It’s time for another instalment of my small business interview series! And this time I’m chatting to Andrew Morrison, the founder and managing director of the multi-award-winning AM Bid.
Based in North Berwick, just outside Edinburgh, Andrew leads a team of bid, proposal and tender experts working with both large and small businesses across 20 different sectors.
Since starting the business in 2014, Andrew (pictured above with David Sole OBE, Non-Executive Chairman of AM Bid) has successfully grown the company to be Scotland’s largest bid and tender specialists.
If you want to win work through the tender route, which is used for all contracts above £50k in the public sector and many contracts in the private sector, then do have a chat with AM Bid!
Why do you do what you do?
I love the work I do at AM Bid. We are helping organisations across Scotland, the rest of the UK and Ireland to sustain and grow their businesses by helping them win bids and tenders. We are consistently achieving 80% bid win rates for our clients. In the process, we are also creating great careers with AM Bid.
What are you most proud of?
Starting AM Bid from scratch in October 2014 and growing it to a business that will have a £1 million turnover in this, our fifth year of trading – all with no investment or debt. This is something that less than 0.6% of new businesses achieve.
What keeps you up at night?
Sometimes we have some late nights working in bidding, so the answer can be bids!
What was the best business decision you ever made?
Without a doubt, quitting my job to set up AM Bid.
Andrew Morrison from AM BidAnd the worst?
Nothing too bad so far!
What’s the best piece of advice you ever got?
Look after your staff and they will look after your clients.
How do you attract new clients or customers?
By a multi-pronged approach that includes PR, marketing, social media, thought leadership, networking and events. We also get a lot of referrals from satisfied clients.
What do you enjoy most about your marketing?
Something is working as the AM Bid brand is starting to have real traction. It’s great when people have heard of us before we meet them.
How do you relax?
My wife, Emma, is a teacher of piano and violin, so if I ask nicely, she can play me some beautiful music! I live in a rural setting just outside Edinburgh – I have both country walks and beach walks very nearby.
What is your favourite brand?
Simon Bourne and the Hand Dyed Shoe Company. Check out his website for unique shoes for gentlemen… I love them!
What’s something you dream of doing?
Emma and I both have relatives in New Zealand, so we would love to organise a trip there in the next few years.
What’s next?
The AM Bid team is working hard to scale our business. I am looking forward to seeing how this develops over the next few years.
Find out more about Andrew and AM Bid by visiting his website, ambid.co.uk. You can also follow AM Bid on LinkedIn and Twitter.
KEEP READING:
To read more of these interviews, have a look here:
Mica & Jo from Edinburgh Yarn Festival
Lucy Cardwell from Lucky Cloud Skincare
Jane Banks from LaserFlair
Caroline Walsh from Archipelago Bakery
