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?

5 star rating

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...

Read More

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!

Read Less
5 star rating

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...

Read More

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.

Read Less
5 star rating

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...

Read More

... 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!

Read Less
5 star rating

Brilliant bite sized course!

Rebecca Ridley

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

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

Read Less
5 star rating

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!

Read More

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!

Read Less
5 star rating

Insightful, Helpful and Easy to understand.

Sherine Chng

Read Less
5 star rating

Senior Bid Manager

Roshinee Naidoo

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

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

Read Less
5 star rating

Excellent, well structured course

Louise Dentice

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

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

Read Less

Have a team to train?

Do you want to invest in your team’s professional development? We can tailor courses to meet their needs and make the whole thing easy to buy.

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.

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...

Gareth Earle

History degrees. That’s what sparked my enthusiasm for bidding 15 years ago. Most importantly data identification and analysis, and answering the question… I also train people in the arts and sciences of bidding — that’s where my teaching background comes in handy. Right now, I’m the technical author of the first bidding standard, working with BSI and APMP. When it’s released later in 2023 it will be the global publicly accessible specification… no pressure, then! I’m a regular speaker at APMP conferences and served on the APMP UK Chapter Board as CEO in 2020. My favourite speaking topics include how to influence the evaluators and making the big stuff in the bidding world feel human-sized. When I’m not at work you’ll most likely find me on — or next to — a rugby pitch. I’ll be cheering on the Bristol Bears as an ever-optimistic season ticket holder, playing tag rugby or refereeing a match. My motto? ‘Rocket science isn’t rocket science to rocket scientists.’ That’s why I love making the complex simple for clients and pointing people in the right direction to succeed. In an ideal world, I transfer my knowledge and leave clients with the tools they need to understand how to help themselves. It’s a legacy thing.

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.

  • Opportunity consulting

    A critical friend ready to constructively advise, helping you avoid the dreaded “if only…”

  • Business change

    Hands-on experts with a track record of solving complex problems – helping you become the next version of you.

  • Enhanced skills

    Learning opportunities to improve your bidding game, so that next time isn’t “next time…”