SkillsCamp Ltd (not its real name) is an ambitious digital skills company based in the North, offering digital coding services but also had a great start up in digital skills bootcamps. To date this had been mainly commercial, but the CEO had noticed an early notification of a Local Authority funded Skills Bootcamp tender coming down the lines.
Never having bid for anything previously. David decided to explore within his network for someone to help. A personal recommendation discovered Rachel and Ask the Chameleon. A brief introduction via LinkedIn and then a Teams Call followed to talk more about the Company, the tender and how we could work together.
The very first tender often takes a little longer, as I am mainly hunter/gatherer at this stage. Asking lots of questions, requesting any commercial pitch documents, policies and procedures. I am compiling a rounded picture of the company, how it operates, what it’s USP’s are, what is the main offering, and why they are the best company to win the tender.
Working back from the tender deadline, I created a scheme of work, raised questions and simplified the complexities of procurement and its jargon.
Drafting documents were created, and they were sent back and forth between us to craft the perfect narrative and response to the questions. I often challenge understanding – I am not a technical digital coding expert, and I don’t need to be. Often procurers are not experts, so the narrative needs to make sense, answer the question and be concise.
This is why you should never leave your tender writer to write your narrative alone. For one, they don’t know your business and for two, they will not be involved in delivery. Be careful what you promise.
By working closely, we pulled together all the information required, and I uploaded this to the portal. David performed the final check, and pressed the submit button.
Then we waited.
Happy to say SkillsCamp was successful. And has gone on to submit and win many more tenders (over £1m in value). Now I often provide the first draft for critique as I know David and the company so well, and we make a winning team which has grown the company considerably.
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