Top 10 tips

1. Prepare your business.

Ensure that your business practices are properly documented as policies and procedures. The tender completion will be an accurate reflection of the way services are delivered. Ways2win's Tender Readiness Audit provides you with a line-in-the sand review of where your business is currently positioned with regard winning tenders. We will make recommendations as required to enhance your business for maximum win potential.

2. Find contract opportunities.

There are 1000's of free sites all over the UK. Have a look at our public contracts available page for more guidance.

3. Research the opportunity.

If you do not know the situation, it will be difficult to tailor your responses to suit the specific needs of the tender commissioner. Therefore, before you begin to complete any documentation, or even decide to apply, find out the background to the tender.

4. Assess the relevance of the work to your core business.

Consider whether the tender is for work which uses skills at the core of your business, which you can deliver economically and effectively. Tenders for work that is peripheral to the company will produce high failure rates. This type of tendering costs time, effort and money, and damages moral as well as your profile.

5. Plan your time.

Plan the time you will need to complete the tender response, carry out research and provide specific examples.

6. Structure your tender response

Structure your tender response with specific consideration of the client's needs, the evaluation criteria and the actual question being asked. Public Sector Tenders must explain in detail how they are to be evaluated, so use this information to demonstrate how you meet the client's needs. Also, take time to really understand the client's needs through reading between the lines, pre-tender meetings with the client and your knowledge of the market place.

7. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses

Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses against your competitors to develop a winning edge. What are your unique selling points? Decide upon your strategy for winning the tender that gives you the edge over your competitors. This must address the client's needs and the benefits to them of your offering.

8. Provide a coherent theme

That is consistent throughout your tender response. Having established your strategy, what is the theme of your tender response. Using research to help develop your theme and use key messages throughout your tender response.

9. Be credible.

Do not over sell your service/product offering. Present your organisation in an accurate, confident and honest way. Transparency generates trust and credibility, which is a key factor in winning tendered business.

10. Match your language, wording and priorities to the tender document.

Do not copy and paste standard responses. They are obvious and do not convey a company that is serious about delivering the project. Match the language used in the question to develop your response.

Call 01392 248548 to see how we can help you with your tender.