Working across various business teams to bring together compelling, customer focused proposals and tender submissions to win business.
Apprentices learn how to support the full bid lifecycle, from identifying opportunities and gathering information from internal teams to drafting and submitting tender responses. Training covers proposal writing, document management, compliance checking against tender requirements, and coordinating input from subject matter experts. Apprentices also develop skills in research, proofreading, version control, and understanding what makes a submission persuasive to a client or procurement panel.
Week to week, an apprentice in this role reads tender documents and breaks down the requirements, chases colleagues for technical content, and helps compile responses to deadlines. They maintain bid libraries, update standard content, track submission portals, and proofread drafts before sign-off. They may also help with post-tender activities such as debriefs, win/loss analysis, and keeping records of submitted bids up to date.
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as Bid Coordinator, Bid Writer, or Proposal Executive. With experience, progression into Senior Bid Writer, Bid Manager, or Bid Director is common, particularly for those who develop strong writing skills and sector knowledge. Employers span a wide range of industries including construction, IT services, facilities management, professional services, and the public sector, all of which rely on competitive tendering to win contracts.
Sorted by achievement rate.
No training providers currently listed for this standard.
Completers typically move into Bid Co-ordinator, Proposal Co-ordinator, or Bid Writer roles, working within a bid or business development team. Some step into a Tender Co-ordinator position, particularly in organisations with high volumes of procurement activity. Those who show strength in written communication may move directly into a junior Bid Writer role, drafting responses to invitations to tender rather than solely managing the process.
Within three to five years, many move into Bid Manager or Senior Bid Co-ordinator roles, taking ownership of individual bids from qualification through to submission. The leadership track leads toward Bid Director or Head of Bids, overseeing a team and setting bid strategy. The specialist track runs toward Senior Bid Writer or Bid Content Manager, focusing on the quality and consistency of written submissions. Some professionals also pursue APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals) accreditation to formalise their expertise.
Bid and proposal functions are most active in sectors that depend on competitive tendering: construction, engineering, facilities management, IT and managed services, professional services, defence, and public sector consultancy. Employers range from large contractors and systems integrators to mid-sized consultancies. Central and local government suppliers are consistent hirers, as are housing associations and infrastructure firms. Both in-house bid teams and specialist bid consultancies recruit at this level.
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning happens alongside paid employment, with the apprentice building knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to producing bid and proposal submissions in a real working environment. Before final assessment can begin, both the employer and training provider must confirm the apprentice is ready, a stage commonly called the gateway. Final assessment then establishes whether the apprentice can genuinely perform the role to the required standard. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated as part of ongoing reforms, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification before enrolling.
The strongest preparation is consistent record-keeping from day one. Apprentices should document the bids and proposals they contribute to, the decisions made during the process, and feedback received from colleagues and clients. Waiting until close to the gateway to gather evidence creates unnecessary pressure and produces thinner records. Working regularly with both the employer and training provider to review progress means any gaps in knowledge or practical experience can be addressed well before the readiness check, rather than becoming a problem at the final stage.
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile, ideally higher given the relatively small cohorts this niche standard tends to attract. Strong providers will have tutors or coaches with direct bid-writing or procurement experience, not just generic business administration backgrounds. Employer satisfaction scores matter here because the standard requires close collaboration between the apprentice and live business development activity. Ask to see learner reviews that mention real tender submissions, Bid Library work, or exposure to the full bid lifecycle rather than classroom simulations alone.
Be cautious if a provider cannot clearly explain how they integrate off-the-job training with the apprentice's actual bid pipeline. Vague references to "business skills" delivery without mention of APMP frameworks, bid qualification tools, or document management processes suggest the curriculum may not reflect how bid teams actually operate. A high volume of enrolled apprentices combined with a declining achievement rate on the FATP profile warrants direct questions. Providers who struggle to name alumni working in bid co-ordinator or bid writer roles are also worth scrutinising.
There are no nationally mandated entry qualifications for this standard, so employers set their own requirements. Most look for a good standard of English and maths, since writing and data analysis are central to the role. Some employers prefer candidates with GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English. If a candidate does not already hold a Level 2 English and maths qualification, they will need to achieve one before they can complete the apprenticeship.
Yes, the apprentice is employed throughout and works in their normal role while learning. A portion of their working time is set aside for off-the-job training, which is built into the programme rather than bolted on at the end. Exact duration and off-the-job requirements are subject to change under current Skills England reforms, so check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website at gov.uk for the latest figures.
Before moving to end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has demonstrated the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the standard. Assessment models for many standards are currently being reviewed, so the specific methods, such as a portfolio, professional discussion, or project, may change. The current assessment plan is published on the gov.uk apprenticeship standards page and is the authoritative source.
The funding band for this standard is £8,000, which is the maximum the government will contribute toward training and assessment costs. Larger employers who pay the apprenticeship levy use their levy account to fund it. SMEs that do not pay the levy typically contribute 5% of the training cost and the government pays the rest. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing; the government covers the full amount.
The role centres on pulling together tender submissions and proposals for contracts or new business. Day-to-day tasks typically include researching client requirements, drafting and editing written responses, coordinating input from colleagues across departments such as finance, technical, and legal, managing submission deadlines, and maintaining libraries of standard content. The apprentice acts as a connector between teams, making sure the final document presents the organisation clearly and addresses what the client has asked for.
Completing this standard gives a solid grounding for progression into senior bid roles such as Bid Writer, Bid Manager, or Bid Lead. Some go on to achieve professional accreditation through the Association of Bid and Proposal Management Professionals. Others move into related areas such as sales, commercial management, or project management. A Level 4 or higher apprenticeship in a related discipline is another route for those who want a structured qualification alongside career development.
Tell us a bit about your team and we'll send a shortlist.
Tell us your requirements and we'll match you with the right training providers.
Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 400.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.