Delivered by Bid Writing Service, this practical and engaging training course provides a comprehensive introduction to the world of procurement, tendering, and bid writing. Designed for businesses of all sizes, the course equips delegates with the knowledge and confidence to identify opportunities, navigate procurement portals, understand tender documentation, and develop compelling bid responses.
Throughout the programme, participants will gain valuable insights into public and private sector procurement processes, the Procurement Act 2023, frameworks and DPS opportunities, social value requirements, tender research, bid writing techniques, AI-assisted writing tools, submission best practices, and post-award contract management.
Whether you are completely new to bidding or looking to strengthen your existing understanding, this course provides a solid foundation in the essential principles and processes that underpin successful tendering.
As an introductory programme, Bid Basics serves as the ideal stepping stone towards our more advanced Bids Beyond the Basics training, where delegates can further develop their strategic bid management, persuasive writing, review processes, win themes, and competitive positioning techniques to maximise tender success rates.
Bids Beyond the Basics – Advanced Bid Writing & Social Value Masterclass
Bids Beyond the Basics is an advanced training programme designed for organisations looking to significantly improve their tender success rates and develop a more strategic approach to bidding.
Building on the foundations covered in our Bid Basics course, this masterclass explores the critical elements that separate average submissions from winning bids. Delegates will learn how to identify and pursue the right opportunities, develop effective win strategies, understand buyer motivations, strengthen evidence-based responses, and leverage technology and AI responsibly throughout the bid development process.
The course is led by James Wignall, Head of Business Development at Bid Writing Service, alongside Alex Mercer, Bid Writer and Social Value Expert. Together, they provide a unique perspective that combines practical procurement experience, bid strategy, evaluation insight, and one of the fastest-growing areas of public sector procurement: Social Value.
A significant focus of the programme is dedicated to Social Value, reflecting its increasing importance across public sector tenders. Alex brings extensive experience in Social Value development, implementation, and measurement, including contributions to industry discussions surrounding Social Value reform and best practice. His expertise helps delegates understand not only what buyers are looking for, but how to create meaningful, measurable commitments that deliver genuine community impact whilst strengthening bid scores.
The course explores the practical application of the National TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) Framework, the UK’s most widely adopted methodology for measuring and evaluating Social Value. Delegates will gain an understanding of how contracting authorities use TOMs to assess commitments, how Social Value is translated into measurable outcomes, and how organisations can align their activities to generate maximum impact and competitive advantage. Particular attention is given to creating realistic, evidence-backed commitments that can be monitored, reported, and delivered successfully throughout the life of a contract.
Through practical exercises, tender analysis workshops, examiner insights, and real-world examples, delegates will learn how to think like evaluators, differentiate themselves from competitors, and build compelling responses that demonstrate both capability and value.
Ideal for organisations already participating in procurement processes, Bids Beyond the Basics equips delegates with the advanced skills, strategic thinking, and Social Value expertise needed to compete more effectively in today’s increasingly competitive tender environment.
