Balancing Priorities & Finding Direction:
A Career in Bid Management and Social Value
Reading Time: 8 Minutes
Career paths don’t always begin with a clear destination in mind. For many professionals, progression is shaped by change, adaptability, and learning on the job rather than a fixed plan. Laura’s career journey reflects this reality. Moving between sectors and discovering new opportunities along the way, her role today sits across bid management, marketing and communications, and social value within the construction industry — an intersection that requires flexibility, organisation, and a strong understanding of people as much as process.
Working in a fast-paced support function means no two days look the same. Competing priorities, changing business needs, and unexpected requests are part of the everyday reality. Rather than following a rigid routine, success in the role comes from the ability to respond quickly, manage multiple strands of work at once, and maintain clear communication across teams. This adaptability is not always visible from the outside, yet it underpins much of the impact the role has on the wider business.
Alongside the technical aspects of bid writing and coordination, Laura’s work is increasingly influenced by the growing importance of social value within construction. From community engagement and employability initiatives to local investment and workforce development, social value has become a measurable and meaningful part of how organisations operate. For Laura, this connects closely to her background in the voluntary sector, bringing a sense of purpose and alignment between values and professional practice.
Laura McFadden
Role: Bid Management & Social Value Professional
Sector: Construction / Bid Management / Marketing & Communications
Degree: Business Management (Distance Learning)
Like many professionals balancing work alongside study, Laura completed her degree as a mature student through distance learning. This experience strengthened her research, critical thinking, and information-gathering skills, while highlighting the importance of transferable skills such as prioritisation, communication, and continuous learning. Her career story demonstrates that progression is not always linear — and that unexpected changes can open the door to roles and pathways you may not have known existed.
In the interview below, Laura shares honest insight into the day-to-day reality of her role, the skills she relies on most, and how adaptability and continuous learning have shaped her journey from study into a multifaceted professional career.
Inside the Role
First Things First: What’s the very first thing you do when you start your workday, and why is it important?
The very first thing I do each day is grab a coffee. Absolutely non-negotiable! Then I check my emails and catch up with my teammates. It might sound simple, but it sets the tone for everything that follows. My role is fast paced, with priorities that can shift quickly with the drop of an email, so staying connected is essential. Taking a few minutes to touch base with colleagues helps me understand what’s happening across the team and the wider business, and where I might need to focus my attention. The social side of work is actually a big part of what makes me effective. Strong relationships and open communication mean I can quickly reach out for support, share ideas, or solve problems as they come up. In a role like mine, being able to collaborate and adapt is what keeps everything moving smoothly.
The Unexpected Moments: What’s something that happens in your day that most people wouldn’t expect?
One thing that might surprise people is that the first document I open in the morning is often still sitting unfinished on my desktop at the end of the day. That’s not because I’ve been unproductive, but because my role is highly reactive and priorities can shift quickly. As a manager in a support function, my day is often shaped by what the business needs in the moment. It requires a lot of flexibility and the ability to switch focus quickly without losing sight of the bigger picture. That’s one of the most interesting parts of the job, for me. Being able to adapt and respond in real time is what makes the role both challenging and rewarding.
Your Work Rhythm: Do you have any routines or habits that help you stay productive throughout the day?
I rely on a few key habits to stay productive, especially because my workload can be quite fast-moving. The biggest one is making lists. I’m a big fan of a good to-do list. Whether it’s in a notebook or a digital task manager, writing things down helps me keep track of everything and stops important tasks from slipping through the cracks.
Collaborative breakout space within the workplace
Shared Workspace & Social Area
I also prioritise carefully early on so I don’t feel overwhelmed by volume and can focus on what really needs attention first. Even when the day gets busy or unpredictable, I know I’m tackling the most important things. Another habit that really helps is blocking out time in my diary for focused work. If I need to concentrate, I’ll often go as far as booking a meeting room so I can avoid distractions and give something my full attention.
Skills, Growth & Turning Points
The Hidden Strength: What’s a skill you didn’t realize would be so valuable until you started this role?
Without a doubt, it’s my ability to multitask and work effectively under pressure. My role covers several functions, including bid management, CSR/social value, and marketing and communications, so I’m often balancing multiple priorities at once. I’ve come to really value the variety. Being able to switch between different types of work and manage competing deadlines is essential. It’s a skill that I’ve developed over time, and it’s made me far more adaptable and resilient in my day-to-day work. It’s also one of the things I enjoy most about the role.
A Career Turning Point: Was there a moment or decision that significantly shaped your career path?
My career has been split between the voluntary sector and construction. A key turning point came when my role in the voluntary sector was made redundant due to funding cuts. I took a role in construction as a result, not really knowing if it was for me or where it would lead. It was in this move that I was introduced to bid management, which I hadn’t realised was a distinct career pathway. Once I got started, I really discovered an area I enjoyed and could see myself growing in. It also marked the point where I became genuinely ambitious about my career for the first time. What felt like an unexpected change in direction ended up shaping my career in a very positive way.
Advice for Growth: What’s one habit or mindset that has helped you grow professionally?
Something that has helped me grow professionally is a commitment to continuous learning, whether that’s through formal qualifications or something as simple as a 30-minute lunchtime webinar. I take any opportunity I can to broaden my understanding of my role and the wider industry. That mindset has helped me stay adaptable and keep progressing even when my role has evolved over time.
Education & Transferable Skills
Your Academic Path: What subject(s) did you study at university, and what drew you to that choice?
I studied Business Management. I did this as a mature student on a distance learning basis with my current employer. It aligned well with my current role, and I’d already studied for my HNC in Business at college, so it was a follow on from past learning.
Skills That Stick: Which professional or transferable skills did you develop during your studies that have been most valuable in your current role?
One of the most valuable transferable skills I developed was the ability to research and bring together information from a wide range of sources in a structured way. In bid management, this is something I use every day when pulling together information for clients from across the business. My university experience has helped me strengthen my ability to make sure that information is accurate and relevant, and how to present a strong, well-evidenced case in a concise and compelling way.
Professional Meeting Space for Collaboration
Looking Back: Is there a skill you wish you had focused on more during your time at university?
As a mature student who studied while working, I came into my degree with over 20 years of professional experience, which gave me a strong grounding to apply academic theory to real-world situations. Studying by distance learning worked really well for me in terms of flexibility and linking learning directly to my job. That said, one area I did miss out on compared to a traditional university experience was the collaborative and presentation side of learning, such as working closely with peers, group projects, and regular in-person discussion. Those experiences naturally build confidence in communicating ideas in different settings, and that’s something I’ve developed more through my career rather than during my studies.
Beyond the Job
Industry Insight: What’s a trend or innovation in your industry that excites you right now?
One trend that excites me in the construction industry right now is the growing focus on social value. It’s something that has become a formal and measurable part of how organisations operate, but for me it also connects directly back to my roots in the voluntary sector and making a positive impact in local communities. In my current role, I work on social value as part of our project delivery, helping to create benefits beyond the physical build, whether that’s local employment, upskilling our team, engaging with schools and students, or investing in community initiatives. Seeing the industry take this more seriously, and being part of shaping that conversation, is something I find really motivating.
Your Go-To Resource: Is there a book, podcast, or online resource you recommend to anyone interested in your field?
I wouldn’t say I rely on any single book, podcast, or resource. Instead, I try to stay broadly informed by reading widely and keeping up to date with changes across the industry. In particular, the social value landscape is constantly evolving, so I find it more useful to take a continuous learning approach rather than following one fixed source.
The Future Skill: If you were hiring for your role in five years, what skill would be non-negotiable?
If I were hiring for my role in five years’ time, I think the most non-negotiable skill would be the ability to effectively multitask and prioritise a wide range of responsibilities. The role isn’t necessarily about dealing with a large volume of work in one area, but rather managing lots of smaller, varied tasks across different functions and responding quickly to changing priorities.
What Skills are you Developing?
Laura’s journey highlights how success in fast-paced roles depends on the ability to manage competing priorities, adapt quickly, and continuously learn.
Her experience shows that building a career is not always linear—developing transferable skills like organisation, collaboration and adaptability allows you to navigate change and take advantage of new opportunities.
These are not just skills for construction or bid management—you are likely already developing them through your studies, work experience, and everyday responsibilities.
Reflect on your Experience
- When have you managed multiple priorities or deadlines at the same time?
- How have you adapted when plans or expectations changed unexpectedly?
- When have you worked collaboratively with others to achieve a shared goal?
- How do you organise your time and workload to stay productive?
- What steps have you taken to continue learning or developing your skills independently?
- Which of these skills do you feel most confident in—and which would you like to develop further?