Thoughtful business development and submission support for design-led organisations.
The Response Studio provides calm, structured support for bids, submissions and business development in design-led contexts. Working collaboratively with architecture, cultural and specialist design practices, we help teams interpret briefs carefully, bring order to the procurement process, shape responses that are coherent and evidence-led, and build sustainable approaches to pursuing the right opportunities. Support is typically provided at key moments - whether responding to a specific pursuit, refining BD processes and resources, or developing strategic approaches to pipeline management and opportunity tracking. The focus is on thoughtful decision-making and clear communication, offering senior-level input across bid strategy, bid management and business development initiatives without adding unnecessary noise to an already demanding process.
Services
Support is shaped around each practice's needs, whether responding to a specific opportunity or developing proactive business development capability.
Bid and submission strategy
Clarifying positioning, priorities and approach at the outset of a pursuit, including competitive positioning analysis and messaging strategy development.
Opportunity review and go / no-go decision-making
Supporting early assessment of opportunities, including the design of clear and practical go / no-go templates to guide decision-making.
Research and context analysis
Understanding client priorities, project challenges, sector trends and competitive landscape to inform response strategy.
Bid management and coordination
Providing structured support to plan, manage and coordinate submissions through to completion, including stakeholder coordination and editorial oversight.
Response shaping and review
Developing, reviewing and refining bid narratives to improve clarity, coherence and alignment with evaluation criteria.
Special content development
Creating tailored content for specific submissions, including focus pages, case studies and technical narratives.
Past proposal audits
Reviewing previous submissions to identify strengths, gaps and opportunities for improvement.
RFP and competition tracking
Monitoring relevant opportunities across sectors and frameworks, both UK and internationally.
Process mapping and working practices
Bringing clarity to bid processes, roles and workflows to support smoother delivery and reduce friction.
Pipeline management design
Supporting the design of clear, proportionate pipeline tracking tools that help practices prioritise opportunities and plan resources effectively.
Core bid resources and templates
Developing and refining templates, text libraries, CVs and case studies to improve consistency and quality.
Bid plan template design
Developing clear, usable bid plan templates that support realistic programming, responsibilities and milestones.
Interim and ad hoc support
Providing senior-level input during busy periods, transitions or gaps in internal capacity.
How we can work together
00 Introductory call
We usually begin with a short introductory call to discuss your studio’s needs, the context of the work, and what support would be most useful. Introductory calls are complimentary and typically last around 30 minutes. For existing relationships or time-sensitive bids, this step may be abbreviated or skipped where appropriate.
01 Proposed scope and approach
Following the discussion, a short proposal is prepared outlining the suggested scope of support, priorities and approach. For specific bids or established relationships, this may be agreed more informally.
02 Agreeing timescales and ways of working
Timescales, key milestones and ways of working are agreed, including points of contact, review cycles, and how inputs and decisions will be managed.
03 Delivery and collaboration
Support is delivered in a calm, structured and collaborative way, working closely with directors and bid or design teams as needed. Work is primarily undertaken remotely, with in-office support in London available by agreement where it adds value.
04 Review and next steps
At the end of the piece of work, we review what has been delivered and capture any learning or updates to resources, templates or processes. Further support can then be agreed if required.
Commercial approach
For ad hoc bid support, work is typically charged on a day-rate basis. The rate may vary depending on the nature and complexity of the submission, such as a PQQ, tender or design competition.
For more proactive pieces of work - including business development diagnostics, process design, pipeline management, and the development or refinement of resources and templates - support is usually provided on a fixed, time-bound basis. This allows for a clearly defined scope, agreed timescales and certainty on cost from the outset.
In all cases, the approach is agreed in advance and shaped around the needs of the studio and the specific piece of work.