Procurement Forum, 30th June 2010

Inside the Mind of a Serial Bidder

with Sir Bob Scott

At Fujitsu’s Procurement Forum in June, self-confessed ‘serial bidder’ Sir Bob Scott dissects the bid process, and illuminates how bidders and bid selection committees can work together with greater clarity, intimacy, and a clear eye on long-term, sustainable success

Although his experience lies principally within the world of sport, Sir Bob Scott knows more about the ferociously competitive, high-stress world of the competitive bid than almost anyone else. Having led Greenwich to victory in the Millennium celebrations, fought and won the intense competition for Manchester to win the Commonwealth Games, and brought the title of European City of Culture to Liverpool, Sir Bob has negotiated the most demanding bid committees, compliance procedures and political agenda.

As he explained to an audience of procurement and supply chain experts at No. 4 Hamilton Place on June 30th, the rules that govern life in the spotlight of major sporting bids also govern the world of most bidding environments – and learning how to organise a bid that works, which gets you the partnership you want, is about more than looking for the critical numbers.

Since becoming a leader of the European Capital of Culture selection committee, Sir Bob has the added insight of seeing the bid process from the other side and now considers himself a “poacher turned gamekeeper”. The sum of this experience has led Sir Bob to observe that there are four big ideas that need to be considered in any bid process: Bid, Partnership, Legacy and Image.

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