Are you a small or medium-sized business looking to break into the world of tendering? Whether you're new to the process of have submitted tenders without success, this interactive workshop will equip you with the essential tools and techniques to improve your chance of winning contracts. 

Unlike a traditional presentation, this hands-on session will guide you through the fundamentals of tendering within the procurement process. You'll gain insights into what tendering involves, explore a high-level Request for Proposal (RFP) example, and learn how to craft strong responses to key questions. 

Through interactive discussions and practical examples, we'll cover: 

• Understanding the tendering process and where to start
• Breaking down an RFP and explaining each section
• Answering response questions effectively to maximise scoring
• Best practices for managing a tender response efficiently
• What happens after submission and next steps in procurement

Expect an engaging session with opportunities to ask questions throughout. Walk away with actionable strategies to enhance your tendering success and secure new business opportunities. 

Meet Your Presenters

Jo Toon | Procurement Specialist 

Joanne Toon has a background in both bidding for government work and running procurement processes. 

As a procurement professional, she has worked in New Zealand government agencies for over thirteen years, managing procurement processes for a diverse range of requirements, including IT, professional services, furniture, and social services. 

Before she moved in New Zealand, she worked in the UK IT business, responding to government tenders, so knows the pain of the procurement process from the supplier perspective, too! 

Now she supports suppliers who need help in navigating the competitive procurement process, bringing her expertise from both sides of the fence to help organisations present themselves at their best.

She completed her learning pathway through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply qualifications, finishing the Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply in 2014. She became a Fellow (FCIPS) in 2018.

She is passionate about making the procurement process better for both the supplier and the buyer, so also trains and mentors procurement professionals to improve their practice. In 2018, she wrote textbooks for the updated CIPS curriculum, and is currently a tutor for the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), delivering training for procurement professionals across Australasia.

Rachel Adams | Strategic Bid Manager

Rachel, the owner of BidABLE, has been working in the tendering business for over 25 years. Starting in the UK as bid support, Rachel moved quickly into bid coordination and, for the last 18 years, bid managing and writing bids for multiple industries in New Zealand, the UK, Australia and North America. 

In 2007, Rachel moved to New Zealand and has held many bid roles, working for multiple organisations where she managed a mix of government and private commercial businesses for various industries such as civil, IT, construction, and professional service, plus many more.  

As a certified bids and proposal writer with a degree in business management, Rachel has delivered compelling responses for small, medium and large complex tenders with 100s of requirements. She understands what customers look for in a proposal and can guide you on what to include and not include.

Since opening BidABLE five years ago, her success rate has grown year after year, and many of her customers have won substantial new business through tendering with Rachel's help.

The experience Rachel has gained over the years in managing a variety of bids gives her the expert knowledge businesses need to succeed in winning more business by tendering.

WHEN | Wednesday, 28 May 2025
TIME | 4:30pm - 6:30pm
WHERE | Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, Level 3, 15 Daly Street, Lower Hutt 
COST | $10.00 Non Members, Complimentary for Members