Stepnell

As a family-owned business with over 159 years of history, Stepnell is built on stability, trust, and long-term thinking. We make decisions with the future in mind for our people, our clients and our communities.

Our capabilities span construction, property, development, energy solutions, bespoke joinery and concrete repair, allowing us to offer services that meet a wide range of client needs. Operating through eight regional offices in Rugby, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Wantage, Bristol, Southampton, and Exeter and across three core business units, we maintain a strong local presence while delivering consistently high standards.

Today, repeat clients account for 75% of our turnover a testament to our reliability and the quality of our relationships.