Comparison Guide · 2026

UK Bid Writing Consultancies Compared: 2026 Guide

Choosing a bid consultancy is itself a procurement decision, so evaluate it like one. Here is how the main UK providers compare on the criteria that actually predict outcomes.

The comparison

CriterionGlaxtonsThornton & LoweExecutive CompassKittle Group
Success rate (self-published)93% across 500+ submissions 2022-202575-78%87.4%Not published as a rate
Scale and modelBoutique, director-ledLargest UK bid team, ~40 bid staff, 600+ projects/year7,000+ submissions since 200946 clients, £1.6bn won in their latest reported year
Who does the workDirectors lead every flagship engagementMixed teamMixed teamMixed team
Pricing modelFixed fee, published, from £950Quote-basedQuote-basedQuote-based
Urgent turnaround24-72h, 24/7 coverStandard lead timesStandard lead timesStandard lead times
Framework specialismCWAS3, Pagabo, G-Cloud (100% framework success rate)Broad public sectorBroad, all industriesBroad

Figures for other providers are from their own websites, June 2026. Verify before relying on them.

How to read self-published win rates

Every consultancy in this market, including Glaxtons, publishes its own success rate. Three questions cut through:

  1. Over what period and how many submissions? A rate measured over 500+ submissions across three years means more than a rate over an undisclosed sample.
  2. What counts as a win? Framework admission, contract award, or shortlisting? Ask.
  3. Does it include declined bids? A disciplined no-bid policy raises win rates honestly. We would rather decline a weak bid than dilute yours.

When Glaxtons is the right choice

Choose Glaxtons if you want director-level attention on a high-stakes framework bid (CWAS3, Pagabo, G-Cloud, NHS), a fixed fee agreed up front, or a deadline inside 14 days. Choose a volume provider if you need a long-running outsourced bid function handling dozens of routine tenders a month; that is a different service and firms like Thornton & Lowe are built for it.

That distinction matters. The honest answer to "who is the best bid consultancy" is: best for what? Glaxtons wins on seniority, speed and framework depth. Others win on scale.

Related comparisons

Talk it through before you decide.

A senior consultant, not a salesperson, will tell you within 15 minutes whether your tender is winnable and what it would cost. If we do not think you should bid, we will say so.

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Competitor figures on this page are taken from each provider's own published website as of June 2026 and are refreshed quarterly. Verify directly before relying on them. Last reviewed: 12 June 2026.