Mid-Year Review: Progress, Challenges and Next Steps at Executive Compass

With 2025 on track to be another record year for Executive Compass, we reflect on some of the key successes we have achieved, challenges from January to June and our plans for the rest of the year.

Key successes and statistics    

This year began with Matthew Walker transitioning into the role of managing director, with Christian Rowe stepping into the role of CEO. Both have acclimated well in their new roles, with Matthew focused on running day-to-day business operations and Christian engaging the firm in new, strategic partnerships across public sector procurement.

Crucial wins for our clients are always something to celebrate and 2025 has seen us complete over 350 projects across our bid writing and bid review services. This has resulted in us maintaining our 85% success rate, with key contract wins, places secured on framework agreements and dynamic purchasing systems including:

• CHP, Property Maintenance Framework
• LHC, Retrofit and Decarbonisation
• NHS SBS, Building Safety And Fire Compliance Framework
• NEPO, Civil Engineering & Infrastructure Works
• City of Edinburgh Council, Home Based Care Re-Design of Flexible Purchasing System
• The North Wales Domiciliary Care Agreement, Provision of Standard and Complex Domiciliary Care for Adults and Children
• Fusion21, Building Safety & Compliance Framework
• Prosper, Planned Investment Works Framework
• Scotland Excel, Demolition and Deconstruction Works
• NHS SBS Modular Buildings 3
• JV North, Consultants Framework
• Notting Hill Genesis, Electronic Security Framework
• DEFRA, Disposal of Fleet Assets Framework
• EN Procure Asbestos, Demolition & Water Hygiene Framework.

With so many wins for new and existing clients alike, we look forward to bolstering our 75% repeat business rate for the rest of 2025 and the coming years.

Growth within our bid writing team

Starting last summer, our most recent cohort of Abby Johnston, Joe Sharples, Ivy Allsop, Kate Jowsey and Sylvia Clydesdale have all settled well into bid writing roles. Celebrating their one-year anniversary earlier this month, they have worked with many of our longstanding clients, achieving key wins and developing strong relationships.

Following a successful recruitment drive, our newest cohort of two additional bid writers have their first day this week – we look forward to meeting them in person and getting their initial training period underway.

Challenges encountered in the industry

Some of the key challenges and changes we have adapted to during 2025 include:

Transitioning to the Procurement Act 2023

Across 2024, we wrote a series of blogs on the Procurement Act 2023 and the changes it would trigger in public sector procurement. These include (but are not limited to):

• The new public debarment list and how bidders can be excluded from public procurement
• How social value fits in within the new procurement regime, despite not being mentioned in the text of the Act
• Greater measures to solidify bid pipelines through new preliminary planning and market engagement notices
• A requirement to set and publish KPIs for eligible contracts over a certain estimated value, including details of annual performance.

With the Act coming into force on 24 February this year, we have supported clients in navigating changes to public sector bids and tenders. Chief among these is registering with the Central Digital Platform (CDP), a now mandatory part of public procurement, in addition to completing the new Procurement Specific Questionnaire, which has been widely embraced by subcentral and central authorities alike.

Increased use of AI within the sector

In 2023, we first wrote about the impact of large language models and artificial intelligence in bid writing. Whilst we maintain our position that LLMs and AI can be powerful tools in producing a written tender, they cannot replace a human-written bid in terms of complexity, persuasiveness and alignment with the opportunity.

Improvements to commonplace AI such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Complexity AI have seen the depth and complexity of AI responses and importance of ‘prompts’ result in more holistic and comprehensive research for responses.

To ensure the integrity and safety of existing systems, we are constantly monitoring the external environment and analysing the effectiveness of LLMs to support research for bids and tenders.

Greater in-person marketing and procurement events

With Christian moving into the role of CEO and overseeing our key partnerships, we have had a larger strategic focus on attending in-person procurement events and networking through these channels.

Christian and our Training Services Manager Stephen Murray have already attended events in the North East, Teesside and the North West, with several more key events in the calendar this year.

A presence at procurement events and road shows allows us to meet prospective clients and contracting authorities in person, solidifying our position as thought leaders within the sector.

Looking ahead to the rest of the year

We will continue to monitor and adapt to changes and developments within the sector, such as greater devolution spend, a public procurement consultation from the Cabinet Office and other updates, such as procurement policy notes.

As always, our main focus remains providing a high-quality service for our clients, supporting them to retain and acquire key wins and grow their portfolio of contracts. This focus remains core to our bid writing, bid review and bid writing training service.

To find out more about how we can support you across the rest of 2025, our sales and marketing team are contactable at 0800 612 5563, or via email info@executivecompass.co.uk.