Question:

I’m thinking of working with 2 other companies to bid as a consortia for some tendering work, do you think it’s a good idea and what should I be aware of before i go ahead?

Answer

Consortia’s work well when each of the parties in the proposed consortia complement each other, so in your case you would want companies which aren’t in direct competition.

Other aspects to consider is who is going to organise and manage, and also some of the other things to consider include do they all have a similiar outlook to my company? Do they share the same values and beliefs about customers, and how customers are treated?

When considering a consortia, you should estimate the length of planning you think that you will need (eg 30 hours) then DOUBLE it to be realistic and to ensure that the things that you find during the planning are explored and agreed prior to going ahead.