Gaby Ostrovsky, our new team member, brings a wealth of experience in leading teams across different regions, making them an invaluable asset to our proposal team.

Have you ever wondered how the skills from journalism, public affairs, and ghost writing can elevate your proposal writing? These disciplines are not just about writing; they are about crafting a narrative, engaging the audience, and delivering a clear, concise message. Denise Mullen, our new team member, brings a wealth of experience from these fields, making her an invaluable asset to our proposal team.

Our new Procurement Act readiness workshop is essential if you want to bid for public contracts in the UK and stay ahead of the competition.

We're thrilled to introduce Denise Mullen, who has already made a significant impact with Strategic Proposals clients.

Introducing our proposal management & consulting team and how you need them in every scenario!

Welcome to MyProposalPathway, a revolutionary service brought to you by Hovester and Strategic Proposals. In today's fast-paced business environment, selecting the right AI and automation tools can be a daunting task. With countless options available, making an informed decision requires significant time and effort. That's where MyProposalPathway comes in.

The UK government's Procurement Act is in full swing and brings with it a significant emphasis on market engagement, recognising its critical role in ensuring successful procurement outcomes. This blog explores the details of the guidelines on market engagement and their implications for both bidders and buyers.

Delving in to the details of the new UK government KPI requirements. The UK government's Procurement Act introduces stringent guidelines on Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reporting, aiming to enhance transparency, accountability, and performance in public procurement. These guidelines require contracting authorities to set and publish at least three KPIs for public contracts with an estimated value of more than £5 million. This blog delves into the details of these requirements and their implications for bidders and buyers.

The UK government's Procurement Act introduces a significant shift from Model Award Criteria (MACs) to Missions, reflecting a broader political agenda aimed at driving economic growth, energy efficiency, and breaking down barriers to opportunity. This change necessitates a rethinking of bidding strategies to deliver real value and align with the new missions. Read more about it here: PPN 02. ​

Navigating the UK Government's AI guidelines: implications for bidders and buyers Read our views on the impact of PPN 017 on bidding into the UK public sector. The UK government's recent guidelines on AI transparency in procurement, outlined in PPN 017, targets ensuring ethical and responsible use of AI in public sector procurement. These guidelines aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and fairness in the use of AI technologies, which are increasingly becoming integral to procurement processes. They are a must read for those bidding in to the public sector.

In the ever-evolving landscape of bids and proposals, generative AI has emerged as a transformative force. To harness its potential effectively, it's crucial to adhere to a set of guiding principles that ensure its use is strategic, ethical, and aligned with business objectives. Drawing from the insights from a recent AI survey from our own research, here are the foundational principles for integrating generative AI into your bidding process:

Our writing team is here to help you to craft concise proposal and collateral content that is a joy to read and tells a story, taking clients on a journey.

Strategic Proposals is committed to staying at the forefront of innovation in proposal development, so we're exploring applications of AI in our proposal development process.

The challenge for managers is to instil a culture of learning and adaptation, drawing lessons from past bids to refine future strategies. This process of reflection and analysis is crucial for evolving practices and staying ahead in a competitive landscape. ​

Leveraging technology is a game-changer in our world​. The challenge is like a surfer balancing on the top of an ever growing wave of tech. Staying on top of the wave and abreast of the latest tools and software is key to success and streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency. But that's easy said than done. Bid and proposal leaders and managers must navigate an ever-evolving tech landscape to find solutions that can give their teams (and wider groups of subject matter experts and sales) a competitive edge. ​

Building a collaborative team culture is a vital challenge for bid and proposal managers. According to our ProposalBenchmarker data, creating a positive team environment is one of the areas that sets the very best bidding organisations from the rest. It's the foundation upon which successful, winning proposals are built. A team that works well together, sharing knowledge and resources, is more likely to produce a winning bid. However, fostering this kind of cooperation and trust within a team is not always straightforward. ​

Resource coordination is a critical challenge in bid management, where managers must juggle conflicting priorities and finite resources. The ability to balance the demands of multiple bids, each with its own set of tasks and deadlines, is essential for ensuring that each proposal receives the attention it deserves. And by the way… if you can't give it the right level of attention – guess what – don't push it. No bid it. ​

Navigating the murky waters of ambiguity is a common challenge for bid and proposal managers. The task of managing uncertainty in client requirements or project scopes is daunting, as it can significantly impact the direction and quality of a proposal. Ambiguity can stem from vague project outlines, fluctuating market conditions, or unclear client expectations, leaving managers to make strategic decisions with incomplete information. ​

In the intricacies of bidding, every step, every move counts. But what happens when there's a missing link in the chain? Much like a strong metal chain, the strength of a bid lies not just in its individual components but in their connection, their seamless integration, creating an unbreakable sequence of strategies and tactics that leads to you winning. ​

Enhance proposals by applying product management principles: storytelling, personas, communication, and market insights.

The ability to keep a bid plan on track ensures that every phase of the proposal process is completed on time, ultimately leading to a timely submission. However, the complexity of coordinating multiple tasks and contributors can often lead to delays. The risk of a derailed schedule is significant. Time is a finite resource, and any delays can compress the remaining schedule, forcing teams to rush and potentially compromise the quality of the proposal. Moreover, missing the submission deadline can disqualify the bid altogether, wasting the effort and resources invested.

Ensuring the highest quality of content from contributors is a pivotal challenge for bid and proposal managers. The quality of the content can make or break a proposal, and it's essential to harness the collective expertise of your team to produce a compelling bid. However, managing a diverse group of contributors and maintaining a high standard can be daunting. ​

Crafting a winning strategy is a pivotal challenge for bid and proposal managers. It involves translating a conceptual framework into an actionable plan that resonates with clients and sets the stage for a successful bid.

Watch Rachel Fisher share her creative insights and learn how design can transform your process.

Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful proposal development. For bid and proposal managers, the ability to convey clear and consistent messages throughout the bid process is paramount.

Delegation is more than just assigning tasks; it's about empowering your team to make a difference on each bid they contribute to whilst ensuring you’re able to guide the opportunity to victory. Discover practical tips and strategies to delegate effectively, ensuring that every member of your team is engaged and contributing to their fullest potential.

Recently, one of our team had an eye-opening conversation with a client who revealed that they only run a very basic level of capture on less than 5% of their opportunities. This got me thinking – how many of us are truly leveraging the full potential of our capture management processes?

Insights from our recent poll: ​What's the right balance between internal bid process/governance effort versus creating a compelling proposal?

Our design team is here to ensure you leverage design to increase your impact and chances of winning.

Crafting proposals that resonate with customers is more essential than ever. Discover how a customer-centric approach can distinguish your proposals from the rest and why it's crucial to appeal to both the logical and emotional aspects of your evaluators.

This video provides everyone with a reminder of what the Proposal Benchmarker is and what the data held within is telling us. Watch for more insights.

Discover the secrets to winning in business with insights from industry experts. Watch now!

Introducing SP's new directors: discover their expertise, insights, and vision for future success

We are thrilled to introduce our three new SP directors and share some of their knowledge and experience in this first of a three-part video series.

Dive into the transformative journey of proposal design and learn how these unsung heroes are redefining success in the competitive realm of bidding.

This paper contains the results of brand-new research into the innovative ways organisations are leveraging GenAI to enhance their proposals.

There's always a lot going on, isn't there? Too much to keep track of, it seems. Here's what we've been up to over the past few months

We're excited to announce that Gaby will be joining us in December, bringing over 25 years of experience in bids and proposals to our team.

The extensive range of workshops and classes will help everyone who contributes to winning new business or retaining existing business to do it more effectively and efficiently, pushing up win rates and margins.​

This Black Friday, unlock unmatched quality and creativity with up to 50% off our expert proposal and bid design services!

This paper explores how you can create a competitive advantage using branding strategies and how to efficiently manage them in your capture process.

What does design mean to you? Is it just about aesthetics, or does it hold a deeper significance? We've reimagined design to be more than just visual appeal.

In a world where authenticity and originality are becoming increasingly scarce, understanding the hidden pitfalls of AI-generated images is crucial.

This blog delves into essential strategies that can significantly enhance your chances of securing that coveted win.

When navigating the complex world of bids, striking the right balance between leadership and management can be the difference between success and failure.

In the high-stakes world of large and complex sales opportunities, winning the deal demands precision, strategy, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Uncover the secrets to crafting executive summaries and brochures that captivate and convince your audience.

In an era where artificial intelligence is transforming industries, we are unlocking its untapped potential in the realm of bids and proposals.

In the high-stakes arena of bidding, a well-structured strategy is your greatest ally, ensuring each phase of the process builds upon the last for success.

Unlock the secrets of winning bids by mastering the art of connecting every dot in the bid lifecycle.

Discover how achieving APMP micro-certifications can elevate your proposal expertise to new heights.

More than simply helping to decide which deals you should chase, a good qualification process will help you identify actions that could improve your success.

We recently received an RFI from a prospect that raised some eyebrows. Here's why...

Navigating the complexities of the transport and logistics sector requires a thorough understanding of the industry's unique challenges.

The professional services sector demands a high level of attention to detail. We're experienced in crafting proposals that meet the standards of this industry.

Bidding in the ICT sector involves staying up to date with latest technological advancements. Our teams are dedicated to aligning expertise with clients' needs.

The financial services sector requires a deep understanding of regulatory and compliance issues. Our teams specialise in this area and tailor our approach to fit the unique needs of our clients.

Understanding the nuances of bidding in the construction and engineering sector is crucial, our team can help.

Discover how we can help you get the competitive edge in Aerospace and Defence industries.

In an ever evolving sector, our teams are adept at navigating the intricacies of healthcare regulations and patient care standards.

Calling in expert resources to support your proposal can fill a gap in your team's capabilities and, crucially, give you an edge over your competitors.

Strategic Proposals offers an expert team with a proven tool and tailored training courses to help you navigate competitive landscapes.

Strategic Proposals brings in expert proposal managers with extensive industry experience to lead the bid and proposal process.

Strategic Proposals offers expert training, coaching, and creative support to ensure your presenters effectively convey your strategy and solution.

Strategic Proposals provides independent expert reviewers who assess proposals to ensure it creates empathy with the customer and tells a compelling story.

Strategic Proposals crafts concise, engaging proposal and collateral content that tells a compelling story and resonates with evaluators.

Strategic Proposals attracts the best designers to create amazingly designed content that elevates your proposal and collateral.

Strategic Proposals provides courses that provide hands-on training in the latest techniques and competencies to win and retain work in competitive markets.

We help teams develop winning habits by benchmarking existing capabilities, identifying improvement opportunities, and running transformation programs.

Personal development has never been so important. But how do you know where you need to sharpen your skills? That's why we developed My Proposal Coach™.

Here are some highlights taken from Tim and Graham's occasional TGV video series on recruitment, retention and development in the bid and proposal industry.

Here are some highlights taken from Tim and Graham's occasional TGV video series on recruitment, retention and development in the bid and proposal industry.

See more about our training to win services in the video below, and assess your current competencies with our free online tool.

Here are some highlights taken from Tim and Graham's occasional TGV video series on recruitment, retention and development in the bid and proposal industry.

We've been leading the way in proposals for over 30 years. Our executive brochure clearly articulates our high quality services and how they will help you win the deal - time and again.

Taking a more active approach to active qualification helps improve qualification effectiveness and this paper will show you how.

Watch our video where Tim and Graham talk about the value of keeping the written proposal conversational, and how to avoid nominalisation.

Strategic Proposals is committed to staying ahead of innovation in proposal development, so we're exploring applications of AI in our process.

There's always a lot going on, isn't there? Too much to keep track of, it seems. Here's what we've been up to over the past few months

In the high-stakes world of bidding, the battle is often won or lost in the minds of the buyers long before the RFP is issued. While the logical aspects of a proposal – compliance and completeness - are scrutinised under the microscope of evaluation criteria, it’s the emotional connection that often tips the scales towards one bidder over another.

In the competitive arena of bidding, the three Cs - Customer, Capability, and Competition - form the cornerstone of a win and proposal strategy. But it’s the first C, the Customer, that often holds the key to unlocking a winning bid. To truly understand the customer, we must delve into the three (and sometimes four) tiers of understanding. Let’s test if you’ve unpeeled all these layers on the bid you’re working on at the moment…

This white paper discusses that all-important step in the capture process from business development to proposal.

Increase your probability of winning with capture tactics that work! To win business in today's highly competitive world, you must stand out from the crowd.

Strategic Proposals have contributed 5 articles to the latest edition of Bid Solution's award-winning Bidding Quarterly.

We were delighted to be diamond sponsors and were the official sponsor of the BPC Certification Day on Sunday 2 June.

Watch our video where we discuss why so many people in the bid and proposal profession fall back on the same baffling words and phrases?

From defining objectives, to maintaining customer confidentiality, here'd eight valuable principles to follow if you're considering using generative AI in bids.

More than simply helping to decide which deals you should chase, a good qualification process will help you identify actions that could improve your success.

Our latest white paper unveils the results of our third iteration of primary research about bidders' view of buying.

BJ Lownie, Strategic Proposals' founder has started to move towards his well-earned retirement in early 2025.

We are pleased to announce that one of our designers is now APMP graphic certified.

So pleased to announce that Debbie Mullen has joined our expanding SP family, with 20 years' experience in proposal writing and management.