Bid Factors ltd

09/02/2022

Last year we attended an industry event that we’d never been to before.

There were plenty of self-proclaimed ‘disruptors’ and ‘thought leaders’ presenting keynote speeches and holding Q&A sessions. The key focus was on the future, collaboration, social value, and sustainability. Their speeches, written to impress, littered with buzzwords and management-speak, were all about themselves.
The auditoriums were packed-out.

But, sadly, very few of these great leaders said anything worthy of note. None of them said how they had collaborated, with whom, or what that collaboration looked like. None of them gave any real facts and figures about their sustainability initiatives.

The message seemed to be:
‘We know what we want to do, and we need your support, but we’re not going to tell you how to help us.’

Great. Thanks!

But one session stood out. It was a short panel discussion chaired by a customer services manager, which featured people who had faced real adversity in their lives. They spoke from the heart, with passion, about issues they faced daily. The session was inspirational and informative.
No big words. No nuanced messages. Just plain speaking by people who knew their stuff.

It made our day.

If you want your messages to be memorable, don’t make them about how clever you are. Focus on outcomes for others and how they can be achieved.

Don’t use big words. Keep it plain and simple.
If a 12-year-old wouldn’t understand it, you’ve written it wrong.

06/11/2020

Today, I found a little door. Who knows where it may lead, or who put it there?

But someone took the trouble to create something to make people stop and imagine.

Often, work's not about the doing, it's about the bits in between.

The moments of tranquility that lead to inspiration.

The ideas that others don't allow the time for

It's hard to sometimes just stand still and lose yourself, just for a moment. But that's what keeps us healthy.

Find yourself a moment to stop and stare. You'll be surprised at what you find.

24/06/2020

Who doesn’t like to settle down with a great book?

One where you can really imagine yourself being in the story?
One where you empathise with the characters emotions and their situations?
One that you put down after the final page and want to read again?

It’s funny how often some people forget all those things when they sit down to promote their own businesses.

They don’t set the scene but get stuck into the detail. They write the facts from their own perspective. Getting into technical detail about the really clever thinking that’s gone into their product or service. Because they’ve invested time and resource into it.

But very often the reader doesn’t give a flying fiddlestick about any of that.

They just want to know how you can help them solve their problems, and what makes you different from the others.

Well, here’s a thought. Tell them.

And make it very simple.

Don’t make it about you, make it about them.

Show them you are living in their world and that you know what will excite them.

Draw them into the plot and help them to see themselves in your story.

Leave them wanting to read it again to check they’ve not missed a single thing.

Leave them wanting to get to know you better.

Do you enjoy a good read?

Who’s your favourite writer, and why?

24/04/2020

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been hearing a lot of people talk about getting ‘back to normal’. The press constantly asks about the government’s exit plan (as if knowing it will help!).

It’s like the current situation is a temporary blip, and that well all go back to how it was before.

But it seems to me that a sea-change is taking place, one where we’re actually creating a new ‘normal’.

One which is far more sustainable.

The roads and skies are quieter. The air is cleaner.
Judging from my own daily walk, we all seem to be exercising in more sustainable ways.

I’m seeing people I’ve never seen before. Stopping (at a suitable distance) to talk.

Businesses have been forced into rapidly adapting, to enable employees to work from home.

And I think, overall, that employees are still just as productive.
In fact, some are realising significant savings, and efficiencies through not having to travel into work.

It’s inevitable that some businesses and people will revert back the old ways. And. like the dinosaurs, they may well die out.

But, I wonder if others will see this situation as a new revolution with brighter prospects ahead.

Has COVID 19 actually done us a huge favour?

Is ‘normal’ changing, for the better, and permanently?

What are your experiences?

20/03/2020

Today's SPOTLIGHT ON ✨ goes to our Proud Patron... Bid Factors ltd.

Bid Factors have been supporting BLGC Since November 2019.

The reasons for supporting us - BLGC is 100% aligned with our values, creating responsible, resilient citizens for tomorrow’s world.

Bid Factors provides business growth and improvement services to small and medium enterprises, schools, and charities. Our tailored services range from content creation for bids and proposals to ad-hoc administrative support. With 30 years’ public and private sector experience, we’re a safe, reliable partner, providing skills that will help your business to thrive.

We would like to thank you all for your amazing support made towards Bolton Lads and Girls Club Official ✨.

19/03/2020

The current situation presents a golden opportunity to re-think how your business works.
Not just in terms of remote working, but by preparing to emerge from the other side stronger, and more efficient.
If scaled-back operations mean you have spare resources, why not redeploy them to improve your strategic planning?
Engage with your people and your suppliers, and empower them to help you.
Capture their unique experiences and skills in vibrant CV's, case studies and newsletters.
Identify your weaknesses and flaws, and develop new ways of working.
Research those projects that, you know, lie on the horizon. And get yourself ready to compete for them.
Adopt community support initiatives to create social value.
Really research, and get to know, your target customers. Discover what really makes them tick, and align everything you offer with that.
That's how you'll really succeed.
I can support all of these activities, ad-hoc, or as part of a tailored programme, on an hourly, daily or weekly basis.
My initial consultation, including some advice, is completely free of charge.
So, if you need help, message me.

08/11/2019

Mental Health is a real issue in construction. Many companies go to great lengths to try and convince clients that they are tackling it.
But many of the innovative measures and initiatives such as fatigue management, or mental health first aiders (to name but two) are sticking plasters.
I wonder how many of these companies will be as keen to tackle one of the root causes; late payment?
The common excuse, often given with a knowing smile, is that "its how the industry operates".
Sorry, but that's bu****it. It has to stop and it can stop. It's not a competition.
Just this week we saw Kier and Seddons suspended from the government's prompt payment charter. They got found out and now they get the bad press. I say bravo to that.
Others fly under the radar (including ultimate clients).
When will the industry do the right thing?
****it

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/11/07/late-payment-sparks-construction-mental-health-crisis/

Please check the box. As a free news service Construction Enquirer relies on advertising for funding. We are unable to send you free daily news without your consent to receive occasional marketing emails.

30/10/2019

We are delighted to announce that one of Bid Factors' key clients has just been awarded places on three out of the four major framework contracts that we helped them to tender.

We are really proud of the result, and so is our client.
Together we have secured between five and eight years of sustainable growth and many tens of millions of pounds' worth of revenue.

We've not just safeguarded jobs, we've opened opportunities for recruitment, training, and development.

And we've made sure that millions of water customers are getting the very best value.

Talk about a warm fuzzy feeling!

Read the full story;

Three out of four ‘aint bad! by Jim Cheetham Potts | Oct 30, 2019 We are delighted to announce that one of Bid Factors’ key clients has just been awarded places on three out of the four major framework contracts that we helped them to tender. Fortunately, our client (a medium-sized civil, mechan...

22/10/2019

We would like to welcome our NEW BRONZE PATRON - Bid Factors ltd to our Patron's Society.
Bid Factors helps small and medium enterprises, schools, and charities to compete for new business, win awards and obtain grants.
Our patrons play an important role in supporting the Club and helping us create a positive environment for young people in Bolton.
On behalf of everyone here at Bolton Lads and Girls Club Official, we would like to thank you for your amazing support!

22/10/2019

31/07/2019

It’s come from the top. This opportunity is a targeted ‘must-win’.
Does this sound familiar?
Take full control. Engage your senior people from the very start, or not at all.
Be polite but firm and put pressure on them to contribute early. After all, they’ve decided to bid, not you. They’ve decided it’s a ‘must-win’, not you. So, put it back on them.
Tell them straight, if it’s a ‘must-win’, you’ll give 100%, but it’s got to be their top priority, otherwise, you may all be out of a job tomorrow.
Your senior people are there to serve the business (including you and your team). They often know more about the whole business that anyone else. Tell them you need their knowledge now, not later.
Set out a tender process which makes answer planning critical, not the 90% review.
Ban laptops and phones from your meetings (apart from a single note-taker) and engage everyone. Don’t allow dial-ins and ban hard copy commenting. No excuses.
If they kick back, then it’s obviously not the ‘must-win’ that they said it was!
If you are a senior manager or director, don’t troll me. Either change your ways or be relieved that you’re not one of the ones I’m talking about!

Read the full article;

Senior people should be more engaged in bidding by Jim Cheetham Potts | Jul 31, 2019 It’s come from the top. This opportunity is a targeted ‘must-win’. So, you organise a tender workshop and you invite the bid team, and the senior managers/directors who will be reviewing/signing off your propo...

25/07/2019

Ahhh, the summer holiday period. That time of the year when the roads are quieter, and the office is quieter still.
If you are procuring a major contract or framework, surely now is the time to do it?
And, don't forget to set a really tight return date. Keep 'em lean, keep 'em keen. You call the shots, remember.
But don't worry, if you can't get your procurement documentation ready in time for the end of August, give yourself a well-earned extension of time until just before Chrismas, when another window of opportunity will present itself.
Oh, and don't forget to tell them how collaborative you are. Simply using the 'C' word will set the scene for a really successful contract which will certainly smash your programme, and cost expectations.
Not.
It doesn't have to be that way.