Echoing the situation in large swathes of the world, the UK economy is struggling and unemployment is on the rise. There’s a theory, though, that an economic downturn signals the perfect time for an entrepreneur to start up a new business. It’s why BiD Masters accelerated plans to introduce its franchise model. Here are a few of the reasons why now might be the right time to invest in a new venture: 1. The New Normal   There’s much talk…

It may seem obvious, but there are reasons bid support companies like BiD Masters exist. Not every organisation has in-house bid specialists – we call them bidmasters – and even those that do can benefit from an external perspective and best practice. Bringing in outsourced support, though, comes at a cost. Here are five ways to increase the value you get for your money. Who’s your new best friend? Start by asking what capability or capacity gaps you have in…

There are multiple support roles within a bid team, and whether you are part of a large organisation, a small to medium enterprise (SME), a micro-SME or a one-man band, if you’re considering outsourcing bid support, you need to know what you want. Put simply, the answer will always be: I want someone who can help me win my bid. But who is that person? Before you engage someone to help you craft that winning bid, you need to decide…

Timing is everything. That’s as true in bid work as it is in stand-up comedy. Bring in your support too early and you may end up paying more than you need to, bring your support in too late and you run the risk of not hitting the bid deadline or putting in a sub-standard response. At BiD Masters, we’re happy to help at any point, but there are optimal times depending on who and what you need. So when do…

You’ve decided to bid and you’ve finished a preliminary breakdown of the ITT, PQQ or customer’s instructions, questions and evaluation criteria to formulate an idea of what’s required. This breakdown will help you determine what bid support you need and how long you need it for, which impacts cost. Now you need to talk timing with your bidmaster. A number of bid agencies will bill whatever they quoted you for, so you need to be accurate on how many days…

In the 25 years BiD Masters has been involved in business development, the bid and proposal preparation has burgeoned from a niche activity to a recognised profession. Over that period, though, appropriate training has not kept pace. Certifications are available, but they’re for people who already deliver within the profession. What about newcomers? Many companies recruit bid writers or bid managers but they don’t have the facility to train them. Even the job specifications tend to be a bit woolly…