Council Hosts Free Bid Support Sessions

Belfast City Council is offering free coaching to help small local firms and social enterprises win tenders.

The one day 'Induction to Tendering' workshop is designed for those new to the tendering process or seeking to improve their strategy for finding opportunities, managing bids and winning contracts.

The event, partly funded by Invest NI and the European Regional Development Fund, will be held at the Park Avenue Hotel from 9am to 3pm on Wednesday 23 October.

The interactive sessions will help businesses to:

• Understand UK public and private sector procurement processes;

• Understand the different types of procurement procedure - and how to meet the requirements of each;

• Identify strengths, weaknesses and selling points;

• Make the right Bid / No-Bid decisions (so you bid less and win more);

• Understand the challenges of bid pricing – communicating the value of what you do and presenting the price;

• Develop an approach that makes the bid process more efficient and effective; and

• Consider when collaboration might be the right approach to take in a bid opportunity – to help you 'punch above your weight' when participating in a tender process.

Chair of the council's City Growth and Regenertaion Committee, Councillor Deirdre Hargey said: "Our free workshops provide excellent, practical guidance, as well as tried and tested hints and tips to help smaller businesses develop their bids and make them a real success. This is part of a package of free support including mentoring, support on live tenders and skills development. I urge local firms to come along and benefit from our tendering experts."

Register online for your place on the training workshop, email laurak@envision-ni.co.uk or call 028 9045 2777.



(JG/CM)