6 Best Executive Compass Alternatives (2026 Top Picks)

The best Executive Compass alternatives in 2026 are Thornton & Lowe for managed bid writing across sectors, AI Tender Writer as an AI alternative to hiring for SMEs in any sector, and a soft FM specialist at #3 for cleaning and security contractors. Bid Solutions, Hudson Succeed and Complete Tenders complete the list. Frankly, if you bid more than a few times a month, try the AI option before you sign another agency quote.

Executive Compass is a well-established UK bid writing consultancy, and many SMEs use it happily. People look for Executive Compass alternatives for practical reasons: they want a second quote, they want a specialist in their sector, or their budget doesn't stretch to an agency for every bid.

Executive Compass at a glance¶

Executive Compass has supported owner-managed businesses, SMEs and large companies with bid and tender writing since 2009. It offers full bid writing, bid reviews, bid management, tender finding and bid writing training courses. On its website it says its writers have completed more than 7,000 tenders with a success rate above 85%. Those are its own figures, which it describes as auditable.

Fees aren't published. Instead, you upload the tender documents and it gives you a no-obligation, fixed-fee quote. Executive Compass is now part of the Procurement Growth Group alongside Thornton & Lowe. It suits SMEs that want an experienced writer on an important bid, and firms that want training so their own staff get better at bidding.

The common reasons buyers compare Executive Compass with other options are:

• A genuine second quote. Thornton & Lowe is now in the same group, so some buyers look further for an independent comparison.
• Budget. Agency fees make sense on large contracts but are hard to justify on a £50,000 council tender.
• Sector depth. Specialist contractors sometimes want a writer who already knows their trade standards.
• Speed. Short clarification windows and tight deadlines don't always leave time to brief an agency.
• Building in-house skill. Some firms would rather write their own bids with better tools than outsource every time.

How we picked these Executive Compass alternatives¶

We compared each option as a replacement for Executive Compass from the point of view of a UK SME bidding for public-sector work. Our criteria were:

• Quality of written responses against published evaluation criteria.
• Range of support: full writing, reviews, bid management and training.
• Experience with the Procurement Act 2023, the Central Digital Platform and PPN 002 social value.
• Cost relative to the value of the contracts you bid for.
• Speed and availability when a deadline is close.
• Independence from Executive Compass, so you get a real comparison.

We haven't used review-site star ratings, and we don't repeat any firm's win-rate claims as fact. Where fees aren't published, we say so.

1. Thornton & Lowe: Best for managed bid writing across sectors¶

Thornton & Lowe pricing

When to choose Thornton & Lowe

• You want a managed service for framework or multi-lot bids.
• You'd like a structured programme to improve your win rate over time.
• You want a bid review at a known starting price.

Where Thornton & Lowe falls short

• Now in the same group as Executive Compass, so it's less of an independent quote.
• Full writing fees aren't published.
• Agency lead times still apply on urgent bids.

2. AI Tender Writer: Best for SMEs that want an AI alternative to hiring¶

AI Tender Writer pricing

When to choose AI Tender Writer

• You bid on several tenders a month and fees are adding up.
• You have someone who can review drafts but not write from scratch.
• You want tender finding and writing in one place.

Where AI Tender Writer falls short

• No human strategy calls, clarification handling or presentation coaching.
• Large multi-lot frameworks still benefit from an experienced bid manager.
• UK public sector only.

3. CleanTender: Best for soft FM contractors bidding without an agency¶

CleanTender pricing

When to choose CleanTender

• You bid for cleaning, security, grounds, waste or catering contracts.
• You submit more bids than you could afford to outsource.
• Someone in-house can review and finish the drafts.

Where CleanTender falls short

• Not built for works, IT or professional services tenders.
• No human strategy, interviews or presentation coaching.
• Drafts need your real evidence to score well.

4. Bid Solutions: Best for strategic bid consultancy and training¶

Bid Solutions pricing

When to choose Bid Solutions

• You're building an in-house bid team.
• You want help with capture planning well before the tender.
• You want a quote from outside the Procurement Growth Group.

Where Bid Solutions falls short

• Fees aren't published.
• Heavier than a small firm needs for one bid.
• No software for finding tenders.

5. Hudson Succeed: Best for larger and complex bids¶

Hudson Succeed pricing

When to choose Hudson Succeed

• You're bidding for a large or multi-stage contract.
• You want a team to run the whole bid.
• You need private and public sector experience.

Where Hudson Succeed falls short

• Fees aren't published.
• Overkill for short, low-value quotes.
• No tender finding tool.

6. Complete Tenders: Best for small firms with no in-house bid team¶

Complete Tenders pricing

When to choose Complete Tenders

• You're a small firm with nobody in-house who writes bids.
• You want help finding tenders as well as writing them.
• You want a quote from outside the Procurement Growth Group.

Where Complete Tenders falls short

• Fees aren't published.
• Agency lead times apply on tight deadlines.
• No software for scoring tenders yourself.

Agency or AI: which Executive Compass alternative do you need?¶

Use an agency when the contract is big enough that a few extra quality marks change your year. Use AI software when you bid often, the contracts are smaller, and you have someone in-house who can check a draft. Most growing SMEs end up doing both: an agency for the one framework that matters, and software for everything else.

What most people get wrong here is the maths. They compare one agency fee with one month of software. Compare a year of bidding instead. Count your bids, multiply by the typical quote, then set that against £1,490 a year for AI Tender Writer Pro, or the soft FM tool's Pro plan if you're a cleaning or security firm (see the pricing table). If the agency still wins on value for your big bids, keep it for those.

Be honest about quality, too. A good human writer brings judgement an AI draft won't: reading between the lines of a specification, knowing a buyer's history, coaching you for a presentation. AI brings speed and consistency, and it never runs out of capacity in a busy tender month. Pick the one that fixes your actual bottleneck.

Executive Compass alternatives pricing compared¶

How to choose an Executive Compass alternative¶

What to look for in an Executive Compass alternative¶

• Evidence of your sector. Ask for anonymised examples in your trade, not only general win rates.
• Current procurement knowledge. The Procurement Act 2023 has been in force since 24 February 2025, and responses should reflect the Central Digital Platform and most advantageous tender evaluation.
• Social value capability. PPN 002 sets a minimum 10% weighting for social value in in-scope central government procurements.
• AI disclosure. PPN 017 lets buyers ask how you've used AI in your bid, so any writer or tool should support an honest answer.
• Independence. Thornton & Lowe and Executive Compass share an owner, so pick at least one quote from outside the group if you want a real comparison.
• Clear scope. A cheap quote that excludes the SQ, pricing schedule or clarifications isn't cheap.

The reality is that most SMEs don't need an agency for every bid. Use one for the contracts that could change your business, and handle the routine ones in-house with good tools and a solid evidence library.

Related guides: the best bid writers in the UK, bid writing services compared, freelance bid writers, bid consultants, how to write a winning bid. Free tools: bid cost calculator, tender scoring calculator and bid answer grader.