How to Win Projects in the Public Sector, ft. Be First London

Public-sector work can look opaque from the outside, especially for smaller practices trying to understand procurement, fees, quality scoring and how to avoid wasting time on the wrong bids.

Stephen Drew speaks with Jacob Willson and Amandeep Kalra from Be First about winning public-sector projects, building design teams, judging quality and making architecture useful for communities in Barking and Dagenham.

The conversation covers:

• How Be First uses architecture, urban design, landscape and sustainability expertise
• What public-sector clients look for when procuring design teams
• How quality, fees and due diligence shape tender decisions
• How smaller practices can approach public-sector opportunities
• Why vision, communication and social value matter in public work

Read the episode on Architecture Social: How to Win Projects in the Public Sector

Watch on YouTube: Be First London on Public-Sector Projects

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Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Be First and Barking and Dagenham
• 05:00 Design studio work, masterplans and client advice
• 10:00 The breadth of public-sector design work
• 15:00 Procurement, due diligence and choosing practices
• 20:00 Quality scoring versus price in tenders
• 25:00 How small practices can access public-sector work
• 30:00 Fees, budgets and professional services
• 35:00 Specialist capability and in-house expertise
• 40:00 Vision, stakeholders and design leadership
• 45:00 Public-sector and private-practice career routes
• 50:00 Communicating ideas clearly
• 55:00 Apprenticeships, education and future talent

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