TOP TENDERS
Bid Writing Help for North East Tradespeople
The good news is this: most bids are won by firms who are clear, compliant and easy to trust, not by the firms who write the fanciest paragraphs.
What buyers are really scoring
Even when the language is formal, the buyer is usually asking four simple questions:- Can you do the work safely and properly?
- Can you deliver on time with the resources you have?
- Have you done similar work before?
- Are you good value, not just cheap?
How to write like a North East trade firm, not a head office
Simple beats waffle. If you are bidding for work like voids, responsive repairs, planned maintenance or compliance testing, write in a practical way that shows you understand real sites and real tenants.- Be specific: name the roles, the response times, the checks you do and the paperwork you provide
- Match the spec: use their headings and answer the question they asked, not the one you wish they asked
- Show your process: how you book jobs, gain access, manage materials and close out works
- Prove it: short case studies beat big claims every time
Method statements that score well
A strong method statement is not “we will carry out works to a high standard”. It is a clear plan a buyer can trust.Include things like:
- Pre-start: survey, scope confirmation, tenant contact, access, permits if needed
- On-site: safe setup, isolation/lock-off (where relevant), dust control, tidy working
- Quality checks: testing, snagging, supervisor sign-off
- Handover: certificates, photos, O&M info, updates to asset registers if required
- Aftercare: warranty, re-attendance process, escalation route
Pricing: the bit that can ruin a great bid
A common mistake is pricing too low to “get your foot in the door”, then struggling to deliver. Buyers can spot unrealistic pricing and it can backfire.If it is a schedule of rates, make sure you understand:
- call-out expectations and travel assumptions
- working hours and out-of-hours rates
- materials mark-up rules
- what is included in prelims, reporting and certification
Social value: make it believable and local
You do not need corporate theatre. You need practical local commitments you can actually deliver in the North East.- apprentice or trainee opportunities
- using local merchants and suppliers
- supporting a school careers session or community initiative
- reducing waste and improving recycling on-site
Common reasons bids fail
- Not answering the question properly, or missing attachments
- Generic copy that could apply to any company in any region
- Weak evidence, no case studies, no proof of similar work
- Inconsistent pricing or misunderstandings of the scope
- Policies out of date or certificates missing
How Top Tenders helps
Top Tenders is designed to save North East trades time and help you focus on the right opportunities.We summarise tenders in plain English, flag what the buyer is likely to score heavily, and highlight the documents you will probably need so you can decide quickly whether it is worth bidding.
Instead of chasing everything on portals, you can pick the jobs that match your trade, your coverage area and your capacity, then put your effort into a bid that is actually winnable.
Practical next step
If you are serious about bidding this year, get two things sorted first: a tidy bid pack (certificates, policies, case studies) and a couple of strong method statement templates you can adapt quickly.Once you have those, tendering stops feeling like a nightmare and starts feeling like a repeatable process.
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