Issue 13 - Riding the Wave

Synopsis

Bid Solutions recently celebrated 20 years in business, and I thought I’d witnessed pretty much everything in the bid and proposal profession. We survived a major global recession, battled through COVID, and are currently dealing with the UK’s exit from the EU.

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Bid Solutions recently celebrated 20 years in business, and I thought I’d witnessed pretty much everything in the bid and proposal profession. We survived a major global recession, battled through COVID, and are currently dealing with the UK’s exit from the EU.

All that experience to draw upon, yet the explosion of activity within our sector that started in May 2021 has exceeded all our expectations. We knew there would be a ‘bounce’ post-COVID, maybe a flurry of activity for a quarter or two as businesses switched back on. What we didn’t expect was 12 continuous months of record activity, with no real end in sight.

This wave of activity has been both a blessing and a curse. At times it has felt like riding the Banzai Pipeline as the crest breaks just over your shoulder. I see companies within our profession talk of record revenues and profits, but I also listen to people daily who haven’t taken a break for over 12 months. The mental wellbeing of many was tested to the limits with the pandemic. With no respite, this tidal wave of opportunity has pushed people even further out of their comfort zones.

The wave has delivered unprecedented opportunities to candidates looking to progress their careers, seeking better working conditions, or simply securing a pay rise. Never have I seen candidates with so much power in the job market. I genuinely believe this is a good thing. Not only does it bring balance to a process that has historically been heavily in favour of those hiring, it also forces companies to rethink their talent acquisition strategies. Those that have adapted fast are hiring the best talent in the market – they have streamlined interview processes, they have developed hybrid employment contracts, and they are putting the candidates’ needs at the heart of the discussion.

My best advice to candidates is to remember that with this new power comes responsibility. Don’t be afraid to negotiate – either with your existing employer or with an offer you receive – but have a clear, balanced, and defined rationale for doing so. Whilst salaries have increased over the last 12 months, not all industries and regions have been on the same trajectory. Baseless salary demands tend to stick out like a sore thumb and can quickly lead to the retraction of an offer.

The wave has also led to a significant increase in the number of bid and proposal businesses serving our niche market – more freelancers, new software businesses, expanding consultancies. When we set out in business you could count the number of bid and proposal specialists on one hand.  There are now over 1,000 unique businesses in the UK supplying services to our profession. Globally, I imagine you could multiply that by five.

So, is the current wave of prosperity we’re riding a blip or fundamentally here to stay? There was debate amongst our experts about this question; the consensus of the 14 fantastic articles that make up this issue of BQ is an optimistic one. I really hope you can make the most of the opportunities out there and enjoy the ride.

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Martin Smith
Issue 13

Synopsis

Bid Solutions recently celebrated 20 years in business, and I thought I’d witnessed pretty much everything in the bid and proposal profession. We survived a major global recession, battled through COVID, and are currently dealing with the UK’s exit from the EU.

All that experience to draw upon, yet the explosion of activity within our sector that started in May 2021 has exceeded all our expectations. We knew there would be a ‘bounce’ post-COVID, maybe a flurry of activity for a quarter or two as businesses switched back on. What we didn’t expect was 12 continuous months of record activity, with no real end in sight.

This wave of activity has been both a blessing and a curse. At times it has felt like riding the Banzai Pipeline as the crest breaks just over your shoulder. I see companies within our profession talk of record revenues and profits, but I also listen to people daily who haven’t taken a break for over 12 months. The mental wellbeing of many was tested to the limits with the pandemic. With no respite, this tidal wave of opportunity has pushed people even further out of their comfort zones.

The wave has delivered unprecedented opportunities to candidates looking to progress their careers, seeking better working conditions, or simply securing a pay rise. Never have I seen candidates with so much power in the job market. I genuinely believe this is a good thing. Not only does it bring balance to a process that has historically been heavily in favour of those hiring, it also forces companies to rethink their talent acquisition strategies. Those that have adapted fast are hiring the best talent in the market – they have streamlined interview processes, they have developed hybrid employment contracts, and they are putting the candidates’ needs at the heart of the discussion.

My best advice to candidates is to remember that with this new power comes responsibility. Don’t be afraid to negotiate – either with your existing employer or with an offer you receive – but have a clear, balanced, and defined rationale for doing so. Whilst salaries have increased over the last 12 months, not all industries and regions have been on the same trajectory. Baseless salary demands tend to stick out like a sore thumb and can quickly lead to the retraction of an offer.

The wave has also led to a significant increase in the number of bid and proposal businesses serving our niche market – more freelancers, new software businesses, expanding consultancies. When we set out in business you could count the number of bid and proposal specialists on one hand.  There are now over 1,000 unique businesses in the UK supplying services to our profession. Globally, I imagine you could multiply that by five.

So, is the current wave of prosperity we’re riding a blip or fundamentally here to stay? There was debate amongst our experts about this question; the consensus of the 14 fantastic articles that make up this issue of BQ is an optimistic one. I really hope you can make the most of the opportunities out there and enjoy the ride.