This half-day session in NICVA will give you the knowledge and skills you need to prepare for tenders. It will cover managing the process and completing the responses. It will be delivered by Ruth Walker, NICVA associate.
Who is the training for?
Those who are most likely to benefit from this half-day session are those who are/will be managing or will be actively involved in the tendering process in their organisations and want to increase their confidence and knowledge in managing the process and completing responses. It is not for those who are already experienced and confident in this area. Both the project management of the process and drafting responses aspects will be covered in this session.
"I feel far more equipped, knowledgeable and confident to submit future tenders and I also feel I can share knowledge and processes with my team" - Stephanie Stafford, Arts Care
Session content
Participants will receive a short survey in advance of the training so we can adapt where necessary and possible the content of the session. The following is what has been prepared to date:
Familiarisation with tender websites
- Tender searches
- User manuals
Software requirements
Reviewing an opportunity to tender
- Navigating tender documents
- Reviewing criteria/specification and scoring
- Reviewing price and costings: is it achievable?
- Reviewing staffing. E.g. is TUPE relevant?
Factors to consider when deciding whether to tender or not
Planning a tender response
- Constructing a tender response team including the role of the Project Manager
- Partner(s) involvement: considerations
- Preparing a tender response plan
- Social value considerations
- Gathering documentation (generic and specific)
Checking and testing upload arrangements and timings
The tender response (Part 1)
- Sizing your proposal: costings
- Sizing your proposal: meeting or exceeding the specification?
- Sizing your proposal: is it realistic and sustainable for your organisation?
Final decision: to proceed or not?
The tender response (Part 2)
- Tender team and tender plan: keeping in touch and on track
- Drafting responses: principles for simple, impactful narrative
- Collating and reviewing responses
- Finalising costings
- Aligning responses with costings
- Final documentation and upload checks
Tender response
- Timeframes and expectations
- Contract mobilisation: considerations
"Facilitator has a clear approach, good strategies to get content across, and delivered a worthwhile session to attend" - Jocelyn Horton, NICVA
Trainer Bio
Ruth Walker has worked in and alongside the community, voluntary and statutory sectors in Northern Ireland for 20 years. She has been a freelance researcher and evaluator for 13 years (2005-2016 and 2023 to present) and the Business Development Manager for NIACRO, Northern Ireland’s leading criminal justice charity for seven years. At NIACRO, she secured £7.5m of new funding from 40 funders, public and private. She has extensive experience and a strong track record building compelling funding proposals, frequently chairing tender teams and leading contract implementation. She is regularly engaged in supporting charities with reviews of their funding strategies.
Contact Name
Roisin KellyVenue
61 Duncairn Gardens
Belfast
BT15 2GB
United Kingdom
Costs
£75 members; £110 non membersCancellation policy
Please be aware that you may be charged if you don't attend an event you have registered for—even in the case of free to access events. Full details on NICVA cancellation policy