Learn about tender writing training… and win more contracts

If your company tenders for work, have you considered taking a tender writing training course?

Winning contracts through the tendering process can really benefit your business. However, not just anyone can write a winning tender. Tender writing training will elevate your skills, knowledge and expertise. So, when you find a suitable tender for your business, you’ll be ready to win.

This blog tells you everything you need to know about tender writing training and how it can elevate your bids!

First things first – what skills do you need to write a successful bid?

So, you’re thinking about tender writing training for your team. Before you decide whether it’s the right path for your business, think about what skills are needed for tendering success. That way, you can decide if your team already has what it takes to write a successful bid.

• Excellent writing skills

It will come as no surprise that you need excellent writing skills to write a successful tender response. Not just anyone will have the skills to writer a winning bid. Bid Writers have gone through extensive tender writing training to prepare them for tendering success.

In many cases, your tender response will be the buyer’s first impression of your company. So, you need to think about how you want the buyer to perceive your business.

Your response should be written in an appropriate tone, style and voice that suits the buyer and the contract. It should reflect your company’s professionalism and dedication to the contract. If you aren’t confident in your own ability to deliver the work, why should the buyer choose you? That’s why it’s important to use an assertive, confident tone when tendering for work.

It’s also important that your response meets the buyer’s criteria, such as the specified word count. If the buyer has asked for a 2000-word response, writing 500 words won’t impress them.

• Effective time management and organisation skills

If you’re thinking about tender writing training, you need to know which skills are necessary for success. You might think it goes without saying that you need excellent writing skills. However, have you thought about the other skills you need to win the contract?

To be successful in tendering, you’ll need effective time management and organisation skills.

Writing a tender response takes time. From finding the tender to writing the bid and submitting your response. If you want to win your next bid, you can’t rush through the tendering process.

Not only is producing the tender a lengthy process. You need time to submit the tender too. If a tender is due at 5pm, you can’t leave it until 4:58pm to submit your response. If you do and the buyer’s portal crashes, you’ll miss out on that opportunity. And all of your hard work will have gone to waste!

• Show attention to detail

This skill is often overlooked as a “soft” skill. However, it is crucial for tendering success.

You need a keen eye for detail to read and understand the buyer’s specifications. If you don’t absorb their criteria, you could end up overlooking a vital part of their question in your response. Failing to meet the buyer’s specifications will result in an unsuccessful bid. And all of your tendering efforts will have gone to waste.

You also need to carefully proofread your tender response. Submitting a response full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors won’t impress the buyer. It suggests that your company doesn’t pay attention and might not be thorough when delivering the contract.

• Project management skills

If you are unsure about this next skill, then tender writing training can help.

To be successful when tendering for work, you need to utilise your project management skills.

From sourcing the tender through to submission, tendering for work is a lengthy process. You need a plan for every step of the project, especially if you’re a Bid Manager. You need to manage your team and make sure that each member is meeting their individual deadlines.

Without project management experience, the tendering process won’t run smoothly! 

What are the benefits of tender writing training? 

So, you know the skills needed for tendering success. Now you need to consider whether your team could benefit from tender writing training.

To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list of the key benefits of taking a tender writing training course.

1. Improve your writing skills

 As you already know, producing a successful tender response takes a high level of writing talent.

When you undergo tender writing training, your instructors will help you develop your tone, style and voice. So, you’ll know exactly what to say in your next tender response – and how to say it!

2. Find the right tenders for your company

In tender writing training, your expert instructors will show you how to source the right tenders for your business.

As tempting as it may seem, you can’t just bid for any contract. It takes a lot of time and resources to tender for work. If you bid on unrealistic contracts, your company’s time and resources will go to waste.

3. Produce relevant case studies

When you tender for work, it’s not enough to tell the buyer how you’ll deliver the contract. You need to show them. But how can you do this?

The best way to demonstrate your company’s experience is to provide the buyer with relevant, impressive evidence. The buyer will usually ask for 2-3 case studies that showcase your company’s suitability for the bid.

However, choosing the case studies can be tricky. Too much evidence and the buyer will assume you haven’t understood their criteria. Too little evidence and they’ll assume that you aren’t experienced enough to deliver the contract.

Tender writing training will teach you how to select the appropriate evidence to include in your case studies.

4. It will give you a competitive edge

 The tendering process is extremely competitive. So, how can you ensure that your company has an edge over your competitors? In many cases, an unsuccessful bid has only lost by a handful of marks.

Tender writing training will provide your team with expert knowledge, professional guidance and industry insights. You’ll be learning from tendering experts, who often have experience from both sides of the table. So, you’ll know and understand exactly what the buyer is searching for. And win back those extra marks!

5. Understand the buyer’s evaluation process

 It takes more than writing skill and relevant case studies to write a winning tender response. You need to understand the buyer’s evaluation process to stand a chance against your competitors.

You might think you understand the buyer’s expectations from the tender’s specifications. However, that’s only half the battle. To really impress the buyer, you need to find out what they’re looking for in your response.

If you aren’t sure how your tender response will be marked, why not take a tender writing training course?