Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

As the year draws to a close and we reflect on 2019, the year has been one of learning and growth. We have learnt that we deliver excellent bid writing training courses that actually help people win bids. We have helped our long time customers and our new customers grow their business, through winning bids and tenders. We have grown our business too. We have moved into our new home in Newcastle and made lots of new friends. So at a time of peace and goodwill what are we most looking forward to in 2020?

2020 is an exciting year for Naomi Clews Consultancy. We'll be back on the road talking about price, leverage and negotiation. Inspiring more schools to make their budgets go further. 

We have more CPD accredited bid writing training courses planned, helping suppliers build their skills and confidence to bid for Government contracts. 

We have already been inundated with bid writing requests for January and February so it may be time to expand our team to meet increased demand for bid writing services. 

Christmas Wishes

Twenty years ago, people feared they would have no electric and food as Big Ben brought in the new millennium. Fast forward twenty years and people are still wondering if they will have electric and food after the UK leaves the EU. 

What will 2020 mean for bid and tender writing. Our hunch is, it is going to be a very busy year. People don't like change and Brexit potentially means a new set of procurement rules for procurement teams to learn. Who has time for that. We may find extension periods cut and tenders going to market early to reduce the uncertainty of the unknown in 2021. 

We predict the number of procurement organisations will shrink in 2020. Tenders will become larger and more complicated. Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) are already finding it tougher to bid for government tenders. No doubt the Government will fail again on their SME targets. Disappointing as the UK is made up of over 99% SME's and the UK economy will be dependent on SME's in 2021. 

Procurement needs to step up now and take a long hard look at their sourcing strategy. Why are you asking for 'audited' accounts when there is a small business exemption. Why are you asking for two times the contract value when government rules have prevented suppliers access to customers in the past. Why are you running procurements and not inviting the incumbent supplier. Why are you still using the restricted process. Why are you refusing to disclose the winning bidder and why are you still using a PQQ!!!

At this time of peace and goodwill we put down our metaphorical pens for another year and reflect. To the tenders that made us laugh and those that definitely made us cry. The customers who came to us defeated, are now triumphant. Those moments when we thought - why the hell are we in this business? - we raise a glass to you - 2019.