UK Bid Writing Services Company

The National Careers Service defines a Bid Writer’s role as preparing ‘documents used to pitch for contracts to provide services, or to apply for project funding’.

We see Bid Writing as a key role within the sales and marketing function for any business involved in formal tenders or contract opportunities. Due to the procurement rules of the Public Sector, many Bid Writers as often tasked with responding to purely these detailed and often lengthy Government tender opportunities.

For some organisations, a Bid Writer sits within a larger Bid Team, which may also include Bid Coordinators, Senior Bid Writers, Bid Managers, Work Winning Managers, Capture Managers and Bid Directors. However, for some and often smaller businesses, the bid writing and management of the tender response process belongs to the Senior Management Team or is dispersed across regional sales staff.

Bid Writing is a key skill in an emerging market due to the increasing requirements for value for money, accountability and transparency in the Public Sector. This more formal approach to engaging with suppliers is also becoming more frequent within larger private sector organisations, further increasing the demand for a talented Bid Writers or the need for external bid support consultancy or outsourced bid writing.

We have been offering outsourced Bid Writing and Bid Management Solutions since 2009. Ensuring our SME clients have access to a consistent, high performing and reliable Bid Team, but on an adhoc basis. For those clients who have an in-house Bid Team we are often asked to provide training to improve their performance and win rates.

Speak to one of our bid experts!

Outsourcing your bid writing to tendering experts can help your business and team:

• Win more tenders. As professional bid writers we work on hundreds of tenders each year. We have completed thousands of successful bids and received feedback from the buyer nearly each time! Over the last 15 years, this means across every 'buyer type' we know what is important to them and what is required to maximise quality scores

• Save time. Our bid writing processes ensure we minimise the disruption to your already busy team. We will of course need to understand your solution and collect key facts, figures and your approach, but we do so efficiently. We have worked with the same clients for many years, which means over time we can produce far more, with less from you

• Find all key tender opportunities and frameworks. Via our search and selection service, we not only make sure you do not miss any key opportunities in your sector, but we also advice on which tenders are likely to be a 'better-fit' for your business. This increases win rates and your bidding return on investment.

And we offer expert bid writing services! Don't take our word for it - take a look at our case studies, testimonials and external reviews.

Our Bid Success Programme (BSP) was developed 10 years ago as a solution to the common challenges of using outsourced or freelance bid writing services.

Our Bid Partners have over 15% higher win rate, when compared to ‘adhoc’ clients.

We become your Bid Writing Services Team, which means we can move away from purely fire-fighting when a live tender arrives. We can plan, develop a pipeline, improve systems, monitor your return on investment, and have time to really understand and get ‘under the skin’ of your business.

We provide a single point of contact, supported by a consistent team, ensuring high quality and consistent responses, continuous improvement and continuity for your bids.

We can also monitor tenders for you, provide bid administration support and guide your sales and marketing efforts, prior to a live tender, to maximise your win rates.

Speak to one of our bid experts!

Our Bid Writing Guide Ultimate Guide is extensive! Bid writing tips, procurement, bid evaluation and the tender process. Helping organisations improving their bid writing skills to win more tenders! It covers both bidding and procurement, including evaluation criteria and how to improve your bid writing tender scores.

Bid Resource is our dedicated bid recruitment agency sourcing freelance bid managers, writers and directors. As of the few specialist bid recruitment agencies in the UK, we not only supply temporary and permanent bid staff but we can also train and mentor your staff, providing guidance and quality assurance.

The construction industry has a longer history than most in bid writing and tendering. Get construction bid support or view live construction frameworks. Construction bid writing, including construction professional services, is over 30% of our business.

Health & social frameworks are critical tools for many home care and domiciliary care agencies across the UK. At Thornton & Lowe we have been successfully working across the healthcare sector since 2009! We have won hundreds of home care tenders for our clients! Health and social care bid writing accounts for 25% of our work.

Maintenance, install and repair tenders are increasingly competitive. If you are looking to save time when bidding for facilities management tenders and increase your win rates - contact us today. We have won tenders across every area of facilities management, which accounts for 30% of our bid writing company.

Buyer expectations for professional services tenders are high. Frameworks are crucial for success, ensuring you can maximise the benefits of your relationships, provided that you have bid writing capacity.

We have delivered bid writing training courses to over 4000 delegates! We offer bidding workshops and bespoke bid training packages to focus on key challenges for your business.

• Bespoke bid writing courses delivered at your premises
• Bid writing workshops open for businesses to attend, which are delivered both online and in venues across Manchester, Birmingham and London
• Monthly free bid related webinars!

For many businesses, Social Value is often one of the challenging sections of a tender response. Our Social Value Bid Writing Service is the solution.

When it comes to responding to social value tender questions, we really have got you covered. Our team of experts will work with you to craft compelling answers that showcase your commitment to making a positive impact in your community. We'll help you highlight all the amazing ways you're contributing, whether it's through local employment, environmental initiatives, or community engagement projects. This will be built and compliant with the Social Value Model and TOMs.

We can also develop a social value strategy for your business. We'll help you identify areas where you can make the biggest difference and set up systems to track and measure your progress. This way, you'll be able to demonstrate your social value impact not just in your tender responses, but throughout the entire contract delivery process.

By having a strong social value strategy and monitoring systems in place, you'll be setting yourself up for success in future tenders. You'll have a wealth of evidence and data to draw upon, showing that you're not just talking the talk, but walking the walk when it comes to social value. This can give you a serious competitive edge and increase your chances of winning more contracts in the long run.

So, whether you need help with social value tender questions, developing a strategy, or setting up monitoring systems, we are here to support.

Bid software and AI bid writing guidance. When it comes to artificial intelligence and bidding it can seem a little like the 'wild west'! Let our expert team ensure you benefit from an AI bidding product which is fit for purpose now and going forward as technology develops.

1. Can a new business win a government tender? Absolutely! While it might seem challenging, new businesses can definitely win government contracts. The key is to focus on opportunities that align with your strengths and experience. Look for tenders that don't require a lengthy track record or massive financial guarantees as the associated risk of the service or requirement is low. Partnering with more established firms through joint ventures can also boost your chances. Don't be afraid to start small and work your way up!
2. Do I need 3 years of accounts to bid for a government contract? Not necessarily! While some government tenders may ask for 3 years of financial accounts, it's not always a hard and fast rule. If you're a newer business, you might be able to provide alternative evidence of your financial stability, like bank statements or guarantees. The key is to be upfront about your situation and offer reassurance that you can deliver the goods or services. If in doubt, don't be afraid to ask the procurement team for clarification!
3. How many references do I need for a government tender? This can vary depending on the specific tender, but usually, you'll need to provide around 3 references. These should be from contracts you've delivered that are similar in scope and size to the one you're bidding for. If you don't have direct government contract experience, don't panic! References from private sector clients can work too, as long as they showcase your relevant skills and experience. Just make sure to pick references that paint you in the best light!
4. Do I need accreditations to tender for the government? It depends on the specific tender and the sector you're in. Some tenders might require certain accreditations, like ISO certifications for quality management or health and safety. Others might be more flexible. The best approach is to carefully read through the tender documents and see what's required. If you're not sure, reach out to the procurement team for guidance. And if you don't have the necessary accreditations, consider whether it's worth investing in them to open up more opportunities in the future.

As a bid writing consultancy we have worked with hundreds of clients to help them win tenders. See our bid writing frequently asked questions (FAQs) and our tendering Q&A, which focused on advice for bidders involved in public sector procurement.

As a bid writing consultants, we do more than just write and submit tenders! We challenge, innovate and improve your tender submissions.

With our bid writing consultants on your team, you'll have a strong partner in putting together a clear, competitive, and successful tender submission.

We offer comprehensive bid management consultancy services to help businesses win UK public sector contracts and frameworks. Our expert team provides end-to-end support, from identifying relevant opportunities to writing and submitting tender submissions. We'll work with you to develop a winning bid strategy, manage the tender process, and ensure compliance with all requirements.

Thornton & Lowe's Tier 1 Contractors Bid Support Services are tailored to meet the unique needs of large contractors in the UK. Our experienced team of bid professionals provides comprehensive support throughout the entire bidding process, ensuring that your organisation submits a compelling and compliant proposals.