Ken Erskine, a BID specialist with 36 years’ experience, has joined Big Bamboo BIDS as Managing Director.

Ken, who holds a bid and proposals certification at ‘Professional’ standard from the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) has joined the BID consultancy to help build on what has already been achieved, with an ambition to grow it to become one of the leading consultancies in its field.

Big Bamboo BIDS was incorporated in May 2022, since then it has won and retained work with clients in the Construction, Engineering, soft and hard FM and infrastructure sectors.

Ken’s career spans back to 1987, with a Proposals Manager role at John Mowlem & Company, and laterally Head of Proposals at Carillion following an acquisition, before joining John Sisk & Son as Regional Bid Director in 2008.

Seven years later he moved on to work for Balfour Beatty in numerous work winning roles, most latterly as National Bid Director responsible for leading and winning strategic bids, including a PCSA for an £800m mixed use development, a £250m confidential high security defence opportunity and a £4bn single source national public sector framework.

Ken’s most recent role saw him take up the Head of Bids & Proposals role at Careys – before moving on to explore other opportunities, which led him to Big Bamboo BIDS.

Ken says of his appointment:

"Having spent 36 years working in bid & proposals in many of the UK’s leading contracting businesses, I am excited to be taking a leap into the world of consultancy."

“Having found myself in a situation where I was looking for a new opportunity, I was approached by numerous companies. Nicola, the Founding Director and I were introduced via a mutual connection, and it became clear very quickly that we both saw an opportunity for a consultancy that could offer something different and disrupt the marketplace."

“Big Bamboo BIDS offers a range of services and has already established itself as a BID partner to many companies. My role will ensure that it retains what has already been achieved and that it capitalises on the opportunities that exist in supporting companies to win work – which I will also do myself, as an active consultant.”

Nicola Stamford, Founding Director, adds: “Bringing Ken into the business is an exciting time for us. He is a BID professional at the top of his game, so I am confident he will help us to take the business to the next level, working alongside Racheal – our Head of BIDS and Jamie, our Senior Proposals Manager."

“I look forward to seeing what unfolds in the coming months and years and to working with Ken and the wider team to build Big Bamboo BIDS into the business I know it can be.”

Ken has held a 10-year voluntary Board position on the APMP UK, including two tenures as CEO and a two-year position on the APMP International Board, helping inform and champion industry best practice. Ken has also fulfilled the role of judge on numerous national and international panels.