Director Lewis explains how the Growth Platform Tendering Workshop delivered by RTC North transformed their approach to securing contracts:
- Attended a free, tailored Introduction to Tendering workshop.
- Received one-to-one support from a specialist to structure tenders properly and avoid common mistakes.
- Gained practical insights and tools to create a working tender template, resulting in a secured £85,000 contract.
- Developed a clearer understanding of procurement expectations, including social value and carbon reduction requirements.
- Built the confidence and capability to put a long-term tendering strategy in place, with plans to grow the team and scale throughout 2025/2026.
Southport-based company Poly UP specialise in high-quality sports and safety surfacing solutions designed for durability, performance and protection.
Founded by two brothers with a shared passion for the industry, Poly UP offer three main services, resin bound gravel surfacing – perfect for courtyards, pathways and service areas; rubber crumb and rubber mulch surfacing for children’s playgrounds, using end-of-life recycled tyres where possible; and sport-grade artificial grass.
A King’s Trust-supported business, Poly UP was set up by brothers Lewis and Rob, with friend Tom stepping up as director in April 2025. Together, they bring over 30 years of combined industry experience, with a strong mix of practical skill, technical knowledge and operational know-how. It’s this balance that allows them to deliver consistently high-quality work while building strong relationships with clients and suppliers alike.
Having already delivered some impressive projects, including universities, schools, golf courses, and most recently, winning a job in France at a large estate in St Tropez, Poly UP’s services are niche, highly-skilled and growing in demand. But with big ambitions to scale, Poly UP were looking for new avenues to secure contracts.
“Tendering seemed like the logical next step,” commented Lewis, director of Poly UP. “To be honest, we have essentially been submitting tenders for a little while without actually realising that’s what we were doing. But I didn’t actually know how to structure a tender and lay everything out properly.”
“So when I saw the opportunity for the workshop, I thought ‘well, it’s free, so I’ll give it a try’ – and I’m so glad I did, because I learnt so much from it.”
“We’re definitely doing something right now – the tenders are being accepted, and I was only able to put that template together because of that workshop and the support from our specialist, Alex Pilkington.”
The Introduction to Tendering workshops, delivered by RTC North in partnership with Growth Platform the business support service of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, were designed to break down the tendering process into something manageable and easy to digest, giving businesses the tools and confidence to take their first steps.
One of these sessions, attended by Poly UP, was run in partnership with InvestSefton, who have an ongoing relationship with the business. Through this ongoing relationship, InvestSefton referred Poly UP to the Introduction to Tendering workshop, recognising it as a valuable next step for the business.
The workshops were tailored to the businesses in attendance following a conversation with an experienced advisor. Topics such as where to find opportunities, how to decide which are and aren’t suitable, building a strategy and managing procurement team expectations were all covered, along with guidance around becoming ‘tender ready’ – including requirements like social value and carbon reduction plans.
When asked about his key takeaways, Lewis said: “I knew what to do in terms of pricing based on job specs, but I learnt how to actually lay it all out.”
“I was making silly mistakes that could have potentially lost us jobs. Learning what to look out for and how to structure everything properly was exactly what we needed and has completely changed the way we do things.”
For Poly UP, the workshop and accompanying support provided the clarity they needed and filled in the gaps with practical advice, giving them the confidence they needed to apply for more tenders.
The transformation has resulted in tangible results almost immediately, as they have secured a project worth £85,000 in total.
“The support has definitely had a noticeable impact. We’re actually putting a long-term tendering strategy in place and hoping to take on someone full time to apply for tenders. The goal is definitely to start growing our team and scaling the business throughout 2025/2026.”
Poly UP were one of 150 businesses to benefit from the workshops and follow-up support. Many others echoed their thoughts, saying, “Jamie’s delivery made the session interesting and easy to understand,” and, “It was brilliant and extremely helpful, I would highly recommend taking part!”
Steve Wilkinson, Project Manager at RTC North, added: “The workshop and accompanying support was designed to help companies learn what the tendering process is about and how they can get involved, minus the jargon and fluff that often comes with things like this.
The feedback we’ve had has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re looking forward to what further support and value we can deliver to companies in the region.
There’s definitely a lot of great stuff in the pipeline and lots more to come for businesses across the North West.”
Poly UP’s journey so far shows what can happen when experience and ambition are matched with the right support. With a clear focus on growth and a stronger handle on the tendering process, they’re well-placed to take on even bigger opportunities – and we’ll be watching their next steps with real interest.
Craig Donaldson, supply chain executive at Growth Platform, the business support of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority , said:
“I am thrilled to celebrate the success of PolyUp, which has secured new contracts through our Supply Chain programme. This achievement not only highlights the company’s dedication and hard work but also demonstrates the effectiveness of our programme in supporting businesses to be ambitious and take that next step in their growth journey. We look forward to continuing our support for local businesses and I would encourage any business to get in touch to see how we can help them.”