The top proposal writing services in 2027 are Shipley Associates for a proven process on both sides of the Atlantic, Strategic Proposals for international private and public sector bids, Executive Compass and Thornton & Lowe for UK tenders, and Lohfeld, OST and AOC Key Solutions for US federal proposals.
Outside proposal writers help when bids pile up, when a big opportunity needs senior attention, or when an internal team lacks process. The best firms do more than write: they build win themes, storyboard responses, run reviews and keep submissions compliant with the buyer’s instructions.
Note that in July 2026 Executive Compass and Thornton & Lowe came together under the newly formed Procurement Growth Group, creating the largest specialist bid writing group in the UK. Both brands continue to operate.
Shipley operates in many countries, serving public sector, international and private sector clients with consulting, managed proposal services and training.
Pick Shipley to professionalize an internal bid function or to staff major pursuits.
London-based Strategic Proposals supports RFP and tender response teams with strategy and writing, staffed by full-time specialists, and holds ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications.
It suits organizations bidding across sectors and countries.
Executive Compass, founded in 2009 in Newcastle with offices including Glasgow, Birmingham and London, writes tenders and PQQs and manages bids for clients in the UK and abroad.
It is now part of Procurement Growth Group alongside Thornton & Lowe.
4. Thornton & Lowe — UK Public Sector Tender Specialists With Training And Recruitment
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Bolton, Thornton & Lowe provides bid writing, bid support, training courses and bid team recruitment, and it acquired Bidding Limited before joining Procurement Growth Group.
Pick it for UK public sector contracts and frameworks.
AOC Key Solutions provides capture strategy, proposal management and writing for US federal contractors.
It is useful when you need a full team fast.
8. BWL Group — Strategy, Writing And Bid Design For UK Tenders
BWL Group offers bid writing, bid strategy and bid design, plus a free tender search tool.
It fits UK firms that want visually strong submissions as well as well-written answers.
How We Evaluated These Services
Specialization in bids and proposals rather than general copywriting
Methodology: win themes, storyboarding, reviews and compliance
Market fit across US federal, UK public sector and private sector bids
Training and support that improve in-house teams
How To Choose A Proposal Writing Service
Which market are you bidding in?
US federal, UK public sector and commercial RFPs have different rules. Choose a firm that works in your market daily.
Do you need writing, management or both?
Many teams need a bid manager to run the process more than extra writers.
How will they learn your business?
Ask how they interview subject matter experts and reuse content across bids.
What does success look like?
Agree on deliverables, review cycles and fees before work starts. Our RFP response guide explains what a strong submission includes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a proposal writing service do?
It plans, writes, edits and manages responses to RFPs and tenders, including win themes, compliance checks and final production.
How much do proposal writers charge?
Fees vary by market and scope. Firms usually quote per bid, per day or on retainer.
Can a bid writer guarantee a win?
No. Writers improve quality and compliance, but price, solution and track record decide outcomes.
Should I use software or a writing service?
Many teams use both: RFP response software for repetitive answers and writers for strategic bids.
Conclusion
Choose Shipley or Strategic Proposals for international bids, Executive Compass, Thornton & Lowe or BWL Group for UK tenders, and Lohfeld, OST or AOC Key Solutions for US federal work.
