Get in touch
Email

hello@kittle-group.com

Phone

0118 449 2506

Kittle Group Kittle Group
  • Home
  • Who we are
    • Our Bid Writing Consultancy
    • Why Choose Kittle
    • Our Team
    • Join Us
  • What We Do
    • Bid & Tender Writing Service
    • Bid Review Service
    • Bid Management Service
    • Training & Recruitment
  • Sectors
    • Charities
    • Civil Engineering & Infrastructure
    • Consultancy
    • Custody & Justice
    • Defence
    • Hard FM
    • Immigration
    • Information Technology
    • Logistics
    • NHS & Social Care
    • Rail
    • Soft FM
    • Transport
  • Blog
  • Contact
Kittle Group

Choosing the right bid writer

By Alan Kittle   July 10, 2020

Choosing the right bid writer

As with any profession, being an excellent bid writer is about more than just having the right job title.

After all, winning contracts is binary – there are no prizes for coming second. It is, therefore, imperative you hire the right person first time to increase significantly your chances of winning.

Of course, good bid writers need to have…..well, highly developed writing skills. However, of equal importance are a range of softer qualities, such as:

  • Excellent interpersonal skills – an ability to connect with different types of people quickly, given the writer will work with a wide range of clients (including technical experts) and personalities.
  • Adapting their approach – clients are different, and have their own processes and preferences. The writer will, therefore, need to fit in with their ways of working to create an integrated team.
  • Planning time effectively and being flexible – bids have deadlines; clients have deadlines; they also have day jobs and cannot always be available when the writer might like. A good bid writer needs to take this into account and plan accordingly. That will include peaks in activity – sometimes, some very high peaks at the end of bid processes.
  • Absorbing large volumes of information quickly, including on unfamiliar topics – procurement documentation often runs into hundreds of pages, but the writer might only have a day (or maximum two!) to read, and understand the material. They, therefore, need to digest it quickly, and conduct research, where necessary, to ensure they understand fully what they are writing about.
  • Being thick-skinned – this can be a difficult one to test (and sometimes writers have to learn the hard way!). However, clients sometimes only have time to focus on the bid response towards the end of the process (understandable when they have a day job!). They may change their mind about their solution or identify a better example to demonstrate their experience. An excellent writer will put aside the hours of work they may already have expended, and re-connect with the task quickly to produce a fresh response.

Given we at Kittle directly employ our writers, we are able to test for these skills during recruitment and provide ongoing training and mentoring. We, therefore, provide clients with strong, experienced and adaptable writers who really take the headache out of bidding. Whether you choose to hire a company like ours or an agency that uses freelancers, always ask how they do so too. It will provide a far better customer experience.

Recent posts

Insight #4: The purpose of bid writing

Insight #4: The purpose of bid writing

August 31, 2022
Insight #3: How working with a bid writing partner drives a compounding effect

Insight #3: How working with a bid writing partner drives a compounding effect

August 30, 2022
Insight #2: Rewards of specialisation in bid writing

Insight #2: Rewards of specialisation in bid writing

August 25, 2022
Insight #1: How to manage an unpredictable bid pipeline

Insight #1: How to manage an unpredictable bid pipeline

August 24, 2022
Our Approach to Training

Our Approach to Training

February 15, 2022
Deriving value from unsuccessful bids

Deriving value from unsuccessful bids

April 1, 2021
  • Method in your madness?
    Previous PostMethod in your madness?
  • Next PostKeeping things simple
    Method in your madness?
logo
Phone

0118 449 2506

Email

hello@kittle-group.com

linkedin
glassdoor-socialicon-circle-rgb
indeed

Who We Are

About Us
Why Choose Kittle
Our Team
Blog
Join Us
Data Protection Policy
Contact

What We Do

Bid & Tender Writing Service
Bid Review Service
Bid Management Service
Training & Recruitment

Sector Experience

Charities
Consultancy
Custody & Justice
Defence
More…

cyber essentials

© 2023 Kittle Group

Company number: 09356376. VAT number: 230 1066 67. Registered with the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 2018

Website by Fat Cow Media