Bidwriting.com is one of the Tech Park’s biggest success stories. Since launching in 2007 the team has established itself as a leading authority in winning businesses new work through successful bid-writing and funding. At our seminar in October 2016 the team shared some of their top tips with local businesses from around Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire.

Top Tips

A full copy of the team’s presentation can be found here. In addition, here are our own top tips taken from the event.

Pick the right opportunities

Consider each opportunity carefully before investing time and resource in chasing work. Does the work fit with your own business strategy?

Bidding is very time consuming and if you really want to win, you need to be able to fully commit

Are you qualified?

Identify any dealbreakers early on which could affect your bid

Check qualification and accreditation requirements

Identify whether you are best placed to actually do the work

Plan your bid process

Identify from the outset what needs to be done and by when

Follow instructions carefully

Dig out the documents you need straight away, not as an afterthought

Answer the question!

Assess the evaluation criteria to understand which areas are really imporant to the client

Be positive and avoid equivocal language

Don’t rely on or use meaningless statements such as ‘best in class’

About the events

Cranfield University Technology Park’s free business seminars are designed to suit the needs of growing businesses in the Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire, with topics ranging from finance and business development to apprenticeship programmes.

The events which include a networking breakfast are hosted in the Cranfield Innovation Centre offices’ conferencing suite and are open to all.

The events are delivered in partnership with Cranfield University, South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) and Central Bedfordshire Council.