communicate / competitive bid-writing in the age of AI

TLDR

For public sector bid teams navigating the AI era. Shows you how to keep bids original, human and persuasive, using AI for speed and structure, but winning through authenticity and voice.

This team-based training programme is designed to help public sector bid and grant writing teams sharpen their competitive edge in a world where AI is transforming the way we write.

As organisations work out how to harness tools like ChatGPT and Copilot within strict security guidelines, this course focuses on what sets winning teams apart when deadlines are tight and competition is fierce: the ability to articulate with clarity, credibility, innovation and strategic thinking, all delivered with a unique, unified voice.

    • Strengthen your team’s ability to write with a common voice and shared standards.

    • Understand how to leverage AI tools effectively without losing human insight and originality.

    • Build robust team-based writing processes that support quality, speed and cohesion.

    • Develop skills in editing, summarising and structuring content for maximum impact.

    • Explore how to differentiate your bids in a world where AI is ubiquitous.

    • A unified, confident team that writes with one voice and shared purpose.

    • Clear understanding of team roles in the writing process, from content leads to editors.

    • Practical strategies for using AI as a support tool, not a crutch.

    • A culture of peer feedback and continuous improvement.

    • Renewed focus on what makes your team’s bids stand out.

  • Full-day core workshop (in-person or virtual)

    A full-day session, delivered face to face or virtually, focused on your team’s live challenges and objectives. For smaller teams or focused topics, the workshop can sometimes be run as a half-day.

    Follow-up virtual meetup (2 hours, 3 months later - OPTIONAL)

    • Review commitments and progress

    • Share embedded practices and lessons learned

    • Identify any new support or development needs

  • 9:30 – 10:00
    Welcome, introductions and pre-course review
    Trainer welcome, overview of the day and review of pre-course questionnaire. Participants share expectations and team goals.

    10:00 – 10:45
    Planning for success – tools and techniques to streamline and destress the bid process, through beginning, middle and end
    A practical session to create a clear checklist with actionable techniques for bid and grant writing.

    10:45 – 11:30
    Supporting the writing process – articulating the best from multiple contributors with one voice

    How we can use multiple tools to support the way we write, successfully translating passion into interesting prose that meets evaluation criteria.

    11:30 – 11:45
    Break

    11:45 – 12:45
    Structuring and storytelling – making your case compelling
    How to structure content clearly and persuasively. Using before and after examples, adapting existing text, creating narrative arcs and using AI tools to support - not replace - your thinking.

    12:45 – 13:30
    Lunch

    13:30 – 14:15
    Writing to be read – readability, tone
    Vocabulary, tone and clarity.

    14:15 – 15:00
    Explaining to, educating and persuading your reader
    Writing credible, evidence-based arguments that answer the question. Embedding evaluation, impact and risk thinking.

    15:00 – 15:15
    Break

    15:15 – 16:00
    Ruthless editing and peer review
    Editing for word and character count. Peer review techniques. Group writing exercise using real or simulated bid content.

    16:00 – 16:30
    Commitments and close
    Review team goals and learning. Set commitments for embedding. Outline the follow-up virtual meetup in 3 months.

enquire
Sue Calthorpe, Associate Trainer at Teamshaper
Communicate - a Teamshaper training module