Part-Time Bid Writer

Understanding Part-Time Bid Writing

Part-time bid writing offers flexibility and income potential for skilled professionals. This role involves writing persuasive proposals to win contracts for organisations. A bid writer does a lot more than write however. They often coordinate, lead and manage tender submissions.

Essentials of Bid Writing

Bid writers create proposals to secure contracts and funding. We need strong writing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to meet tight deadlines. Research and analytical skills are key – we must understand the client's needs and demonstrate how the proposal meets them.

Part-time bid writers often work on a freelance basis. This lets you take on multiple clients and varied projects. You might charge per proposal (a fixed fee) or have a day rate, typically ranging from £350 to £750 in the UK.

To succeed, as a freelance or part-time bid writer, you need a mix of business and marketing skills, as well as the ability to write an outstanding tender response!

Experience in marketing, communications, or a related field is valuable. Many of us have degrees in subjects like English, History or Business. Building a portfolio of of happy clients who want to use you every time is the key!

We have BidTalentConnect which is market place for part-time or freelance bid professionals. Take a look and register today. We will promote your availability and skillset to interested customers based on your experience.

The Role of a Part-Time Bid Writer

Part-time bid writers don't have to freelance of course. Many love the role but want more of a work-life-balance.

With a part-time bid writing job, hours tend to range from 20-30 hours per week, often spread across 3-4 days. For many small and medium businesses, they may not require a full time bid writing or bid management function.

Key responsibilities include:

• Researching tender opportunities
• Providing guidance and support around bid-no-bid decisions
• Writing bid content
• Coordinating with subject matter experts to understand the solution being put forward
• Editing and proofreading documents
• Ensuring compliance with tender requirements

As well as strong writing skills, attention to detail, being able to work to deadlines, part-time bid writers may also be expected to offer flexible schedules and work around the needs of the business and their key tender opportunities. This is especially the case of interim bid writers or those not working on a traditional PAYE basis.

Many part-time roles offer flexible schedules. This can be appealing for those seeking work-life balance or juggling other commitments.

As organisations compete for contracts through an increasingly formal tendering process, skilled bid writers remain in demand. Part-time roles offer a way to tap into this expertise without the cost of a full-time hire!

Thornton & Lowe offers a part-time bid writing solution for our clients who require a consistent and high performing bid writing team, available on an adhoc basis. This is our core business. To discuss this further contact: hello@thorntonandlowe.com or call us on 01204 238046

Benefits of Outsourcing Bid Writing

Outsourcing bid writing offers several key advantages for businesses. It can save money, provide flexibility, and give access to expert skills.

Cost-Effectiveness

Outsourcing bid writing can be more cost-effective than hiring full-time staff. You don't need to pay salaries, benefits, or training costs for in-house writers. Instead, you only pay for the work we need when we need it. We directly employ our bid writing consultants and provide them to our clients on a part-time basis.

Freelance bid writers in the UK can charge up to £750 per day, or more depending on their experience and expertise. This may seem high, but it's often cheaper than a full-time employee when we factor in all costs. We can also pick writers to fit our budget. This is part of the benefit of our RFPVerse solution and BidTalentConnect.

For small jobs or simple bids, we might pay less. Complex projects may cost more. But we always know the costs upfront and can budget accordingly.

Flexibility and Scalability

Outsourcing gives you more flexibility. You can scale bid writing up or down as needed. This is perfect for businesses with changing workloads.

During busy times, you can bring in extra help quickly. In slow periods, you don't have idle staff on the payroll. You can also choose writers with skills that match each project.

This flexibility helps you respond to opportunities faster as you are not limited by in-house capacity. If a big tender comes up, we can get the right team on it right away. Finding consistent bid writers and freelance bid managers is the key! Our core bid writing services at Thornton & Lowe have been created as a solution for this challenge.

Access to Specialised Skills

Outsourced bid writers often have sector expertise in specific areas. They may have worked for competitors and be able to add a lot of value to your overall tender submission.

Many outsourced services also offer quality checks. This extra layer of review can catch errors and improve our chances of success. We get the benefit of a whole team's knowledge, not just one person's.

How to Find Freelance Bid Writers

We can find freelance bid writers through various channels. Online platforms like Freelancer.com or LinkedIn list bid writing professionals. BidTalentConnect specialises only in freelance bid writers, managers and Directors - bidding professionals.

Referrals from colleagues can lead to trusted freelancers. Bid Resource is our bid recruitment agency who supply trusted, proven and vetted freelance or part-time bid writers for your business. Or if we have in-house bid capacity you may be able to benefit from our bid writing consultants at Thornton & Lowe.

Vetting Freelancer Quality

To recruit or vet freelance bid writers, you need to review their experience and past work. You can ask for writing samples and case studies of successful bids they've worked on, and should look at their qualifications, references and testimonials. An interview is important when recruiting a freelance or part-time bid writer. If you do not have bid writing expertise using a bid recruitment agency can really add some value for you in the process.

Working With an Outsourced Bid Writing Agency

Outsourced bid writing agencies, like Thornton & Lowe, offer access to their proven bid and quality assurance structure. We directly employ our team to ensure consistent quality for our clients. For many of our customers we:

• Monitor tenders and frameworks
• Provide bid administration and portal management
• Manage and coordinate the bidding process
• Provide bid writing, quality control and bid reviews
• Develop Social Value Strategies and systems for monitoring and collating evidence, which then feeds into your tender submissions
• Review tender feedback, ROI and continually push your bid performance

Bid writing agencies typically offer end-to-end support for tenders, as described above. Many agencies also provide bid courses and workshops to up-skill in-house teams.

Many bid writing companies also have a requirement for additional freelance or part-time bid writer capacity.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Part-time bid writers need to be aware of key legal and ethical issues. These include protecting confidential information and following industry rules.

Confidentiality Agreements

Confidentiality is crucial when working with sensitive client data. We recommend that bid writers sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) before starting any project. These legal documents outline what information must be kept private. NDAs protect both the client and the writer.

Bid writers should:

• Store data securely
• Not share details with unauthorised people
• Delete or return materials when the job ends

Compliance With Industry Standards

Key areas which impact bid professionals include:

• Data protection rules (like GDPR in the UK)
• Anti-bribery laws, bid rigging and procurement fraud
• Managing potential conflicts of interest - transparency is the key!

It's also important to be honest in bids. Don't make false claims or promise things the client can't deliver.

Part-Time Bid Writing: Frequently Asked Questions

We've compiled answers the common questions about part-time and freelance bid writing. These cover qualifications, pay, finding work, advantages for businesses, transitioning roles, and workload expectations for newcomers.

What qualifications are required to become a freelance bid writer?

Freelance bid writers typically need strong writing skills and knowledge of bid processes. A degree in English, Business, or a related field is helpful. Many employers value experience over formal qualifications. Certifications like APMP can be reassuring from an employers perspective but are not essential.

What is the typical salary for a part-time bid writer in the UK?

Part-time bid writer rates vary widely based on experience, sector and project complexity. From PAYE perspective and on an full time equivalent basis, salaries would typically start at £30,000.

How do I find part-time or freelance bid writing opportunities?

Job boards like Indeed and Reed often list part-time bid writing roles. Within the UK bidding marketplace, RFPVerse.com has BidTalentConnect, which is a platform that connects clients with a community of freelance bid professionals. You can also contact us, share your CV and rates and we can discuss and advise.

What are the advantages of hiring an outsourced bid writer?

Outsourced bid writers bring specialist skills without the cost of a full-time employee. They can handle peak workloads during busy funding periods. We have clients who use freelance or outsourced bid writing consultants to support their in-house bid team's capacity or solely as their bidding function.

How can I transition from a full-time to a part-time bid writing position?

Talk to your current employer about reducing hours or job-sharing. This can provide stability while you build a client base, if you are also looking to freelance.

Build a network and portfolio before making the full switch. Be transparent and open with everyone involved to ensure you are acting fairly and managing any potential conflicts of interest. Contact us to discuss: hello@thorntonandlowe.com

I want to start a career as a bid writer but working in a freelance capacity?

If you have not worked as a bid writer or manager, this can be a real challenge. Bid writing training is a great place to start or our Career Accelerator could be the answer you are looking for.