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Tel: 01364 652845
Fax: 01364 653578
enquiries@stephenlloydtraining.co.uk
Writing effective bids and proposals takes skill and care. This course is designed to maximise your chances of success. Taught by an experienced bid writer, its detailed programme provides valuable insights and powerful techniques.
The focus is on helping your staff to master the elements for writing a successful bid or proposal. These include understanding your customer’s needs; providing full information in the required format; demonstrating how you can add value; showcasing your strengths; writing persuasively; generating a sense of excitement, and more.
To make the training directly relevant to your organisation we can tailor it for you. This can include reviewing past bids to identify strengths and weaknesses and designing a course to match the needs of your bid writers.
The course programme that is given below is for a one-day workshop. It shows the generic topics and then gives examples of some of the additional elements that can be included in the training.
The details
Style of training
We recommend a workshop-style course, with plenty of opportunities for questions, discussion and practice. Using bids or proposals from your organisation as examples and exercises will make the training particularly effective.
"It was a very successful day and everyone came away full of enthusiasm. As a result of it we are reconsidering our whole approach to the proposal process."
Mark Jones Manager of Proposals INTECSEA WorleyParsons Group
"This course provides great insight into the complexities of the tendering process. It is delivered succinctly and clearly and is easily applicable to any industry sector. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who wishes to learn to write winning proposals."
Nameer Rattansi Bid Manager UK & Ireland Sitel
Post-course support
We recognise that questions do not always occur to people during training, so we provide every participant on our workshops with a year of post-course support by e-mail. This gives them the opportunity to ask as many additional questions as they wish and so continue to build their skills and confidence. There is no additional charge for this service.
Locations and costs
We can provide this workshop anywhere in the UK and across the world. The cost will depend on the location and the length of workshop you require. To discuss your needs and get an immediate quote please call us on 01364 652845 or e-mail enquiries@stephenlloydtraining.co.uk
Course programme
Introduction
What’s at stake?
How this course will increase your chances of winning
The winner’s checklist
The winning mindset
Understanding the reader
Meeting the need
Following instructions
Sounding dependable and professional
Identifying the customer’s needs
Creating an outline
Understanding what is wanted
Learning from the evaluation criteria
Seeking clarification
Handling pre-bid briefings
Being clear about what you can offer
Managing the gaps creatively
Developing your proposition
What are you really offering?
The difference between benefits and features
Why benefits are everything
Listing the direct benefits
Incorporating the features
Adding value
Identifying your USPs and keeping them visible
Researching and planning
Anticipating and answering objections
Analysing the competition to gain advantage
Structuring your bid
Essential principles
Following a prescribed structure
Using a template
Using a standard structure
Developing your own structure
Writing with impact
Getting the tone right
Using a clear, straightforward style
Keeping it concise and focused
Avoiding ambiguity
Using headings and bullets effectively
Choosing persuasive language
‘Warm’ words and ‘cold’ words
Finding the words that will help you achieve your objectives
Avoiding cliché, jargon and management-speak
Writing an executive summary
The value of a summary
Judging what to include
Mentioning price
Keeping it brief
Editing your bid
Revisiting the evaluation criteria
Proofreading
Further development
Reference sources
Build your own workshop
The length and content of this workshop can be tailored to match your needs. In addition to covering some or all of the topics given above, you may want to add topics that are particularly relevant to your organisation. Let us know what your needs are and we will design a programme to match. Here are a few examples of topics that can be included:
Managing a writing team
Selecting contributors and allocating tasks
Commissioning effectively
Setting deadlines
Reviewing progress
Supplying a response matrix
How a matrix can help your proposal
Preparing a simple matrix
Preparing the cover letter
What to say
What not to say
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