About this Event
Overview
Are you a third sector organisation in Highland? Have you ever thought about bidding for public sector contracts but found the process confusing, overwhelming, or filled with jargon? Tender Ready Pathway, an in-depth training programme designed especially for smaller third sector organisations with little to no experience of public sector procurement.
Delivered in partnership with Just Enterprise, this training will give you the confidence and skills to find and bid for public contracts. Whether you’re exploring the idea of collaboration or want to understand how tender scoring works, this pathway will guide you step-by-step.
What to expect:
- A practical, jargon-free and in-depth walk-through to public sector procurement
- Tips on collaborating to bid and examples of success from the sector
- Step-by-step demonstrations of tools like Public Contracts Scotland
- A clear explanation of the tender process, including SPDs and method statements
- Guidance on how tenders are scored and how to maximise your response
- Signposting to further support including 1-to-1 advice and supplier development resources
Who is it for?
- Managers, trustees, and staff (teams) looking to build procurement confidence and capacity.
- Workers wanting to explore income opportunities through public sector contracts
- Teams looking to understand how to work in partnership to develop a collaborative bid for a public contract
- Those wanting to be taken step-by-step through the online portal for public contracts
Previous participants of this course have reported the following benefits after completing the sessions:
- Increased understanding of how to find and evaluate tender opportunities
- Increased understanding of how to bid for a contract
- Gained knowledge that will benefit their organisation
Entry requirements
- No formal prerequisites
- Good command of English and communication skills
- Confident on the computer as you will be taken step by step through the portal to find public contracts.
Training delivery & duration
Delivered over 3 separate half-days, with the first session being in person and the subsequent two online.
- Session 1 is from 9.30am to 1pm on 12 May 2026 (IN PERSON)
- Session 2 is from 9.30am to 1pm on 19 May 2026 (ONLINE)
- Session 3 is from 9.30am to 1pm on 26 May 2026 (ONLINE)
The venue for the in-person session is Eden Court. The venue is accessible for wheelchair users. Unfortunately we do not have hearing loop facilities. Please do inform us of any requirements you might have in the registration form.
Commitment
The training sessions do not require any written preparations, nor are there assignments or assessments. You may benefit from discussing this training with your team and bringing the outcomes of those conversations to the session for discussion with the trainer and peers.
If you are not able to attend all sessions please let us know. The sessions are not recorded but we will share the slides with you.
The trainer Roddy Stewart will be happy to answer any questions relating to procurement and your organisation during the session. Roddy
Fees
The fee for this course is subsidised, so we are pleased to officer this 3 session training for a total of £20 per person. This is thanks to Just Enterprise.
This includes all learning materials, however for the first in person session you are expected to bring your own method of keeping notes (notebook + pen and/or laptop). Coffee, tea and water are available, and a light lunch will also be provided.
Training contents
Roughly the following content will be covered in each session. This programme is subject to change.
- Session 1 (in person): Introduction to procurement
- Speaker(s) with case study(s)
- Collaboration
- Tailored tendering & Procurement support
- Extra resources
- Networking Lunch
- Session 2 (Online): Finding & Evaluating Opportunities
- What types of opportunities are available
- How to create a pipeline of opportunities
- Introduction to navigating Public Contracts Scotland
- Evaluating opportunities
- Session 3 (Online): Preparing for & responding to Opportunities
- Terminology & Processes
- Scoring & Evaluation
- Qualification Criteria
- Creating a tendering library
- Practical Top Tips
Next steps:
Register soon to secure your place, places are limited. If you are interested in this training course, but unable to attend, please let us know at [email protected] and we’ll inform you when the next session is on.
What you can expect:
Attendees are expected to be able to attend all sessions if you sign up. The sessions are not recorded.
This programme is led by experienced Just Enterprise advisers Claire McLaughlin (CEIS) and Karen Maclean-Yuille (IHI), who bring decades of experience in procurement, training, and business support for social enterprises.
Perfect for managers, trustees, and staff looking to build procurement confidence and capacity.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Eden Court Theatre & Cinema, Eden Court Inverness, Inverness, United Kingdom
GBP 20.00
