In the drive to write a winning bid, have you ever stopped to think how different your proposal documents would look if you treated them like adverts?

If the honest answer is no, don’t worry – not many have. That’s exactly why, when we found ourselves with a blank page in the printed version of BQ magazine and a looming deadline, we called on Simon Wellstead.

Simon is creative director at SMSW Media, the ad agency for bids. Yes, you read that right, an ad agency for bids.

How SMSW Craft a Winning Bid

SMSW’s approach is fuelled by the belief that the magical simplicity of messaging from the golden era of advertising (50s and 60s) should be applied to every bid and sales campaign. Simon and his team have been surprising and exciting clients for over 10 years by highlighting business differences through compelling, captivating and creatively intelligent winning bid campaigns.

Simon is an exceptional storyteller and his work nods to some of the finest ad men including Ogilvy, Bernbach, Lois, and Arden.

Getting back to that blank page in BQ magazine, it didn’t take long for Simon to transform the space into a self-promoting ode to the creatives of old.

The ad didn’t appear in Bidding Quarterly‘s digital version so we wanted to share it here for anyone who missed it to enjoy.
Click Here

If you haven’t spoken to Simon yet and are tasked with improving bid quality and win rates, or want to inject first-class creativity into your bids or pitches, we would highly recommend getting in contact. He’s always happy to offer valuable tips and advice (stolen from the masters of course).

If you enjoyed this content, then you might also get something from our, ‘Ask the Expert‘ series of articles where industry leaders share their knowledge and answer your questions.

Senior Bid Manager

We have a great opportunity for a Senior Bid Manager to join a growing team in Kent that is undergoing significant investment. The role will be split between managing live deals, developing and amending existing bid processes and line managing a Bid Coordinator. If you are a Bid Manager local to the area and want a new, rewarding challenge, please review the job details here: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16873

Our latest Permanent Opportunities this week include: 

Senior Bid Manager Opportunity working for a major global legal practice based in London. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16950

Proposal Manager Position in Wembley working for a construction and civil engineering firm. Salary is up to £50k + Car Allowance – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16948

Bid Manager Vacancy in Manchester working for a leading law firm. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16945

Senior Bid Writer Position for a major security firm, with time split between London and home. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16954

Bid Coordinator (French or German Speaking) Position with a global material handling manufacturer based in Frimley. Salary up to £37k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16907

Bid Executive Vacancy in Manchester working for a leading law firm. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16947

Bid Specialist Opportunity working for a leading logistics firm based in Uxbridge. Salary up to £33k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16918

Bid / Submission Coordinator Role in Wembley working for a construction and civil engineering firm. Salary is up to c.£30k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16949

More Bid Manager Vacancies

For a full list of current job opportunities please visit: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs

How the Best Win – Advice from Strategic Proposals on how to write a winning bid

Our close friends at Strategic Proposals recently launched their thought-provoking ‘How the Best Win’ report. This demonstrates the direct correlation between proposal capabilities and win rates and recommends key, practical steps that organisations can take to gain a competitive advantage in the bid process. It’s a must-read for Heads of Bid and Proposals, Sales Directors and C-Suite Execs responsible for winning work.

You can download your own copy here: https://www.strategicproposals.com/resource-centre-research-and-papers/

For more expert opinion and useful resources to help you craft a winning bid, visit our Bid Hub.

Our latest Permanent Opportunities this week include: 

Bid Manager Vacancy in Manchester working for a leading law firm. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16945

Bid Team Leader Opportunity with a global material handling manufacturer based in Frimley.  Salary up to £55k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16885

Bid Manager Role with a leading FMCG provider based in Kent. Package up to £55k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16873

Bid Coordinator and Senior Bid Coordinator Opportunities within a leading architectural firm in London. Salary up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16944

Bid Writer Position working for a leading construction organisation based in London. Salary up to £40k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16939

Bid Writer Vacancy based in Orpington, Kent for a construction firm. Salary up to £40k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16942

Bid Writer Role based in Swindon for a business services firm. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16928

Bid Coordinator (French or German Speaking) Position with a global material handling manufacturer based in Frimley. Salary up to £37k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16907

Bid Specialist Opportunity working for a leading logistics firm based in Uxbridge. Salary up to £33k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16918

More Bid Writer Jobs

For a full list of current job opportunities please visit: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs