At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creation of winning bids for UK Government contracts in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join QA Ltd, the UK's top provider of digital skills and training.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, private medical insurance, and early finishes on Fridays.
- Other info: Embrace diversity in a supportive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by securing large-scale learning contracts while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: 5+ years experience in bid writing for UK public sector contracts required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
About The Role
Location: London, Hybrid
QA Ltd, the UK’s leading provider of digital skills, apprenticeships, and technical training, is seeking an experienced Senior Bid Writer to lead the development of high‑quality tender responses for UK Government Departments, agencies, and public sector bodies. The successful candidate will play a critical role in securing large‑scale learning and training contracts by producing compelling, compliant, and evidence‑led bid submissions. Working closely with subject matter experts, sales, delivery, finance, and senior stakeholders, you will translate QA’s solutions and value proposition into winning responses aligned with government priorities and evaluation criteria.
Key Responsibilities
- Bid Leadership & Development: Lead the end‑to‑end writing of competitive tenders and frameworks for UK Government Departments (e.g. Crown Commercial Service, MoD, HMRC, DWP, Home Office, DfE, Cabinet Office, agencies and ALBs). Analyse Invitation to Tender (ITT), SQ, and framework documentation to ensure full compliance and scoring optimisation. Own and develop written responses to quality questions, including methodology, delivery models, quality assurance, social value, equality, sustainability, and risk management.
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Work closely with internal stakeholders including delivery, curriculum, quality, finance, sales, legal, and senior leadership to gather content and shape responses. Facilitate and contribute to bid kick‑off meetings, storyboarding sessions, and content reviews. Challenge inputs constructively and ensure responses remain customer‑focused, persuasive, and compliant.
- Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement: Review and edit bid submissions to ensure clarity, consistency, tone, and alignment with evaluation criteria. Manage and maintain bid content libraries, case studies, and standard responses. Capture bid feedback and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement in bid strategy and win rates.
Your Experience and Skills
Essential:
- Significant experience (typically 5+ years) as a Bid Writer or Senior Bid Writer within the UK public sector.
- Proven track record of writing successful tender responses for UK Government learning, skills, education, or training contracts.
- Strong understanding of UK public procurement regulations, frameworks, and evaluation methodologies.
- Experience responding to contracts with values ranging from £1m to £100m+.
Desirable:
- Experience bidding for apprenticeships, bootcamps, adult skills, digital training, or workforce development contracts.
- Familiarity with Crown Commercial Service (CCS) frameworks and Department for Education funding programmes.
- Experience mentoring junior bid writers or leading bid workstreams.
Skills Required:
- Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to write persuasively, clearly, and concisely.
- Strong analytical skills to interpret complex tender requirements and scoring criteria.
- Ability to translate technical or educational solutions into benefit‑led, outcomes‑focused narratives.
- High attention to detail with excellent proofreading and editing capability.
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple bids under tight deadlines.
About Us
Wellbeing & Benefits:
- 27 days Annual Leave (4 days used for the festive closure) plus Bank Holidays
- Holiday Buying scheme
- Medicash plan, Wellhub, Cycle to Work scheme
- Private Medical Insurance at corporate rates
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee Discounts
- Benefit Hub
- 3 Development days
- 2 Charity days per year
- Pension Scheme
- Early Friday Finish at 4pm
Personal Growth: Learning and opportunity is at the core of what we do – and that applies to you too! You’ll have the unique opportunity to develop your skills on our QA‑authored courses in the latest tech. You’ll receive 3 training days per year to do this. You can also delve deep into our world‑class digital learning content on a variety of tech and business topics. Or perhaps you’d like to enrol on a Degree or Masters program to enhance your skillset or learn new things.
Our People: We are an equal opportunity employer, focused on promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment. We embrace diversity, welcome applications from all candidates and aim to support the career growth of everyone. This means no matter what your gender, age, ethnicity, beliefs, or sexual orientation, or if you are disabled or a carer, we welcome you and the different perspectives you bring to our diverse family. We’re proud of the progress we’ve achieved over the last few years to build an inclusive culture and celebrate our diversity. As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee that all applicants with a disability who meet the role criteria will progress to the next stage of the process. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.
Senior Bid Writer employer: QA-1
QA Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. With generous benefits such as 27 days of annual leave, private medical insurance, and dedicated development days, employees are empowered to enhance their skills in a supportive and inclusive environment. Located in London, the company fosters collaboration and innovation, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the digital skills and training sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Bid Writer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. The more people know you’re on the hunt for a Senior Bid Writer role, the better your chances of landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its recent bids. Understand their values and how they align with government priorities. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! When discussing your past experiences, frame them in a way that highlights your successes in bid writing. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead and collaborate effectively with stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Bid Writer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for the Senior Bid Writer role. Highlight your experience with UK public sector tenders and how you can align QA’s solutions with government priorities. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Writing Skills:Since this role is all about writing compelling bids, include examples of your previous work. We love seeing clear, persuasive, and concise writing that demonstrates your ability to meet evaluation criteria. Don’t hold back on showcasing your best pieces!
Engage with Stakeholders:Mention any experience you have working closely with various stakeholders. We value collaboration, so share how you've gathered content and shaped responses in past roles. This will show us you’re a team player who can lead bid development effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at QA!
How to prepare for a job interview at QA-1
✨Know Your Tender Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the tender requirements and evaluation criteria. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of UK Government Departments and how your experience aligns with their priorities. This will help you articulate your responses more effectively.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
As a Senior Bid Writer, you'll be working closely with various stakeholders. Be prepared to discuss examples of how you've successfully collaborated with teams in the past. Highlight your ability to gather content and shape responses while ensuring they remain customer-focused and compliant.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Prowess
Expect questions that assess your analytical skills, especially regarding interpreting complex tender requirements. Prepare to share specific instances where your analytical abilities led to successful bid submissions, showcasing your attention to detail and strategic thinking.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Talk about your commitment to quality assurance and continuous improvement in bid strategies. Share examples of how you've captured feedback and lessons learned from previous bids to enhance future submissions. This shows your proactive approach and dedication to achieving high win rates.
