Simplifying Tenders Through Expert Bid Writing: Meet Adam Barnes of Roemer Barnes Consultancy

A Focused Team Centered on the Education Sector

Under the leadership of Adam Barnes, Roemer Barnes Consultancy operates with a compact four-person team. Their sole mission? To empower training and education providers through specialist bid writing and tender support. From identifying strategic opportunities to refining your final submission, they guide clients through every twist and turn, simplifying what often feels like an overwhelming process.

Understanding Bids and Tenders

In short, bids and tenders are formal proposals submitted by organisations hoping to win contracts. What Roemer Barnes does is far more than just write these documents. They support decision-making on whether to bid or not, design bidding strategies, manage deadlines, coordinate stakeholders, track tenders, and even embed social value into proposals, maximising your chances of success.

Navigating Frameworks vs. New Apprenticeship Standards

In education, framework agreements often define overarching procurement structures, whereas apprenticeship standards (defined by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education) describe individual job standards and routes. Navigating both can be complex:

For instance, a large framework published in June 2025 covers apprenticeship standards across all UK regions, and is regularly updated as new standards are added. Adam’s team is well-versed in balancing these evolving standards with rigid framework requirements, a blend that ensures proposals are both compliant and forward-thinking.

Advice for Aspiring Bid Writers

For someone considering entering the bid writing space, here’s what the expertise of Adam and Roemer Barnes suggests:

Gain sector-specific knowledge- understanding funding routes, policy shifts, and procurement jargon is essential

Develop strategic thinking- knowing when to bid (and when not to) determines resource allocation and success

Build process skills- from storyboarding to compliance checks and stakeholder coordination

Stay adaptable- new initiatives, standards, and funder expectations emerge constantly; being nimble is key

Collaborate well- Roemer Barnes emphasises deep consultation, honesty, and being a ‘critical friend’ to clients

How Roemer Barnes Supports Independent Training Providers

Offering end‑to‑end bid support– from pinpointing opportunities to honing the final submission.

Helping clients decide the bid/no‑bid question strategically

Staying current with emerging frameworks and standards, including ESFA, UKSPF, Multiply- a must for funding success

Providing contextual, sector-specific writing– gaining your clients’ trust by speaking the language of education

Treating providers as collaboration partners, tailoring strategies to your values and ambitions

What’s Available for Blue Lion Training Academy

The 2025 Apprenticeship Framework via YPO (covers multiple standards and grows over time)

Funding from streams like ESFA, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Multiply

Other avenues like adult education budgets (AEB), traineeships, Skills Bootcamps, and Advanced Learner Loans