BidCraft Academy

Winning business is an art. Learn the skills and techniques to master your craft

Be the best you can be at bidding

Bids are only as good as the teams that create them. And if you lack the skills or are unsure of what ‘good’ looks like, then you won’t get the best results. Good training goes beyond telling people what to do. To fully understand, absorb, and apply the learning, you need to understand why it matters. This leaves you better equipped to test new approaches and problem-solve for yourself.

How the BidCraft Academy works

The BidCraft Academy is designed for online learning or to support a blended learning approach

Diverse learning formats

Our courses use videos, discussions, surveys, quizzes, and assignments to support diverse learning styles and help embed the learning.
Learn online on any device

The BidCraft Academy is a flexible learning system that's online by design. Access courses from a laptop, tablet or mobile.
Learn when it works for you

You can learn at a pace that suits you. You don't need to be online at a specific time and the materials are always available.
Learn with others

We learn best when we learn with others, that's why discussion is part of every course. Join in and learn more.
Get CEU/CPD

Earn one APMP CEU for every hour of training with BidCraft courses, so you can maintain your certifications.

How many stars?

Wonderful training!

Heather Kirkpatrick, CP APMP

Thanks for a thorough overview. The format of this training is excellent, and breakout of the material is remarkable. The clear design is very helpful and...

Thanks for a thorough overview. The format of this training is excellent, and breakout of the material is remarkable. The clear design is very helpful and I like how it is designed with the 8 syllabus areas on the exam. It is so easy to listen to both Jon and Eve. The format of the training videos is really easy to follow and I feel set up for success on the exam. I really appreciate all the work you put into the training and the live sessions were great!

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A must have for any business that is serious in bidding f...

Bill Bailey

This is a very easy-to-follow course, with lots of detail to take on board. Great to see how some of it already mirrors what we are doing, but even better t...

This is a very easy-to-follow course, with lots of detail to take on board. Great to see how some of it already mirrors what we are doing, but even better to identify gaps in what we do and improve. This is a must-do course for any business serious in winning bids.

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A great training course...

Ged Hesketh

... well-constructed at the right level of detail, interesting and well-presented. Using APMP terminology, it covers the entire Business Development lifecyc...

... well-constructed at the right level of detail, interesting and well-presented. Using APMP terminology, it covers the entire Business Development lifecycle - Roles, Activities, Tools - comprehensively, clearly and succinctly. So, as well as being an ideal companion for anyone preparing for the APMP Foundation exam, it's also a useful tool for anyone new to bidding who wants an overview of how it should be done, and for the more experinced practitioner looking for a refresher course in the basics. Excellent!

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Brilliant bite sized course!

Rebecca Ridley

Just about to start capture planning for a new strategic bid - timing and content couldn't be better!!

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Superb course - expertly constructed and taught in digest...

Hannah Gibson

Thanks John, Eve and co for a brilliant course - I took the APMP Foundation training course and passed my exam with ease thanks to your great training package!

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Insightful, Helpful and Easy to understand.

Sherine Chng

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Senior Bid Manager

Roshinee Naidoo

Excellent course, learnt a lot, great guidance from Jon and Eve :)

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Excellent, well structured course

Louise Dentice

The structure, navigation, mix of media and clarity of content makes this an excellent course. Highly recommend.

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Clear and Informative Course

Courtney Brown

I wasn't sure how much time I would need to dedicate to this course prior to starting. I found the side menu with clear headings very helpful as, after takin...

I wasn't sure how much time I would need to dedicate to this course prior to starting. I found the side menu with clear headings very helpful as, after taking the practice exam, I could easily go back over any areas that I felt I needed to build my strength on. I hadn't expected the included downloadable resources so these felt like a real bonus. I'm about to take the exam and I have every confidence I'll pass based on the knowledge learnt in this course.

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Superb course - expertly constructed and taught in digest...

Hannah Gibson

Thanks John, Eve and co for a brilliant course - I took the APMP Foundation training course and passed my exam with ease thanks to your great training package!

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It's an intriguing title that got my attention.

Sarah Jones

Loved the course. An interesting approach and one that I'd like to try out. Thank you.

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Want to invest in team development?

Looking for tailored training just for your team? We create private eLearning, hybrid and classroom training.

more info

Course Instructors

All courses are designed and delivered by the BidCraft team. If you’re wondering who we are and why we’re qualified to teach you, then read on.

Jon Darby

I help companies and people to become the best they can be at bidding. I enjoy introducing new techniques and evolving how they do things. I take pride in giving something back to the bidding profession and making it a valued career of choice. This is why I volunteered to serve on the board of APMP UK for seven years as their Marketing Director, Chapter Chair and Annual Awards Director. I'm also an APMP Rapport Mentor and a regular speaker at conferences, networking events, and webinars. Annoyingly, I was the second person ever to gain APMP's new Capture Practitioner certification (see Eve…) So, what does this all mean to you? Well, I think it demonstrates that I have the expertise and hands-on experience to help develop your skills and guide you to be successful in your bidding career.

Instructor Eve Upton

As a consultant at BidCraft, I make a principle of doing bidding not just teaching people about it. This approach gives you the theory tempered with recent experience of harsh reality. I’m embedded in the world of APMP - on the UK board, and unavoidable speaking at conferences, events and webinars. In both this and formal teaching, I love to share ideas and any good practices that may make the learner’s life just that little bit easier or more interesting. I was #superproud to be the first in the world to pass the APMP Capture Practitioner certification, so I think that makes me qualified to help you too. I also have a degree in Psychology, so yes, I do know what you are thinking...

Instructor Tom Wicks

As the BidCraft Creative Consultant I'm an APMP qualified bid writer, coordinator and manager who has been in the bidding world since 2011. I've also spent nearly a decade working in design studios, mastering the intricate art of the professional graphic designer. I've worked on huge bids, creating hundreds of graphics as well as reviewing and coordinating the production of many hundreds more. I'm also an experienced print designer, animator, and 3D artist with the ability to create high-level solutions diagrams and creative proposal identities. I love to work with SMEs and technical authors, bringing complex solutions to life.

What other people say...

Excellent!

Phil Nathan

The platform looks great and is well thought through with a good mix of lessons to keep it fresh. I found myself wanting to keep going back to it and pick up where I left off. They’ve thought of everything and they clearly know their stuff. The interaction was a nice surprise – not many others that I looked at seemed to offer discussion and live Q&A. Well worth taking the course!

Essential for bid professionals

Liz Pocknell

We have worked together on and off for around 15 years, his knowledge of Bidding is outstanding and he recognises that training is essential for Bid Professionals. He has set up the academy to bring expertise to the Bidding world. As a past CEO of the trade body for the sector (APMPUK) he calls on the best in their fields to provide the tools and knowledge vital to win bids. I am privileged to have been his MSWord trainer. I recommend you contact him next time you want your bid to WIN!!!

Practical advice

Jo Peck

BidCraft’s training and webinars have been really helpful in bringing best practice to life, with lots of practical advice and examples of how to apply it for experienced capture and bid professionals and those just entering the profession.

Awesome!

Michael M

I paid for the Reviewing & Scoring course myself as a refresher/sanity check ahead of starting a more senior position soon, so I was a bit unsure about the cost but the quality of Eve's APMP presentation about pre-mortems convinced me to go for it. I'm glad I did because I learned a fair bit of new stuff as well as being reassured that what I've been doing up to now isn't outlandishly off-base! Definitely value for money and I could see myself seeking training for others in it as part of an organisational strategy to adopt. I appreciated the hours of content, and found your presenting style engaging and easy to follow; proven by the fact I did the whole course in a single session last night and didn’t get bored or distracted once! I think the course was pitched really well to cover both fairly experienced bidders like myself but equally a great introduction to people bidding for the first time. The three key things at the end were a great way to emphasise the absolutely key takeaways.

Why BidCraft?

You might be wondering why you should choose to learn with us?

The fact that you’re here says a lot about you. Maybe you want to advance your career by stretching yourself to do more interesting things? Maybe you want to develop new skills to make your job more rewarding? Or perhaps you enjoy expanding your mind and taking on new challenges?

Whatever your reason, we’re glad that you took this step to learn how you can gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to be the best you can be at bidding.

The BidCraft Academy’s engaging and varied course material benefits from a body of work spanning 60+years. The courses are modular and follow a structured syllabus that you can tackle at your own pace. And if data’s your thing, we give you access to a dashboard that lets you easily track your progress and achievement.

When and where you do it is up to you.

What else does BidCraft do?

BidCraft is a fully-fledged bidding services consultancy. We help companies seeking to secure complex public sector and defence contracts, transforming opportunities into real-life results.

BidEdge

Our strategic bid support services, helping you to bid like you mean it. From bid strategies and pre-mortems, to evaluation and scoring.
BidCode

Our BSI PAS 360 aligned benchmarking and business change programmes – helping you become the next version of you.
BidSkills

Our classroom and virtual live bid training courses give you the skills and confidence to improve bidding performance and results.

APMP Certification

Bidding Skills

Diverse learning formats

Learn online on any device

Learn when it works for you

Learn with others

Get CEU/CPD

Excellent!

Essential for bid professionals

Practical advice

Awesome!

BidEdge

BidCode

BidSkills