Resources

Tips & Resources

From 2022, UK Bid Writer is no longer taking on clients.

Over many years I developed and produced blog posts and other resources designed to help UK SMEs find the right contracts to tender for, understand the processes involved and improve their bid writing and management skills.

While I won’t be making any more stuff on bid writing – and therefore some of the information in these resources may ultimately become out of date – a lot of it is common sense stuff that will remain applicable to bids and other forms of writing for some time.

I’m keeping it accessible to you for free, for now.

If you find it useful, it’d still give me a kick to hear you say so 😉 so do let me know!

Please note I continue to assert and retain full copyright over all of my content.

All-time top 5 posts about bids and tenders

I'm currently planning out my 'how to' and other posts for 2018; in the meantime, click through for the...

What happens when the bid writer bids for a contract?

A learning curve with a sharp drop.

Bid writing training vs coaching: which is best for you and your staff?

There are many types of bid writing training out there - which is best for you?

Where to find tenders – a list

Looking for tenders? Here's a pretty extensive list of where you can find them (and what to do with...

2 reasons you should ask for feedback on your tenders, even when you win

You've won your tender, so why bother with feedback? Here's two good reasons.

Are you ‘tender ready’? 5 things to consider before you start writing your bid

You've found a tender that's right for your business and you're about to take the plunge. Here's 5 ways...

To bid or not to bid? How to work out which tenders are right for your business

Responding to tenders takes time and effort. Here's how to decide which contracts are right for your business and...

What is ‘social value’ and how can it give smaller companies the edge when tendering?

Many tenders look for the 'social value' bidders can offer on top of their goods and services. Small businesses...

Using Structure & Narrative to Write Compelling, Compliant Bids – New 2 Part Series

My new 2 part series shows you how to build a fail-safe structure for your tender responses and how...

Bid Writing – Structure & Narrative Part 1 – The Foundations of a Great Tender Response

Part 1 in my series on structure and narrative in bid writing - how to structure your tender responses...

Bid writing – Structure & Narrative Part 2 – Telling Your Story

Part 2 in my series on structure and narrative in bid writing - how to weave a compelling narrative...

Bid themes – a help or a hindrance?

What are bid themes and are they always right for your bid? Here's a (very) short post weighing up...

Brexit: What it means for UK procurement

How will the UK’s exit from the EU affect procurement rules and practices? Here's the early view.

5 ways to improve your tender response

The deadline’s looming, you’ve burned the midnight oil and answered all the questions. Before you upload all your hard...

How is writing a bid like baking a cake?

It's all about the ingredients you use and what you do with your sprinkles.

Reusing bid content – a warning

Why reusing bid content is a recipe for disaster: an honest look at why your success rates may be...

Met Office misses out on contract renewal

The BBC has not renewed its 93 year contract with the Met Office for weather services. How can you...

Finding opportunities – how to use ‘TED’ (Tenders Electronic Daily)

Searching for suitable tender opportunities can be tedious. My guide to using TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and reading contract...

Writing to Word Limits – a new 3 part series

Do word limits in tenders fill you with terror or joy? My new, 3 part series will help you...

Word Limits – Part 3: Why brevity is your friend

TMI? How can you edit your tender response to fit word limits, without losing the vital details and core...

Word Limits – Part 2: Why stating your intentions is not enough

Lost for words? How can you fully answer a tender question and give the buyer enough detail to make...

Writing to Word Limits – Part 1: Understanding Word Limits

Why do buying organisations impose word limits in tenders? What purposes do they serve for both buyers and bidders?...

Response Libraries – Pros and Cons

What’s a response library? A response library, tender library or bid library, is a set of semi-standard answers containing...

What do points make? Confusion, mostly

One of the most baffling aspects of tendering is the points and weighting system. I am still on my...

Business Continuity Plans – What are they and why might you need one?

How would your business cope during a global zombie outbreak? What if aliens invade? In this post I explain...

You Couldn’t Make It Up!

Or rather, you shouldn't. Another important aspect of bid writing that – done well – will help you get the...

Experience Essential?

When I’m asked what exactly it is I do for a living, one of the best ways I've found...

Are your policies ‘tender ready’?

You can be pretty sure that most PQQs will require you to provide copies of your policies and overviews...

Download Business Link’s entire guide to public sector tendering in one handy PDF!

More useful stuff related to public sector tendering, in the form of a handy PDF, which contains all the...

Confounded by confusing words? A list to ensure your meaning is clear

In any writing - but especially bid writing - it's important that what you mean isn't lost through what...

Top Tips – Responding to Tenders

Tenders can seem daunting and sometimes incomprehensible. Never fear: These tips – gathered from my own experience on...