UK Chapter Celebrates Platinum Medal Bidders

The 11^th and 12^th of October saw a return of the prestigious annual conference for the UK Chapter. Welcoming 316 people to Heathrow, for the first time since the pandemic, the UK was the centre of winning making history.

The conference marked 2022 as the year of achievements, with sporting events of the Winter Olympics, Rugby World Cup, Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and Football World Cup. In addition, 2022 recognised the platinum jubilee, the Queen being the first British monarch to reach this milestone. With APMPs strapline of ‘winning just got easier’, this conference drew parallels from the real-world events of 2022 to the bid and proposal profession. After all, bids and proposals are all about winning.

A Touch of Different

This conference challenged the norm for the UK chapter and introduced some new elements to bring variety to delegates and also increase social responsibility.

• • The UK Chapter created The Hub. A new interactive social space designed to show the future of social value and help delegates challenge their business as to how they can bring social value to life. This included:

• • • Blender bikes – competitive pedaling, using delegate’s own energy
    • My Story – a series of monologues from the Chapter and beyond to showcase our diversity
    • Social Value Surgery Live – the UK Chapter’s social value working group there to answer questions
    • Jon Egging Trust – the chosen charity for the conference. Inspiring young people, STEM, teamwork and leadership, helping them overcome adversity, identify their strengths and work towards their dreams.
    • Plant giveaway – the Chapter gave away 100 plants and matched this with 100 trees planted in Africa through Ecologi.
    • Boxing – delegates could try out some moves on an activity that is perfect for mental and physical wellbeing.
    • Visual impairment glasses – delegates empathised with those who have a visual impairment through trying to do the simplest of tasks with vision impairing glasses.

• • Awareness of our own footprint. The UK Chapter went for more sustainable options, from cork notebooks and pens to lanyards made from sustainable materials. In addition, they went digital, with the conference brochure being provided via the app rather than in printed form. QR codes were the way forward, allowing interaction whilst reducing the amount of paper used.

Celebrating Our Winners

With the annual conference returning for the first time in three years, the awards gala occurred in its rightful slot in the middle of the two-day conference. Attendees were welcomed to an around the commonwealth delight, sampling different foods, being amazed by a contortionist and getting competitive with the Batak wall. The UK Annual Awards winners are:

· Ana Baptista – Best Newcomer

· Jill Want – Outstanding Leadership

· WSP – Collaborative Teamwork

·  Pipster Solutions – Contribution to the Profession

·  Savills – Industry Innovation

·  Neil Philipson – Bid Excellence

·  Strategic Proposals – Supplier of the Year

Congratulations to all our entrants and winners.

What’s next?

At the conference, the UK Chapter announced its events strategy for 2023, with a shake-up to its face to face events. 2023 will see a return of the BidX roadshows; running three one-day immersive learning events across the country and the jewel-in-the-crown event of the annual conference. Details will be shared in the New Year, but it was revealed that the first roadshow will be held in Newcastle in February. The UK Chapter looks forward to welcoming people in a new city for a new kind of event.