Looking for which Bid Writing qualifications you need to become a bid writer in the UK? We’ve got you covered!

What is bid writing?

Bid writing is the process of responding to tenders in order to win contracts to provide goods or services. These can range from maintenance services to civil engineering to healthcare services and more. Organisations who require services can release an invitation to tender (ITT). This is one of the tendering procedures that buyers use to secure a good or service.

Think of it as a job application. You want to tell them what you can do for their business. As well as why you should be chosen over the other candidates.

What skills do you need?

Bid writers have a lot of responsibilities. Therefore, there are some skills that aspiring bid writers will need to have. You will be expected to research and analyse bids, as well as the relevant industry. You will then be expected to plan the bid and break it down into bite-size chunks. Communication skills are also a necessity as you will likely need to communicate with team members or clients for information.

Good organisation skills are a must as you will be working on multiple bids at once. You should have an excellent grasp of the English language so that you can write to the highest standard. Proofreading your work will also be expected, as well as that of your colleagues. You will need a critical eye to make sure the correct questions are answered in the bid. You may be required to deal with design aspects. This can include adding relevant photos and charts. You will also be expected to work to deadlines, so time management is essential.

What qualifications do you need?

School / Higher Education

The minimum required bid writing qualifications in the UK include the achievement of five GCSEs. The grades should be between A*-C, and they should include English and maths. Many employers will prefer you to have A-Levels, particularly in English. Some may even expect you to have a degree. Your degree could be in English, or it could be in the area you wish to specialise in. IT or Civil Engineering are a couple of examples. Degrees in Business Management and Sales and Marketing are also great bid writing qualifications.

Bid Writing Courses

You could also do short courses in relevant areas like Professional Marketing. The ability to speak another or multiple languages can also put you at an advantage. This is particularly useful if you are working with international clients.

There are several bid writing courses you can do to increase your knowledge of bid writing. These courses will be a great way to develop your understanding. They will also serve as a great qualification towards securing you a job in bid writing.

We also recommend obtaining additional, relevant qualifications even if you are already a professional bid writer. Professional development is ongoing and can be an enormous help when looking towards promotions.

Learn with Tender VLE

Tender VLE offers a selection of videos masterclasses and resources on bid writing. We believe learning should be a lifelong commitment, so we offer information and learning opportunities on various aspects of tendering. We want our bid writing courses to make tendering and procurement easier and more accessible to suppliers. Tender VLE offers both free and upgraded, high-quality video master classes at a level that suits you. We understand how the complicated process of tendering can be off putting to customers. Tender VLE’s innovative courses allow our customers to see our in-house expertise, and this increased their confidence in our organisation.

Starting off

You are likely to start working as a trainee or Junior Bid Writer. This way you can work your way up. This also allows you to gain a great understanding of exactly what is expected of you in this role. As experience is sometimes the best way to learn. You can also work up through administrative jobs at bid writing companies. It can be useful to have a drivers’ licence as you may have to travel for meetings. You could eventually become a team leader, Senior Bid Writer or Bids and Proposal Manager. The skills earned from these paths can also be transferred to other kinds of technical writing and contract management.

Overall, there is not one specific bid writing qualification needed to become a Bid Writer. Bid writing requires the priming of various skills that are to be applied to your work. These skills can be developed over your years of education and even through jobs not in the relevant field. There are plenty of opportunities out there to expand your knowledge and understanding of bid writing.

How we can help you

If you want to know more about bid writing, then talk to our dedicated team today.

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Want to learn more about tendering?

Tender VLE is the UK’s first virtual learning environment, dedicated to bid writing courses. Four of our course levels are still in development but you can start your learning journey at level one now. Our instructors offer five levels of training to accommodate all levels of learning. Tender VLE offers the resources to help you whether you are new to tendering or an expert, looking to improve. We have training that is suitable for various learners including businesses, freelancers or aspiring Bid Writers.

Need help with writing an imminent bid?

Hudson Succeed, which is our sister company, is a global provider of bid writing services. They have over 60 years of collective experience and an 87% success rate. Our team can support you with every step of the tendering process. Our services include:

Tender Ready 

This 4-week programme is designed for companies that are completely new to the tendering process. One of our skilled Bid Writers will work with you to ensure that your business is ready to tender successfully.

Tender Improvement

Our Tender Improvement programme is designed for companies that have previous experience with tendering but are yet to see results. A member of our knowledgeable team will review your previous responses and aid you to improve them for future bids.

Tender Writing

Our Tender Writing service is the whole package. Once we have the required information from you, our Bid Writing Team will do the rest. We’ll take charge of the entire tender for your business, all the way from writing through to submission.

Tender Mentor

This package is suitable for companies that have already written their own tender response. A member of our team will review your work before the submission deadline, checking for inconsistencies, spelling errors and grammar. They will also check your responses to ensure they meet the contract’s specifications. Get in touch with a member of our expert Bid Writing Team and watch your business grow.

Upgrade to Discover Elite 

Enhance your tendering process with Discover Elite. The package ensures that you can still identify tendering opportunities even when you’re busy. Forget pre-bid admin and time-consuming breakdowns, your Account Manager will take care of this for you. Get in touch for more information.