Bid Writing Masterclass

About this course

An intensive, interactive 2-hour masterclass covering six topic areas: introduction to bid writing and management, the Shipley methodology, effective storyboarding, best practice approaches, using AI, prompts and review, and writing winning answers. Delivered one-to-one or as a group session.

Key outcomes

• Understand bid writing and bid management fundamentals
• Apply the Shipley methodology to your responses
• Storyboard answers before you write them
• Use AI, prompts and structured review to write winning answers

What's included

• 2-hour live interactive session
• Six topic areas covered end-to-end
• 1-2-1 or group delivery
• Templates, prompts and review checklist

Course curriculum

6 modules · 18 lessons. Enrolment unlocks every module in your dashboard so you can prepare before the session and revisit it afterwards.

1. 01

   Introduction to Bid Writing and Management

   How bidding works end to end, who does what, and where wins are really made.

   • What bidding is and why it is won earlyThe full lifecycle from opportunity identification to contract award, and where the biggest swings in score happen.8 min
   • Roles, governance and the bid teamWho owns the win strategy, who writes, who reviews and who signs off, even when the team is only two people.7 min
   • Reading the tender documents properlyInstructions, specification, evaluation criteria and terms, and building a compliance matrix in the first hour.5 min
2. 02

   The Shipley Methodology

   The industry standard approach to capture and proposal development, applied practically.

   • Overview of the Shipley processThe process in plain language, and the steps that matter most on tight deadlines.8 min
   • Capture planning and bid or no bidScoring an opportunity honestly before you commit resource.7 min
   • Win themes and the value propositionTurning buyer hot buttons into discriminators and proof.5 min
3. 03

   Effective Storyboarding

   Plan the answer before you write a word.

   • Why storyboards raise scoresStructure, evidence and compliance decided up front rather than in the final draft.8 min
   • Building an answer planQuestion deconstruction, mark allocation, evidence selection and word budgets.7 min
   • Running a storyboard sessionFacilitating subject matter experts and leaving with a signed off plan.5 min
4. 04

   Best Practice Approaches

   The habits that separate consistent winners from occasional ones.

   • Structure, clarity and readabilityAnswer first, then evidence. Active voice, question-mirroring headings and visuals that earn their space.8 min
   • Evidence, proof points and metricsTurning claims into credible proof with data, case studies and measurable outcomes.7 min
   • Compliance and quality controlCompliance checks, colour team reviews, version control and the submission checklist.5 min
5. 05

   Using AI, Prompts and Review

   Use AI to speed up drafting without losing voice, evidence or compliance.

   • Where AI helps and where it hurtsConfidentiality, invented evidence and buyer policies on AI generated content.8 min
   • Writing prompts that produce usable draftsPrompt patterns for deconstruction, first drafts, tone matching and cutting to word count.7 min
   • AI assisted reviewUsing AI as a second reviewer against the evaluation criteria, then applying judgement.5 min
6. 06

   Writing Winning Answers

   Put it all together on a live question.

   • Anatomy of a high scoring answerStatement, method, evidence, benefits and risk mitigation mapped to the marking scheme.8 min
   • Executive summaries that sellA summary decision makers read, focused on their outcomes rather than your history.7 min
   • Practice, feedback and next stepsWrite a short answer against a real style question and leave with an improvement plan.5 min

Already enrolled? Continue in your dashboard.