How to Make Your Tender Stand Out from the Crowd

July 24, 2025

“The panel reads 20 of these a day.” That sentence stuck with me after a commissioner said it during a debrief. Not to be unkind — just honest. Most tenders sound the same. Even good ones.

When everyone’s saying “personalised care” and “tailored support,” how does your service rise above the noise?

🌟 The Good News: You Don’t Need Gimmicks

You don’t need fancy language or clever tricks. What you do need is:

Clarity — Say exactly what you do, clearly and confidently.
Evidence — Real-world examples, not just statements.
Authenticity — Language that sounds like you, not a recycled template.

These are the things that make reviewers sit up and take notice.

💬 Make Your Response Feel Human

Reviewers are looking for reassurance that:

You understand the people you’ll support.
You’ve thought about how to do it well.
You’ll be a safe, consistent, and values-led partner.

That doesn’t come from generic copy-and-paste answers. It comes from speaking like a real person who knows their service inside out.

📌 Practical Tips

Cut the fluff. Ditch “robust” and “bespoke” if you can’t explain what they mean in practice.
Use examples. Instead of saying “we promote independence,” describe what that looks like day to day.
Write for the reader. Imagine someone scanning your bid at 4pm on a Friday. What would grab their attention?

✅ The Difference is in the Detail

It’s not about big claims. It’s about how you describe the small things — the routines, the relationships, the culture. That’s what stands out. That’s what wins.

Written by Mike Harrison, Founder of Impact Guru Ltd — specialists in bid writing and strategy for social care providers

Visit impact-guru.co.uk to browse downloadable strategies, method statements, or get in touch about tender support.