Thornton & Lowe’s relationship with GM Business Growth Hub has spanned many years, with sustained support helping the business grow, build capability and, most recently, introduce AI and enhanced data protection into its bid management software.
Innovation grant funding
Estimated time saving through automating routine tasks
Increase in additional annual income forecast
From humble beginnings in a shared office space, Thornton & Lowe is now the largest bid writing firm in the UK. It’s been quite a journey since 2009, with GM Business Growth Hub working alongside the Bolton company at various stages along the way.
Most recently, that relationship has helped Thornton & Lowe integrate AI and enhanced data protection into its bid management software. Read on to learn how this long-standing collaboration has helped Thornton & Lowe evolve, adapt and grow.
Support that has grown with the business
When Thornton & Lowe first met with us, its team of around eight had just moved into its first dedicated office. “Thornton & Lowe’s relationship with GM Business Growth Hub goes back many years,” says Dave Thornton, Founder and CEO.
“It was myself and Charles Grossstephan, Bid Manager at the time and now our Director of Development, who met with their Innovation team. We wanted to explore how innovation could support growth by helping us better understand the challenges our clients were likely facing. And we’ve been able to draw on their guidance time and time again since then.”
This long-standing relationship has included help with grant applications, skills and workforce development, as well as introductions to other relevant expertise and services. Just as importantly, it has created a strong channel of communication, so the company knows where to turn when new opportunities or challenges emerge and can also be linked proactively to relevant expertise.
“Organic and steady growth has taken us to a team of about 60 now,” adds Dave, “and it’s been invaluable to have GM Business Growth Hub as a trusted point of contact along the way.”
Access to innovation expertise for an AI-enabled upgrade
Thornton & Lowe helps organisations across construction, healthcare and professional services win work, particularly in the public sector, where requirements continue to develop. Its services combine hands-on bid support with training and mentoring that helps SMEs build capability for the long term.
To support that work, the company developed its own software, Tender Library, in 2013 and went on to sell the product to NHS Trusts, national charities, such as the British Red Cross, SMEs and blue-chip organisations including E.ON, SSE and Siemens.
While the platform had served the company well, Thornton & Lowe knew the market was shifting and wanted to keep pace with what clients now expect. It also had an ambition to increase turnover by one-third within 12 months[MF1.1].
“The growth of AI gave us a real opportunity to improve and expand our software in a way that would bring more value to our clients,” says Dave. “For us, that meant using AI carefully, not replacing the human-crafted bid content our clients already value. The question was how to move quickly and do it properly. We spoke to GM Business Growth Hub and they told us about a pot of funding that we could apply for, which helped us move things forward.”
Building a fundable project plan
Our Innovation Service was able to help Dave and his team translate their strategic goal into a clear project with defined outcomes. The focus was on developing a next generation version of Tender Library, integrating AI and enhanced data protection to create a product they could use in-house as well as commercialise to current and new clients.
A Bolton-based supplier was then identified to provide the specialist technical expertise needed to develop and implement the new functionality, and Thornton & Lowe secured £20,000 in innovation grant funding towards the £29k project cost.
A Commercialisation Specialist helped keep delivery on track, underpinned by structured testing and robust timelines, budgets and performance requirements that were met at each stage. Training and development activity was also put in place to keep Thornton & Lowe staff involved throughout and embed knowledge transfer within the firm.
What the new platform improves
The upgrade was designed around four improvements that matter most to bid teams:
- Improved search accuracy and relevance: AI algorithms to enable more precise and relevant search results, helping users find suitable content more quickly and improving day-to-day usability.
- Enhanced data analysis: AI can process and analyse large datasets quickly, identifying key patterns and insights, to enable better decisions and stronger tender planning.
- Generative content creation for first drafts: AI tools, combined with the right dataset, can help teams produce consistent first drafts faster, saving time while keeping quality under control.
- Increased security, ethical walls and data protection: With a modern build and strengthened infrastructure, the platform would operate with improved security protocols and controls, a growing priority for public sector and regulated environments.
To run the enhanced AI product reliably, Thornton & Lowe also needed higher-powered equipment that wasn’t available within the business. So, alongside software development, the project also enabled the purchase of the capital equipment needed to commercialise and run the new platform effectively.
Time saved, capacity created and a new offer to market
Thornton & Lowe adopted its new AI bidding software in March 2025. By automating routine tasks, such as uploading content and searching through it, the business estimated a 15% time saving, equivalent to around 525 working days each year. That additional capacity could enable the business to generate over £300,000 in extra income per year from the same team.
Reflecting this period of strong growth, the company increased headcount by 27 across 12 months. The commercial outlook is equally encouraging, with additional income streams opened up by offering the software package to clients.
“For over a decade, we’ve helped our clients succeed in the tendering process across the UK to win public and third sector contracts,” says Dave. “Now, with the latest in AI search and content technology, we’re improving their ability to respond faster, write better and stay in control. There’s not a product like this on the market and we’re really grateful to GM Business Growth Hub for helping to drive us forward.”
Thornton & Lowe’s latest innovation project is one example of how long-term relationships with businesses can create value over time, through sustained backing, trusted connections and the ability to respond as business needs evolve.
Contact our team today on 0161 359 3050 or at bgh@growthco.uk to find out how we can help your business, whichever sector you’re in.
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