Following four years of development by our Trailblazer group, we are delighted to announce that the Bid and Proposal Co-ordinator apprenticeship was approved for delivery on 29 January 2019. The list of training providers offering the apprenticeship is shown on the Government Website
Background
In July 2015 the government announced the approval of 26 new Trailblazer groups to develop new apprenticeship standards, one of which was for the Bid and Proposal Co-ordinator. Our Trailblazer group consisted of 10 APMP members representing employers from across a range of sectors. Over the last four years, the standard has been developed and submitted for approval and funding. Since gaining approval for delivery, the apprenticeship has been published on the Institute for Apprenticeship website.
The Role of a Bid and Proposal Co-ordinator
The role is to support new business through the full end to end proposal process – from initial interest and co-ordinating activities around pursuit of an opportunity, co-ordination of responses to pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ), if applicable, and final tender proposal documentation submission. The role involves providing support to all affiliated functions to assist the quality and timely completion of proposal submissions – including organising meetings, structuring and writing proposal content, co-ordinating relevant activities and document management. This role extends to a range of related commercial activity such as sector analysis, trend analysis, engaging in contract law, and developing strategies to win business for a variety of goods and services.
Over a two-year period, the apprentice will learn the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary to become a valued Bid and Proposal Co-ordinator. These include:
- Bid process
- Proposal development
- Roles and responsibilities
- Organisation and planning
- Writing and editorial
- Communications
The apprentice will also develop commercial capability, vital to businesses and valued across all sectors.
On completion of the apprenticeship, many transferable skills will have been acquired, lending themselves to a variety of careers and job pathways. Staying in bid and proposal co-ordination then moving into management is the most obvious route but roles in procurement, sales, business development, project management and many more, are options available dependent on the individual and their preferences and appetites.