Online Training Courses: March 2023

Through a range of practical exercises, group work and downloadable resources, you’ll learn the skills required to win more work with public sector buyers.

Social Value in Bidding

Social value questions in tenders are increasingly being allocated higher weightings. As an organisation it’s therefore important to fully understand what they mean, how to prepare for them, and how to best answer them.

Course Objectives

Understand what buying authorities mean by ‘social value’
Learn why social value is included in tenders
Understand how to measure and deliver social value
Understand the different ways in which social value can be assessed in tenders
Understand how to best answer social value questions

Course Areas

Social value requirements in the public sector
Social value in your organisation
Developing your own social value policy
Preparing for social value questions
Measuring social value in tenders
Maximising social value scores

9 March 2023, 13:00 – 16:30

Tenders Direct Member – £129 + VAT | Non-Tenders Direct members – £149 + VAT.

Writing Compelling Bids

This course focuses on teaching you how to write winning tenders, while also providing you with the skills to manage the bid process throughout.

Course Objectives

Understand and interpret the critical parts of the tender documents and processes for a typical Restricted Procedure
Develop your tender content to write high-scoring answers – focusing on the evaluation criteria, the hooks on which decisions should be made
Learn how to create a bid plan to ensure you effectively manage time and confidently deal with pre, mid and post-bid activities
Learn how to complete effective competitor advantage to give you the winning edge

Course Areas

Prepare for the ITT and understand its context
Understand and interpret the critical parts of the tender documents
Develop a bid plan
Prepare an executive summary to maximum effect
Compile, format, and submit the final documents

7 – 8 March 2023, 13:00 – 16:30

Tenders Direct Member – £169 + VAT | Non-Tenders Direct members – £189 + VAT.

An introduction to Public Procurement and Bid Writing

If you are new to the public sector procurement process and are looking to start bidding for contracts, this is the course for you.

Course Objectives

Understand the tendering process and identify which tenders are right for your business
Understand public contracts regulations including the Single Procurement Document (SPD)
Learn how to prepare in advance for the opportunity being advertised, including building long-term relationships with authorities
Understand the fundamentals of writing good responses including tips on how to answer project-specific questions

Course Areas

Developing a bid strategy
Pre-Engagement with buying authorities
Go or no-go assessment
Regulations – selection questionnaire
Typical public sector process
Submission and next steps
Your rights as a supplier

1 – 2 March 2023, 13:00 – 16:30

Tenders Direct Member – £169 + VAT | Non-Tenders Direct members – £189 + VAT.

Advanced Bid Writing Skills

This course is perfect for individuals who are comfortable with the tendering process and are looking to improve on their current skills.

Course Objectives

Construct a robust bank of research and evidence
Formulate a detailed storyboard for the tender
Examine ways to effectively improve tender responses
Demonstrate how to effectively review and edit tender responses

Course Areas

What you should do research on and how you can use research in your bid
How to analyse questions to provide the buyer with winning content
Details on how to use the evaluation and award criteria to your advantage
Top tips for writing responses, including a bid writing exercise
How to self-critique and perform a high-level review at the final draft stage, including a high-level editing exercise

22 – 23 March 2023, 13:00 – 16:30

Tenders Direct Member – £169 + VAT | Non-Tenders Direct members – £189 + VAT.

Your trainer for these courses will be expert bid writer Jamie Edwards. These sessions are delivered live, allowing you to ask questions, participate in conversations and learn from Jamie’s experiences.

All courses will be delivered via Zoom. You can attend without any installation required to your computer, but it is highly recommended that you join using a desktop or laptop computer rather than a tablet or mobile phone. Ideally, you will have both a webcam and microphone.