Sharpsmart Spotlight: Gemma Ridley

Whether it’s parasailing or a midnight walk up Mount Snowdon, why bother to check the weather forecast?

We want to take a moment to shine the spotlight on Sharpsmart’s resident quizmaster, our Bid Process Manager, Gemma Ridley.

Who’s behind Sharpsmart’s bid management process?

Gemma joined Sharpsmart during the peak of the pandemic and at that time, there was no bid resource – this threw her immediately into the deep end with her first bid submitted by the end of week one.

And it didn’t end there. The bids have continued rolling since week one!

After a short while and due to rapid growth since implementing clinical waste treatment infrastructure, another Bid Manager was brought in to support Gemma.

Each day has its challenges and rewards, and a day at work changes depending on how far along the different bids are that are being worked on. A normal day involves meetings for bid kick-offs, reviews, or storyboarding sessions. There’s also an element of looking for new tender opportunities.

The bulk of each working day is spent writing, and then cutting down the writing to fit within word count restrictions. Crafting a high-quality submission requires a lot of time, effort, and focused attention.

When Gemma isn’t at work she’s usually keeping fit by running or doing yoga – she’s a regular at her local Saturday park run. When she really wants to have some fun though, she works on decorating her new home.

Winding down is usually a case of cuddling up on the sofa with her cat and watching TV.

Gemma’s also no stranger to overcoming mountain-like obstacles, a typical example being her midnight ascent of Snowdon during a storm in support of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital charity. She clearly has no interest in weather forecasts…

But that’s enough from us – now that you have an idea of who Gemma Ridley is, let’s hear about her Sharpsmart experience in her own words as the quizmaster becomes the quizzed…

What were your first impressions of Sharpsmart?

The recruitment team were quick to get back to me and I appreciated the fast response. There was an in-depth interview process which made it clear that they put a lot of effort into ensuring they’re adding to the culture the business is known for.

It also became quickly clear that there’s a lot more to this company than I initially thought – it’s far more than just a waste collection service.

What do you enjoy most about working for Sharpsmart?

There are so many things but something in particular is that I genuinely believe in our solutions and truly believing in what you’re selling is a huge bonus.

Also, as I’m writing and putting together bids, I get to see our solutions being rolled out and making healthcare safer.

Leadership teams are open to new ideas and we’re given the freedom to experiment and put something forward to try it and if it doesn’t work there’s no critical aspect of an idea being squashed or like you’ve done something wrong.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned over your career?

There’s help out there when I need it and there’s nothing wrong in asking for help rather than trying to shoulder too much responsibility myself – I can achieve much better results when I’m not being stretched too thin.

Although this is great advice, I’m still working on fully applying it!

What’s the most fulfilling thing you’ve done with Sharpsmart?

Every successful bid is fulfilling, especially the longer and more challenging tender processes just because to win and get the result at the end is incredible.

One that comes to mind is Cheshire and Merseyside. I’d worked hard on the bid for the tender and then worked on the mobilisation and saw first-hand how we deliver and implement our solutions. It was a real full-circle moment.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve been asked to do whilst on the job?

I get asked to do quizzes a lot, I seem to have become the resident quizmaster.

It all began with a Macmillan Cancer Support charity day, I did the quiz for that and now I'm like the Chris Tarrant of Sharpsmart…

What does growth look like for you and your dept/team/plant?

We’re currently looking to bring in another Bid Writer – someone who wants to get stuck into bids, learn the process and the business and then grow with us. We’ve got big growth targets in the commercial team.

There are a lot of opportunities in the pipeline to focus on as well as working closely with Contract Managers to keep our existing partners happy. We’ve always had a strong retention rate with our customers and intend to uphold that reputation.

We’re continually improving and developing skills within the team and introducing new systems. Plus, as the business grows, the content evolves.

How would you describe the culture at Sharpsmart?

It’s fun and energetic, collaborative and full of ideas. It doesn’t have the typical hierarchical boundaries you’d expect from a global business and despite being a global company it feels local.

It’s always a great night out when we get together too because it’s very much a work hard play hard culture that embraces us celebrating our successes together.

If you could dispel one myth about the healthcare waste industry, what would that be?

That it’s just trucks picking up and moving waste from A to B – there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.

What advice would you give someone looking for a career with Sharpsmart?

Just be yourself, put yourself out there, and don’t shy away from putting forward your ideas.

Aim for what you want and where you feel you can add value, there are no shackles on you in this company other than those you put on yourself. The path we’re on and the organisational structure aren’t set in stone so if you want something, it’s a case of reaching out and the company will work with you to make it happen.

If you were abandoned on a desert island, which three Sharpsmart colleagues would you want with you?

Rob Green, he’s always recommending great hikes and I feel like he’s a survival expert with a Ray Mears survival kit in his bag. Carl O’Neill because he's always upbeat, brings good energy, and would keep us optimistic that we’ll be saved soon – or he’ll come up with a crazy plan to get us off the island. Gemma Norton, for keeping everyone calm and keeping it real and for someone to have nice chats with. She’ll also keep Carl in check with his crazy schemes to get us off the island.

Bonus Question: If you could choose any fictional workplace to work in, where would it be and why?

The Ministry of Magic, writing manuals for potions or something that requires a patient and detail-oriented person to get through hand write – it sounds boring but someone’s got to do it.

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Are you currently considering an exciting new career with an innovative company that gives you a platform for growth and development?

If you are, and you’d also like to be a part of making healthcare safer and more sustainable, you’ll fit in nicely with the Sharpsmart pride.

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