Bid Management - Project Management Associate Higher Apprenticeship
Thales · South East · RH10 9HA
About the role
Ready to turn your curiosity into a career? 🚀 We're looking for organised, common-sense thinkers with a keen eye for detail to join our Bid Management Apprenticeship programme! This is your chance to combine cool academic study with real-world, hands-on experience at a global, innovative leader. We're excited to hear from you if you're ready to grow and thrive! 🌟
What's In It For You?
- Get Paid to Learn: Earn a salary while you study for your apprenticeship. 💸
- Real Experience: Dive into the fast-paced world of Bid & Project Management. 📈
- Top-Notch Training: Receive job-specific development to boost your skills. 📚
- Get Qualified: Achieve a recognised industry qualification. ✅
- Tuition Covered: Your course fees are fully paid for. 💯
- Secure Your Future: Land a permanent role from day one. 🛡️
About the Role:
Bid Management at Thales UK is all about winning new projects and driving our success. 🏆 As a Bid Management Apprentice, you'll be at the heart of it, learning to lead teams, coordinate projects, and craft compelling proposals that show customers why Thales is the best choice. You'll be a key player in securing the future of our business.
What You'll Learn:
- How to nail customer requests. 🗣️
- Structuring and estimating new projects. 🏗️
- Crafting persuasive and competitive proposals. ✍️
- Supporting negotiations to win new contracts. 🤝
- The commercial side of winning business. 💰
You'll join a dynamic bid team, where your ideas are welcome, and you'll build relationships while taking on more responsibility. We'll support you through the entire bid lifecycle, from understanding opportunities to delivering winning contracts. Expect exposure to diverse projects, products, customers, and challenges, all while building killer skills in communication, organisation, project management, and business writing. 💡
Your Responsibilities:
- Help coordinate bids, tenders, and proposals. 📑
- Keep bid plans and trackers up-to-date, gathering info from teams. 📊
- Assist with drafting, editing, and formatting submissions to be sharp and on time. 📝
- Manage bid libraries and supporting documents. 📂
- Research customers, markets, and competitors. 🔎
- Help prepare materials for bid reviews and customer meetings. 🧑🏫
- Join bid reviews and learn from every win (and near miss!). 🌱
- Understand commercial aspects and how we win business. 🌐
- Complete your apprenticeship learning activities. 🎓
The Apprenticeship Programme:
This is a 2-year Level 4 Project Manager Associate Apprenticeship with our partner, The Apprentice Academy. You'll get tailored on-the-job training alongside your studies, delivered virtually through live workshops, 1-2-1 coaching, and self-directed learning. Upon successful completion, you'll move into a Project Planner or Project Controller role within Thales UK.
What You Need to Apply:
We're hunting for enthusiastic, motivated, and committed individuals with a real drive to learn. If you're a self-starter who can manage your time, show initiative, and have a genuine interest in bids and Thales UK, we want you! 💪 Show us your self-discipline and ambition to succeed.
- 2 A Levels (Grade C or above) or equivalent Level 3 qualification (e.g., BTEC Diploma MM, T Level Merit, Level 3 Apprenticeship).
- 5 GCSEs (Grade 4-9 / A-C), including English and Maths.
Awesome Benefits:
- Competitive salary: £24,000 per year. 💰
- Potential for performance-related pay uplifts. ✨
- 201 hours of holiday per year (plus company day & bank holidays). 🏖️
- Contributory Company Pension. 🛡️
- Health Care Cash Plan. 🩺
- Hybrid/flexible working options. 🏠
- Employee Assistance Programme. 🤗
- Learning & Development support. 🧠
- Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives. 😊
- Life Cover. ⚰️
- 80 hours volunteering per year (first 2 years). ❤️
About Thales:
Thales is committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion – they're key to our success.
The Application Process:
1. Apply Online: Submit your initial application to register your interest. 💻
2. Check Your Emails: Look for an invitation to apply from recruiting@jobalerts.thalesgroup.com. 📧
3. Complete Your Application: Follow the link to submit your full application. You can apply for one primary role and up to 3 additional ones.
4. Online Tests: Complete assessments designed to gauge your suitability. 🧠
5. Virtual Assessment Centre: If you pass the tests, you'll attend a virtual assessment centre with group exercises and interviews. 🤝
6. Job Offer: Successful candidates will receive an offer from Thales! 🎉
Important Dates:
- Assessment Centres: February - May 2027.
- Induction Week: Monday 6 September - Friday 10 September 2027.
- Closing Date: 11:59 pm on Wednesday 17 February 2027. Apply early as roles may close sooner if high volumes are received! ⏳
Please Note: All roles require UK Government security checks. You must have the right to work in the UK and be able to successfully complete BPSS screening and Security Clearance (SC). This typically requires you to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. You'll need to provide evidence of your identity, right to work, time spent overseas, and employment/education history.
Ready to Apply? Click the apply button to learn more and submit your application. Don't wait – this opportunity could close early! 🚀
Key responsibilities
- Support the coordination of bids, tenders, proposals and other customer submissions
- Maintain bid plans, action trackers and submission schedules coordinating information and contributions from colleagues across different teams
- Assist with drafting, editing and formatting written responses to help ensure submissions are accurate, consistent, professional and completed on time
- Maintain bid libraries, case studies, standard responses, policies and supporting documentation
- Carry out research into customers, markets and competitors to support bid development