Overview
A bid and proposal professional plays a crucial role in helping businesses secure new projects or contracts. This job involves working closely with different teams to create persuasive proposals and tender submissions that focus on meeting the needs of potential clients. As an apprentice in this field, you’ll learn valuable commercial skills that are highly sought-after across various industries. Your tasks may include organising meetings, writing proposal content, coordinating activities, and managing documents. This role also involves analysing industry trends, understanding contract law, and devising strategies to win contracts for different products or services. Through this apprenticeship, you’ll gain skills that can be applied to many other careers, including procurement, sales, project management, and more.
What You’ll Learn
1. Bidding Process:
- Learn to navigate through each bidding process step, from identifying potential opportunities to finalising contracts. This includes engaging with customers, planning how to outshine competitors, and sealing the deal through negotiations.
2. Proposal Development:
- Master the art of crafting winning proposals. This involves using specialised software to create electronic submissions, dissecting bid requirements, and tailoring proposals to meet customer needs. Understanding pricing strategies and risk management is also crucial.
3. Knowledge Management:
- Recognise the importance of maintaining a repository of up-to-date, high-quality content, including case studies and evidence. Learn how to handle sensitive information responsibly and keep abreast of relevant regulations and policies.
4. Roles and Responsibilities:
- Understand the various roles within a bid team, such as bid managers, proposal writers, and document managers. Each team member plays a crucial part in ensuring the success of the bidding process.
Apprenticeship End-Point Assessment (EPA)
At the end of the apprenticeship, there is an End-Point Assessment (EPA) to evaluate the apprentice’s knowledge, skills, and behaviours. An independent assessor conducts this assessment, including professional discussion supported by portfolio of evidence and knowledge test.
Before entering the EPA gateway, apprentices must meet certain requirements, including English and mathematics qualifications, completion of specified projects, and passing relevant qualifications listed in the occupational standard.
Apprentices who complete the EPA will receive a certificate. For more information or assistance, apprentices can contact their employer, training provider, or the EPA organisation for support and guidance, including requesting reasonable adjustments due to disability or special considerations.
Key Information:
Entry Requirements: Depend on employer, but likely GCSEs or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience
Relevant school subjects: Business studies
Typical duration to EPA: 24 months
Achievement upon completion: Level 3 (Advanced)—equivalent to A-levels
Potential salary upon completion: £30,000 per annum
Apprenticeship standard
More information about the Level 3 Bid and Proposal Coordinator standard can be found here.
Apprenticeship end point assessment
For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page