Bid Writer

Typical Salary

£25,000 To £70,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

evenings occasionally

How To Become a Bid Writer

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
specialist courses run by professional bodies

College / University

Some employers will expect you to have a degree. Relevant subjects include:

English
business management
sales and marketing

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You can work towards this role by completing a bid and proposal co-ordinator advanced apprenticeship.

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could start as a trainee or junior bid writer. You’ll need a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths. Many employers will prefer you to have at least A levels.

You may also be able to work your way up through administrative jobs, especially in bid writing companies.

Other Routes

The Association of Bid & Proposal Management Professionals offers certification qualifications for people working in bid and proposal writing.

Institute of Sales Management also offers short courses like the Level 4 Award In Writing and Delivering a Sales Proposal and Level 5 Award in Bid and Tender Management for Account Managers.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of English language
excellent written communication skills
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
excellent verbal communication skills
knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
administration skills
the ability to use your initiative
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

In a typical day you may:

find out about possible business opportunities
find out about the industry or service you’ll be writing the bid for
talk and listen to clients
gather evidence to answer Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) questions
collect data for bids, like financial records
check the rules the bid must follow
work closely with planning teams
present technical information in easy-to-understand ways
design, write, edit and check bid documents
keep accurate records and save material to a 'bid library' for future use
submit bids

Working Environment

You could work at a client's business or in an office.

Career Path & Progression

You could become a team leader, senior bid writer, or bids and proposals manager.

You could also transfer your skills to other kinds of technical writing or contract management.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Career tips

A professional marketing qualification may help you find work.

If you're preparing bids for international funding, the ability to speak other languages can help.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Association of Bid Proposal Management Professionals and the Institute of Sales Management for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.