Prepare your business to tender for contracts

When preparing your business to tender, it's important to follow best practice in employment and skills development. 

Ensuring your employment policies and procedures comply with the law is fundamental to any business. Winning sector contracts can depend on your business showing best practice in staff management.

Your business may need new skills to move forward. Recruiting staff can fill gaps in your team, or you can invest in training current staff to develop into new roles.

Employment policies

When tendering for contracts, your business can gain an advantage with good equality practices. Almost all public sector bodies have a legal duty to prevent discrimination. They aim to promote equality of opportunity on the grounds of gender, race and disability. Having a strong equality policy could make a big difference to a potential contractor. You should be able to show the policy is working in your business. 

Consider the following to get your business ready to tender:

• You may benefit from a review of your current policies to draw upon best practice. See set up employment policies for your business.
• You should be able to show compliance with equality legislation. See prevent discrimination and value diversity.
• Employers are responsible for preventing bullying and harassment in the workplace.
• Businesses in certain sectors are required to carry out employment checks. 
• Gathering and retaining staff records is a legal obligation, but it can bring business benefits. See keep the right staff records.
• Recognising a trade union and working with its representatives can be positive for your business. Find out how to work effectively with trade unions.

Develop your staff

Staff training can improve your business in many ways, including increasing the chances of winning contract work. Recognise the potential of your staff and reward their commitment. This can create champions for your business.

Find advice on developing skills:

• Our section on staff training and development includes guides on how to build your organisation's skills.
• To find the right advice and training providers you should look for local sources of training and advice. Search the Events Finder for courses and workshops. 
• Successfully tendering for contracts may mean expanding your team. Browse guides on taking on staff. 

Develop your management team

Developing an effective management team can help you to create a more efficient business. Competing for tenders means your company may be aiming to grow. Effective leadership is important to a developing business.

As your business grows, the range and complexity of skills your business needs will grow too. Find out how you can build on your talents - see skills and training for directors and owners.