Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Bid Writer

Let’s set the scene. Perhaps you’ve recently graduated with your humanities degree, or maybe you’re a respected businessperson looking for a mid-career change. You may have been trawling through Linkedin or Indeed searching for your dream job before landing on a career you’ve never heard of 'Bid Writer'.

If this sounds familiar, you are certainly not alone. Despite the importance of this career in winning work for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and multinational corporations alike, bid writing seems to be an elusive career that many people stumble upon by accident. It’s time to change that.

Here are 5 things I wish I knew before becoming a bid writer (and why you should become one too!)

1. What is a Bid Writer (And What They Do)?

In all truth, when I started my role as a Graduate Trainee Bid Writer I had no idea what to expect. The websites I had visited in preparation were full of procurement jargon and left me no closer to understanding the job I had applied for. Entering my career blindly, I was a mixed bag of nerves and excitement. Read on and I’ll let you in to what seems to be a closely guarded industry secret.

Putting it simply, Bid Writers help businesses win work. To do this, we read and respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) which announce contract opportunities. Working with clients to understand their business needs, their service delivery, and gain sector-specific knowledge, we carefully craft responses to the questions set out in the RFP that answer the needs of the buying organisation, whilst boasting about the additional offerings that our clients can provide. The aim of this is to convince the awarding panel that our client is the ‘Most Economically Advantageous Tender’ (MEAT) and write a response that scores the highest number of marks. The highest scoring tender (also interchangeably known as ‘bid’) wins the contract, our client wins the work, and we win the satisfaction of knowing that our writing has helped the business to grow. Easy (in theory).

No two days are the same for a Bid Writer. From client meetings to writing, providing support to the team, to research, one thing you’re never short of is something to do or something to learn.

2. Essential Bid Writing Skills

Coming with the territory of always having something to do, transferrable skills are essential when bid writing. Below are 5 skills I have found most useful when completing my daily bid writing work.

Time management: Whether that is meeting deadlines, balancing projects, or not chatting to your favourite co-worker by the coffee machine for 15 minutes, time management is essential for ensuring that things get done on time and without undue stress.

Excellent written communication: I suppose that this goes unsaid, but a Bid Writer needs to be able to write. The best bids are written in plain English, so you can put your dictionary away. However, your attention to detail, fluency and proofreading skills must be to an excellent standard.

Interpersonal skills: Communicating with clients and interacting with the team are two very different, but equally important types of communication. For eager graduates looking to enter the workforce but with little professional exposure, fear not! You will receive full training from your team before being expected to lead conversations with clients, and you can ask around the team for any useful titbits of information on existing clients to help calm your nerves. This is a skill that can be learnt, but an understanding of professional communication and small talk will certainly go a long way.

Adaptability: Your workdays will be busy, and you may be working for three or four different sectors at any time. To overcome this and get the most out of your time as a Bid Writer, you will need to learn to be adaptable and receptive to changes as work prioritisation shifts. Flexibility and being amenable to your colleagues will help team members learn to depend on you, and in turn, create reliable relationships where you can also reach out to them for support.

Receptiveness to feedback: As with any new career, you will likely be doing many things for the first time. To really maximise the effectiveness of the training you receive, it is important to be willing to listen to and be receptive to feedback. I know that at times it can be disheartening to receive criticism on something you have put time and effort into, but always keep in mind that the feedback you receive is given to you with the best intentions. It is in the interest of you, the team, and the company to offer and respond to constructive criticism to help fine-tune your skills faster and speed up your internal progression.

3. The Working Environment What You Make It

Some people may be discouraged by the perception that the procurement and business consultancy environments are characterised by men in suits and the requirement to work exclusively from the office. This is not the case at all.

Post-pandemic, many colleagues and peers re-entering the workforce have been reluctant to tie themselves to one option, having grown accustomed to the flexibility offered by working from home. With the rise of virtual meetings and digital workspaces, Bid Writing offers excellent provision for flexible working. This is a saving grace for commuters who are looking to cut costs during the cost of living crisis, parents with childcare needs and colleagues with additional needs who may not concentrate as well in the office environment.

Naturally, office spaces are not totally out-of-style, and most companies have retained relaxed office spaces for use without the corporate dress code.

4. Opportunities for Professional Progression

Before starting my career in bid writing, I had no idea what a job as a Bid Writer could lend professionally. Aside from transferrable skills, the opportunities for professional progression available to Bid Writers are plentiful. Given the amount of training required to ‘create’ a high-quality Bid Writer, plus the emphasis on working relationships established within the team, internal progression opportunities within the team structure come thick and fast. Being a highly-skilled, essential career that is integral to the growth of businesses across all sectors, bid writing tends to be one of the safer career choices that offer progression opportunities proportionate to the time and effort you put in.

5. The Number of Industries and Sectors I Would Grow to Learn Inside Out

Entering my career as a graduate, I was keen to begin a job that would offer excellent progression opportunities as well as satisfy my own research and development interests. This is where bid writing has truly exceeded my expectations. On any one day, I could be working on bids for the healthcare, construction, and agricultural industries. The fact that bidding applies to all industries and that each RFP or ITT is different keeps the work varied and supports continuous learning.

Where there are industries you begin to enjoy writing for, there are opportunities to begin to specialise and become the team ‘expert.’ I have learnt things I never thought I would, researched topics I had never considered to exist, and won bids for clients in industries I previously would not have thought possible. And, if you become a Bid Writer, you too can do the same.

What Does Thornton & Lowe Do?

As a Bid Writer at Thornton & Lowe, I’ve come to appreciate the full scope of what we offer to businesses looking to win work through tendering. We don’t just write bids—we provide a fully outsourced bid writing service, supporting clients with everything from tender monitoring and bid reviews to writing, strategy, and submission management.

This means working in a collaborative, high-quality environment, where training, feedback, and teamwork are constant. Every bid we produce goes through quality assurance, ensuring we meet the highest standards. We also take the time to understand our clients—their business, services, and goals—so that every submission is tailored, persuasive, and competitive.

For businesses looking to improve bid success rates, recruit a Bid Writer or Junior Bid Writer, or get expert support on an upcoming tender, we can help. If you’re considering outsourcing bid writing or improving the quality of your submissions, contact us today to see how we can support you.

Bid Writing Jobs & Careers

Embarking on a career in bid writing can be an exciting and rewarding choice, but it's important to understand the different roles and responsibilities within the field. Two key positions are Bid Writer and Bid Manager, which work closely together but can have distinct functions. A Bid Writer is primarily responsible for writing the submission document, ensuring it is persuasive, clear, and adheres to the requirements. On the other hand, a Bid Manager often oversees the entire bid process, coordinating resources and ensuring deadlines are met.

For those looking to break into the field, a Bid Coordinator role can be an excellent stepping stone to becoming a Bid Writer. This position involves identifying opportunities, coordinating the bid process, writing, quality assurance, bid design, and document submission.

The Background of a Bid Writer

People from various backgrounds can find success in bid writing. Some may be graduate trainees, while others have experience in marketing, project management, or technical fields. Bid writing roles can be found in a range of organisations, including large tier 1 contractors, smaller professional services businesses, recruitment agencies, and bid management consultancies.

When interviewing for a junior bid writer position, candidates may be asked questions such as:

1. What experience do you have with writing persuasive documents?
2. How do you manage tight deadlines and prioritise tasks?
3. Can you describe a time when you had to collaborate with a team to complete a project?

Written assessments are also common in the recruitment of bid writers.

To build a successful career in bid writing, it's important to develop strong writing, research, and communication skills. Familiarising yourself with common bid processes and terminology can also be beneficial. Seeking mentorship from experienced professionals and considering relevant certifications, such as those offered by the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), can further improve your prospects.

For individuals considering a career change, some bid management consultancies, like Thornton & Lowe, offer training and support to help build the necessary skills and experience. They provide career development paths, recruiting trainee bid writers and offering them the guidance needed to succeed in the field.

You may also be interested in a day in the life of a bid manager our our Bid Writing Ultimate Guide.

Bid Writer Salaries & Progression

The bid management profession in the UK offers a range of roles with varying salaries depending on location, sector, experience and your specific set of skills. The table below focuses on the early to mid-career positions, such as Trainee Bid Writer, Bid Writer, Senior Bid Writer, and Bid Manager. However, it's important to note that there are also more senior roles available, such as Senior Bid Manager, Head of Bids, Bid Director, and Sales & Working Winning Director, for example, which come with higher salaries and greater responsibilities.

Please keep in mind that these figures are a general guide and can vary:

As you progress through your career, gaining more experience and taking on additional responsibilities, you can expect your salary to increase accordingly. Keep in mind that these figures are averages, and actual salaries may differ based on the specific sector, company, and location you work in.

This does not mean, however, that if you love the 'bid writer' role that you can't progress, earn more and develop. For example, becoming a bid writing consultant.

A Day in the Life of a Bid Writer

When I first started as a Bid Writer, I thought my days would be spent just writing. But the reality is that the role involves much more - planning, collaborating, and thinking strategically to craft the best possible bid.

A big part of my day is project planning. As soon as a new bid lands, I help create a plan to manage deadlines, assign responsibilities, and make sure we have everything we need to submit a strong response. This might involve setting up a kick-off meeting, reviewing tender documents, and outlining key actions to keep us on track.

Another key part of the role is meeting with clients. To write a compelling bid, I need to understand their business inside out—not just what they do, but how they do it better than anyone else. This means asking the right questions and sometimes challenging them to dig deeper into their strengths. If something is missing, I’ll push for more details or suggest ways they could improve their response. It’s not just about writing what they give me - it’s about helping them develop a winning answer.

Once I have all the information, I focus on structuring the response so it’s clear, persuasive, and aligned with the evaluation criteria. I spend a lot of time refining wording, simplifying complex ideas, and making sure every point is backed up with evidence. I also work closely with subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and with senior colleagues to fine-tune the strategy.

As deadlines approach, everything moves faster. Reviews, revisions, and last-minute tweaks are all part of the process. But when the bid finally goes out, there’s a huge sense of achievement - knowing that my input has helped shape a response that has the best chance of winning.

Bid writing is more than just writing. It’s project management, problem-solving, and collaboration all rolled into one. And that’s what makes it such a challenging but rewarding career.

Why Businesses Need Bid Writers

Before I became a Bid Writer, I didn’t realise just how much businesses rely on bidding to win contracts - especially in the public sector. Whether it’s local councils, government departments, the NHS, or large private organisations, they all follow structured procurement processes to award contracts fairly. For businesses looking to secure these contracts, the competition is fierce, and that’s where Bid Writers make a real difference.

Winning work through procurement isn’t as simple as sending a quote. Public sector and government tenders have strict rules and scoring criteria, requiring businesses to submit detailed, structured responses that demonstrate value, compliance, and expertise. Many businesses, even well-established ones, don’t have the in-house capacity or expertise to complete these bids competitively. That’s why they need dedicated Bid Writers who understand the process and know how to maximise scores against evaluation criteria.

A good bid isn’t just about answering questions - it’s about building a convincing case for why a business should be chosen over competitors. This means:

• Breaking down complex requirements to ensure full compliance
• Challenging and improving responses to make them more persuasive
• Gathering strong evidence to support claims and demonstrate past success
• Aligning the response with the buyer’s priorities to show added value

Without a skilled Bid Writer, businesses risk missing out on opportunities simply because they fail to communicate their strengths effectively. Given the high stakes - where a single contract could be worth millions - having someone who understands how to navigate procurement rules and write winning responses can be the difference between securing growth and losing out to competitors.

Since working in this field, I’ve seen just how many businesses struggle with the bidding process. They may have a great service or product, but without the right expertise to present it competitively, they end up falling short. That’s why Bid Writers are so valuable -we help businesses translate their knowledge into a winning submission, ensuring they don’t just compete, but stand out and succeed.

How Bid Writers Shape the Quality of Their Working Environment

One of the biggest surprises I had when I became a Bid Writer was how much control I had over my working environment. Unlike many traditional office roles, bid writing isn’t just about sitting at a desk typing all day - it’s about collaboration, problem-solving, and structuring your workload in a way that suits you and the business.

The flexibility of bid writing is another major benefit. While deadlines dictate certain pressures, how and where you work often depends on your employer and team structure. With remote working now more common, many Bid Writers can choose the balance that works best for them - whether that’s in the office, at home, or a mix of both. This level of flexibility makes bid writing an attractive career choice, particularly for those who thrive in a structured but adaptable environment.

Ultimately, the quality of a Bid Writer’s working environment is shaped by how they approach the role. Those who actively engage with clients, manage their workload strategically, and take ownership of their projects will find the role rewarding, challenging, and full of opportunities to develop.

How to Get Started as a Bid Writer

When I first came across bid writing, I had no idea how to break into the industry. It wasn’t a career I’d heard of before, and there were no obvious degree paths or entry routes. Like many others, I stumbled across it by chance—but looking back, there are clear steps that can help anyone interested in becoming a Bid Writer get started more deliberately.

Do You Need a Degree?

There’s no specific degree required to become a Bid Writer. Many people come from backgrounds in English, journalism, marketing, business or law, but I’ve met successful Bid Writers with degrees in everything from history to engineering. The most important skill is the ability to write clearly and persuasively, so if you have strong writing and analytical abilities, you already have a solid foundation.

Build Your Writing and Research Skills

Bid writing is all about communicating complex ideas in a clear, structured, and persuasive way. If you don’t have direct experience, start developing skills in:

• Writing for a professional audience (business reports, proposals, or case studies)
• Researching and summarising information
• Editing and proofreading for clarity and accuracy

If you’re early in your career, you might already be using these skills without realising it—whether through university assignments, marketing content, or technical writing.

Look for Entry-Level Roles

The most common way into the industry is through roles such as:

• Trainee Bid Writer – Designed for those with no prior experience but strong writing skills. The trainee bid writer is one we regularly recruit and support for both ourselves and our clients.
• Bid Coordinator – A role focused on managing deadlines, gathering content, and assisting senior Bid Writers.
• Junior Bid Writer – A step up from coordination, involving more hands-on writing responsibilities.

Many companies don’t expect you to have bid writing experience when hiring for junior positions—they’re looking for strong communicators who can learn quickly.

Learn the Basics of Procurement and Bidding

While you don’t need to be an expert before applying, a basic understanding of how public sector and private sector procurement works will help you stand out. Useful areas to research include:

• What a tender or bid actually is
• The difference between RFPs (Requests for Proposals), ITTs (Invitations to Tender), and PQQs (Pre-Qualification Questionnaires)
• How bids are scored and evaluated
• Key principles of persuasive writing in bids

While not essential, APMP certification is widely recognised in the bid writing industry and can help demonstrate your commitment to the profession. Some bid management consultancies, like Thornton & Lowe, also offer bid writing training courses that provide a great introduction to the field.

Gain Experience (Even Before Landing a Job)

If you’re struggling to get into bid writing due to lack of experience, look for opportunities to build relevant skills:

• Offer to assist with bid documents in your current job (if applicable)
• Volunteer to help charities or small businesses with funding applications or proposals
• Write proposals or business cases in any role to demonstrate transferable skills

Apply for Roles and Be Prepared for Assessments

When applying for bid writing jobs, expect to complete a written assessment as part of the recruitment process. This might involve summarising information, answering a sample bid question, or rewriting a technical paragraph in plain English. Employers want to see how well you can structure responses and communicate clearly.

A Career That Keeps You Learning

Bid writing isn’t something you master overnight, but that’s what makes it interesting. It’s a career that constantly challenges you to improve, learn about new industries, and refine your writing skills. If you enjoy problem-solving, working to deadlines, and crafting persuasive content, bid writing could be the perfect career path for you.

Common Challenges Bid Writers Face (and How to Overcome Them)

When I started as a Bid Writer, I quickly realised that the job isn’t just about writing - it’s about problem-solving under pressure. Deadlines are fixed, multiple bids often overlap, and content needs to be both persuasive and precise. Here are some of the biggest challenges I faced and how I learned to handle them.

Managing Tight Deadlines

Bids have strict submission dates, and there’s no flexibility. At first, the pressure felt intense, but I soon realised that planning ahead makes all the difference. As soon as a new bid lands, I break it into key tasks, set internal deadlines, and work backwards from the submission date. Leaving time for reviews, approvals, and last-minute refinements ensures I’m not rushing at the end. I also had to learn to stop over-editing early drafts - it’s better to get something down and improve it later than waste time perfecting one section while neglecting others.

Handling Competing Priorities

Managing multiple bids at once can be overwhelming. At first, I tried to tackle everything at once, which only led to stress. Now, I map out all active bids, flag the ones with the earliest deadlines or most complex requirements, and tackle them first. Keeping a simple tracking document helps me stay in control, and I check in regularly with my team to adjust priorities if needed. I also learned to be realistic - if workload becomes unmanageable, it’s better to speak up early rather than struggle in silence.

Understanding Industry Jargon and Technical Content

One day I’d be writing about construction tenders, the next about healthcare. Some of the terminology felt impossible to understand at first, but I found ways to make it easier. Speaking with subject matter experts (SMEs) was key - I stopped worrying about asking ‘basic’ questions and instead focused on how they would explain their work to a non-specialist. Keeping a glossary of key terms and reviewing past bids also helped. Most importantly, I realised my role isn’t to sound technical - it’s to make complex information clear, persuasive, and easy for the evaluator to understand.

Receiving Constructive Criticism on Writing

Bid writing is highly collaborative, and everything I write gets reviewed. At first, getting lots of feedback felt frustrating, but I quickly learned that it’s not personal - it’s about making the bid stronger. Now, I see it as a chance to improve. I take notes on common edits, ask questions when I don’t understand a change, and apply feedback to future bids. The sooner I embraced this, the more confident I became in my writing.

Bid writing isn’t always easy, but these challenges are what make the job interesting. With the right mindset and approach, they become part of the learning process rather than obstacles.