Question 1

How long does it typically take to complete a bid?

Accepted Answer

There’s no easy answer – each bid is so unique. Once you have shared the tender documents with me, I will review the level of work involved and estimate the time needed.It might be as little as one day for a bid review, or 10 days+ for a complex single stage or framework bid.​

Question 2

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Once I have reviewed the requirements of the bid, I will provide a clear estimate based on either a competitive daily rate or an individual project fee.To ensure transparency, we will agree an upfront cap on time and costs, which will only be exceeded with your prior agreement.For new clients, I request a 20% upfront deposit, with the remaining balance invoiced following submission of the bid.

Question 3

Will you take the entire submission off our hands?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly – for us to have a chance at success, it will need to be a collaborative approach. Rest assured though, you will still be apportioning the lion’s share of the work (and all the writing) to me.Once I have written answer plans for the responses, I will speak with you or your team members to eke out all of the content and information I need, before going away and writing the first drafts. I will need access to speak to your team throughout the process, but I do this flexibly and try not to bombard you with constant questions!

Question 4

We already have an in-house bid writer – can you lend us some extra support?

Accepted Answer

Yes – I know sometimes you just need an extra pair of hands at a busy time, and I can work alongside others.

Question 5

Do you only work with Cornwall clients?

Accepted Answer

No! I have worked with clients from St Ives to Manchester, and have long-term agreements with organisations in the East Midlands and East of England for example. I’m very happy to offer support, wherever you’re based.

Question 6

Can we work with you in person?

Accepted Answer

I often spend time with clients face-to-face if they’re based in Cornwall or Devon. This can really help speed up the bid process and give me a feel for your organisation. In most cases though, I work remotely and keep an open dialogue via phone, Teams, Whatsapp, email, etc.

Question 7

Are you available for ongoing projects or retainer agreements?

Accepted Answer

I offer both ad hoc and long-term support.  Please contact me to discuss capacity for ongoing projects or commitments.

Question 8

Can't I just use AI to write my bid?

Accepted Answer

Not yet! My genuine opinion is that AI is nowhere near ready to write a winning bid on its own.To write a truly convincing submission that aligns perfectly with the buyer, you need a human specialist. A winning bid requires someone to ask the right questions, challenge the strategy, and painstakingly dissect every single paragraph. AI tends to:Incorrectly calculate word counts, which could invalidate your tenderSkim over hidden sub-questions or themes within the questionForget to quantify statements or back them up with real evidenceRespond only to the prompts they're given, rather than truly working to the scoring criteriaI have reviewed client bids drafted entirely by AI, and the flaws are immediately obvious. They rarely match the precise question structure or scoring criteria, and they are usually filled with generic ‘fluff’.Imagine you are an evaluator reviewing dozens of construction bids, and they all sound identical. The bid that sounds genuinely human, precise, and directly tailored to the client’s specification will stand out every time.For this reason, I am seeing more frequently in bids that you have to declare where you have used AI to generate content or support your submission. In some cases, the procuring authority also expressly forbids the use of AI.That’s why I offer a guarantee to clients that I will not use Generative AI to produce the content for your bids.

Question 9

What's the first step in working with you?

Accepted Answer

Please drop me an email, use the contact form, or give me a phone call to have a friendly chat about what you need and how I may be able to help. I will carry out an initial consultation at no cost to you, and provide you with a clearer idea of how we might be able to work together.

Question 10

Do you work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis?

Accepted Answer

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising discourages this approach for ethical reasons.

Question 11

Can you research a list of prospective funders?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I often compile a list of potential funders for new clients, including grants available through Trusts and Foundations, or local authorities for example. I will use various sources including the Directory of Grant Making Trusts, online databases, grant funding bulletins, and AI research.

Question 12

How do you charge for your time?

Accepted Answer

For grant writing support, I charge an hourly or daily rate depending on the nature of the project. If you have already identified a specific grant opportunity, I will assess the question structure and workload, then provide a transparent quote based on the estimated time required to complete it.

Question 13

Do you use AI to write grant applications?

Accepted Answer

No – my honest opinion is that it isn’t good enough yet! While AI can be a useful tool to support the process (such as helping to refine project outcomes and outputs), you will stand the best chances of success by taking a human approach. This is particularly important in the Trusts and Foundations space, where funders are assessing huge numbers of applications against very few available grants – if your bid sounds generic and like it has been written by AI, you stand very little chance of success.To win funding, an application must stand out. Instead of relying on generic, automated text, I will work closely with you to capture the authentic voice of your organisation and the needs of your beneficiaries. This will ensure your project is presented in the best possible light, and that your application is precisely tailored to meet each funder's different priorities.

Question 14

Can you help us write a Case for Support?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. I regularly work with charities and CICs on tighter budgets to build a comprehensive Case for Support.While every funding application will need tailoring to the funder, a well-written Case for Support gives you a solid foundation to build from. It brings together your key evidence, impact data, organisational story, and project plans in one place, so you're not starting from scratch every time a new funding opportunity comes along.

Question 15

Do you need an existing CV to work from?

Accepted Answer

No. While an existing CV or notes about your experience are really helpful, I can also create a CV completely from scratch.

Question 16

How does the process work?

Accepted Answer

I'll start by reviewing any existing CV you have, along with details of the types of roles you're interested in applying for. If you have any job descriptions or adverts, these can be particularly helpful in identifying the skills and experience employers are looking for.I'll then develop a suitable CV structure and arrange a telephone, video, or face-to-face discussion with you. During this conversation, we'll explore your career history, achievements, and skills in more detail, making sure we highlight those that are most relevant to your target roles.Once I've drafted your CV, you'll have the opportunity to review it and provide feedback before the final version is completed.

Question 17

Can you write a covering letter?

Accepted Answer

Yes – this works best when you have identified a specific role you’d like to apply for, as I can tailor the covering letter to the requirements of that particular job opportunity. Otherwise, I can create a flexible covering letter template and structure that you can adapt for future applications.

Question 18

Can I meet with you in person to go through my experience?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you're based in Cornwall, we can arrange a face-to-face meeting at the Tremough Innovation Centre to discuss your experience. For most clients though, the process works just as effectively by phone/video call.

Question 19

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Because every client is different, I provide a clear quote based on the exact support you need.As a guide, writing a new CV from scratch requires more time than updating an existing document, and adding a tailored covering letter will increase the overall price.

Question 20

What format will my CV be provided in?

Accepted Answer

I will usually provide your CV in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats. The Word version allows you to make updates and tailor your CV in the future, while the PDF version can be used straightway for submitting application or sharing with employers.

Bid and Grant Writing Consultancy

I help SMEs and charities write winning bids to secure contracts, funding, or grants.

Hi, I'm Freya

Services

Bid Writing

Grant Writing

CV Writing

Why trust Write Cornwall?

Easy to work with

Part of your team

I genuinely care!

A few of the brilliant clients I've worked with

How can I help?

Ways of working together

Sector experience

We contacted Freya at Write Cornwall to lend us some assistance in a tender we were participating in, from the very first interaction she was helpful, knowledgeable, accommodating and a real pleasure to deal with.

How to work with me

Frequently asked questions

How long does it typically take to complete a bid?

How much does it cost?

Will you take the entire submission off our hands?

We already have an in-house bid writer – can you lend us some extra support?

Do you only work with Cornwall clients?

Can we work with you in person?

Are you available for ongoing projects or retainer agreements?

Can't I just use AI to write my bid?

What's the first step in working with you?

Do you work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis?

Can you research a list of prospective funders?

How do you charge for your time?

Do you use AI to write grant applications?

Can you help us write a Case for Support?

Do you need an existing CV to work from?

How does the process work?

Can you write a covering letter?

Can I meet with you in person to go through my experience?

How much does it cost?

What format will my CV be provided in?

Bid and Grant Writing Consultancy

I help SMEs and charities write winning bids to secure contracts, funding, or grants.

Hi, I'm Freya

Services

Bid Writing

Grant Writing

CV Writing

Why trust Write Cornwall?

Easy to work with

Part of your team

I genuinely care!

A few of the brilliant clients I've worked with

How can I help?

Ways of working together​

Sector experience

We contacted Freya at Write Cornwall to lend us some assistance in a tender we were participating in, from the very first interaction she was helpful, knowledgeable, accommodating and a real pleasure to deal with.

How to work with me

Frequently asked questions

How long does it typically take to complete a bid?

How much does it cost?

Will you take the entire submission off our hands?

We already have an in-house bid writer – can you lend us some extra support?

Do you only work with Cornwall clients?

Can we work with you in person?

Are you available for ongoing projects or retainer agreements?

Can't I just use AI to write my bid?

What's the first step in working with you?

Do you work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis?

Can you research a list of prospective funders?

How do you charge for your time?

Do you use AI to write grant applications?

Can you help us write a Case for Support?

Do you need an existing CV to work from?

How does the process work?

Can you write a covering letter?

Can I meet with you in person to go through my experience?

How much does it cost?

What format will my CV be provided in?

I genuinely care! 

Ways of working together