In-person events: It seems like forever since we were able to host an in- person event! We held our last annual conference back in March 2020 before lockdown. Over 70 bid and proposal professionals came together to talk about best practice, presenting, getting feedback from clients, tackling bid libraries and taking charge of their career development. On top of these great sessions, an incredible commitment to networking and sharing stories meant new connections (as well as new friends) were made. We’re really excited to be bringing back our usual annual conference in Spring 2022. We think it’s going to be the best one so far!
As well as our conference, we usually hold quarterly networking events in a variety of locations across the UK – we’re hoping to expand our reach in the near future! These events predominantly consist of a smaller group getting together to network, listen to mini-presentations and meet some incredible role models within our industry. Oh and of course the occasional drink too! Keep an eye out for our upcoming social events on our website.
Virtual events
The past year has been a great way for us to reach out to new members, in particular those outside of the UK. We now host online events every few months, where everyone can join the session from the comfort of their own home.
One thing we’re really keen on is making sure our events work for our attendees. If you want to have your camera on and get involved in the interactive bits, then that’s fantastic! But if you have a bid deadline you’re working to, or maybe just prefer to observe and hear what everyone else is sharing – then that’s okay too. No matter how you’d like to get involved, you can make it work for you.
Online discussions and blogs
If you’re already a member, then you’ll know we often share questions and discussions on our LinkedIn page and Group. We love to hear your stories and advice! We’re also growing our Active Membership on our website where we host a number of forums and blog posts for our members to get involved in. We want to be able to use this platform to share all of your useful tips and experiences. Our members often say how comforting it is to know we bid people are not alone in the problems we face, and to hear the different techniques we can consider using to overcome them.
In the next year we have so many other exciting things planned for our WIBAP members and for the profession… so stay tuned!
How can you find out more?
Follow our LinkedIn Page, join our LinkedIn Group or sign up to become an Active Member on our website. We share updates on all upcoming events and how you can register for tickets.
If you’d like to get involved with any events, sponsorship, writing, or even just want to speak to one of our team, please get in touch at charlotte@wibap.org
Get Involved
LI community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12101608/
LI page: www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-bids-and-proposals
This article was written by WIBAP.
